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THE  UNIVERSITY 


OF  ILLINOIS 


LIBRARY 


A 


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Jk>  I 

."**     *T*t 


COUNTY,  IUINOIS, 


CO  IVT  AITfllX  Cr 


Full  Page  Portraits  and  Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent 
and  Representative  Citizens  of  the  County, 


^OGr ETHER.    WITH- 


PORTRAITS  AND  BIOGRAPHIES    OF    ALL    THE    GOVERNORS    OF    ILLINOIS    AND 
OF  THE  PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  .UNITED  STATES. 

Also  Containing  A  History  of  the  Connty,  from  its  Earliest  Settlement 

tip  to  the  Present  Time. 


CHICAGO : 
CHAPMAN  BROTHERS, 

1886. 


•I- 


HAVE  completed  our  labors  in  writing  and  compiling  the  PORTRAIT  AND  Bio- 
iGRAPHiCAL  ALBUM  of  this  county,  and  wish,  in  presenting  it  to  our  patrons,  to  speak 
briefly  of  the  importance  of  local  works  of  this  nature.  It  is  certainly  the  duty 
of  the  present  to  commemorate  the  past,  to  perpetuatethe  names  of  the  pioneers, 
to  furnish  a  record  of  their  early  settlement,  and  to  relate  the  story  of  their  progress. 
£.  The  civilization  of  our  day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age,  and  this  solemn  duty  which 
men  of  the  present  time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to  themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives  and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  local  history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to  enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and  to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a  safe 
vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the  people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  region  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly  the  noble  men,  who  in  their  vigor  and  prime 
came  early  to  the  county  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their  heritage,  are  passing  to  their 
graves.  The  number  remaining  who  can  relate  the  history  of  the  first  days  of  settlement  is 
becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an  actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preservation  of  his- 
torical matter  without  delay,  before  the  settlers  of  the  wilderness  are  cut  down  by  time.  Not  only 
is  it  of  the  greatest  importance  to  render  history  of  pioneer  times  full  and  accurate,  but  it  is  also  essen- 
tial that  the  history  of  the  county,  from  its  settlement  to  the  present  day,  should  be  treated  through  its  various 
phases,  so  that  a  record,  complete  and  impartial,  may  be  handed  down  to  the  future.  The  present  the  age 
of  progress,  is  reviewed,  standing  out  in  bold  relief  over  the  quiet,  unostentatious  olden  times;  it  is  abrilliant 
record,  which  is  destined  to  live  in  the  future;  the  good  works  of  men,  their  magnificent  enterprises,  theii 
lives,  whether  commercial  or  military,  do  not  sink  into  oblivion,  but,  on  the  contrary,  grow  brighter  with  age, 
and  contribute  to  build  up  a  record  which  carries  with  it  precedents  and  principles  that  will  1  e  advanced  and 
observed  when  the  acts  of  soulless  men  will  be  forgotten  and  their  very  names  hidden  in  obscurity. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  personal  sketches  contained  in  this  volume,  unusual  care  and  pains  were 
taken  to  have  them  accurate,  even  in  the  smallest  detail.  Indeed,  nothing  was  passed  lightly  over  or  treated 
indifferently  ;  and  we  flatter  ourselves  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  accurate  works  of  its  nature  ever  published. 
As  one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  work,  we  present  the  portraits  of  numerous  represent- 
ative citizens.  It  has  been  our  aim  to  have  the  prominent  men  of  to-day,  as  well  as  the  pioneers,  represented 
in  this  department;  and  we  congratulate  ourselves  on  the  uniformly  high  character  of  the  gentlemen  whose 
portraits  we  present.  They  are  in  the  strictest  sense  representative  men,  and  are  selected  from  all  the  call- 
ings and  professions  worthy  to  be  given.  There  are  others,  it  is  true,  who  claim  equal  prominence  with 
those  given ;  but  of  course  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  give  portraits  of  all  the  leading  men  and  pioneers 
of  the  county.  We  are  under  great  obligation  to  many  of  the  noble  and  generous  people  of  this  county 
for  kindly  and  material  assistance  in  the  preparation  of  this  ALBUM. 


CHICAGO,  March,  1886. 


CHAPMAN  BROTHERS. 


OF    THE 


AND     OF    THE 


OF    THE 


* 


-§• 


-a- 


rtt 


FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


lEOH©! 


ft 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Var, 
Feb.    22,   1732.     His  parents 
were    Augustine    and     Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been    satisfactorily  traced    in 
England.      His    great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and     became     a     prosperous 
planter.      He  had    two    sons, 
Lawrence    and     John.      The 
former   married    Mildred    Warner 
and    had    three    children,    John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.      Augus- 
tine,  the   father  of   George,  first 
married    Jane   Butler,    who    bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.     Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,    the    others    being    Betty, 
Samuel,  John   Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 

Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathematics.  His  spelling  was  rather  defective. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physical 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  1 4  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  1751,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health.  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.  The 


— 


r 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


trip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  times  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says:  "I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
of  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia,Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  member  of  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  to  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  ever}'  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcaine  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  1783,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  resigned  his 


commission  as  Commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February,  1 7 89,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country ; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean  ;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France. 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  i  2,  he  took 
a  seveie  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  with  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  m6re  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  been  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tall,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


rtl 


SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


23 


.M^.4.A.twt^^ 


I 


OHN  ADAMS,  the  second 
President  and  the  first  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Braintree  ( now 
Quincy  ),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles  from  Boston,  Oct.  19, 
a,  1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,  emigrated  from  England 
about  1640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion at  Harvard  College.  John 
graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
"school  of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cils, of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (1765),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holding  a  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  popular 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocates  of  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  the 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  five 
appointed  June  n,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  the 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife, 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,  "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  will 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty- 
God.  It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp,  shows, 


, 


—  A 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


•games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  You  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rae,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.   Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  .and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.     He  left  France  June  17, 
-1779.     In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British   Cabinet 
[  might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  proposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
\  Holland,  where    he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
V  formed  important  commercial  treaties 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fevei.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  While  in  England,  still  drooping  anddespond- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,hemade  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President/  Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

While   Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence,  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
class  of  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
enrth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  IN- 
DEPENDENCE FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  Tuly — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests.was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncourteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


*\\ 


1 —          -  . Y.  .         J — "~ 
THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


27 


THOMAS  JEPPEBSOIS. 


i 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
born  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
well,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)  Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
and  Mary  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obode  of  fashion 
and  splendor.  Young  Jeffersqn,  who  was  then  17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  lie 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  however,  under 
such  influences,that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  haid  study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls  ;  and 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led  *< 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses.  In 
1772)16  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shad  well,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Cclonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776.  What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


T 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  as  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Monlicello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  i,  1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union ;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
.  ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
fhe  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer, 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  no 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life !  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him,  _ 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life.  \ 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors.  ' 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  tne  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and"  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole,  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


f 


FOURTH  PRESIDENT. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Virginia, 
June  28,   1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great   republic  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called   to   his   eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World', 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
1 8  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  i*" 


prudent  zeal ;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  1771,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsf 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading.  «-' 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-lovir.g  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election  ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the  Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;  and  their  appreciation  of  his 


32 


/AMES  MADISON'. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a.  member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  -States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  power  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destroyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1813,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infant 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  February, 
1813,  in  Chesa[>eake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
dilator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  sigrjed  atGhent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


* 


FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


' 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 
Presidentof  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in;  and  the  lories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy- 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volun- 
teer, during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good, 


JAMES  MONROE. 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen    a   member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

Deeplyas  Mr.  Monroefelt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
thinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  party, 
that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
light  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Tneir  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  our" 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  of 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term.  *• 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency- 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States ;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the  "  Monroe  doctrine.'* 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  pur|X>se  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  European 
I>owers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr.  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.  In  that  city  he  died,on  the  4th  of  July,  1831. 


V 


•f 


SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


39 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  the  rural 
home  of  his    honored   father, 
John  Adams,  in  Quincy,  Mass., 
on  the  1 1 th  of  July,  1767.   His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during  the  almost   constant   ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When    but 
eight  years  of  age,  he  stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  father  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
John  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  study;  then  accompained  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  1781,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.  Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent; 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings, 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  After 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive; 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Gieat  Brilian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  in 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Berlin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  waiting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  London  ; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  the 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  destined. 


• 


40 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations;  while  he 
kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
i8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr.  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety  nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty -one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
the  past  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams ;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
portentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative,  towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle' for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  its  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination: 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prajer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2istof  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  .those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  /'then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  "I  am  content"  These  were  the 
last  words  of  the  grand  "  Old  Man  Eloquent." 


' 


£  * 


ffc 


_;,  y""    "_^  _"_ 

SEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


NDREW  JACKSON,  the 
seventh  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
VVaxhaw  settlement,  N.  0., 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
blow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes,— one  on.  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
diiabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  in  obtaining  their  exchange, 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illness 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  such  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
with  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from,  each  of  the  eleven 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jack- 
son was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress  then  held  its 


44 


ANDRE  W  JACKSON. 


1 


sessions, — a  distance  of  about  eight  hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  lie  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions ;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a.  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Ben  ton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  u[)on  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bendsof  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men,  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.  The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
[XDwer  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  its  terriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late   in    August,  with    an    army  of  two    thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing   march,  Gen.    Jackson  came   to " 
Mobile.     A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed  J 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a   furious 
assault    The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up    and  the  rest  retired.  • 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  by  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's life  wete  that  of  a  devoted  Christian  man. 


• 


f  > 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


47 


: 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July   24,    1862.      His 
body  rests  in  the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
plain  granite    shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up  on  one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

He  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
spending  six  years  in  an  office  in  his  native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights  ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him, 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  the 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  the 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mr. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  over 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  1812,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  had 


48 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage  "  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  1821  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
the  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
"State  Rights"  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion ;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
stealthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refused  to  ratify  the  nomination,  and  he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled ;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite ;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu- 
tive. On  the  2oth  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in- 
volve this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


Jttel  II  »i 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


WILL14M 

4t 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the    United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin    Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and    John    Hancock   were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice   re-elected.       His   son, 
!  William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 

in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
then  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
having  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


dent Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  ''  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap- 
pointed by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  Oneof  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrison 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  About 


f  > 


5- 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
(if  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
an  orator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator :  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe  the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  1812,  his  army  began  its  inarch.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  fora  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations. Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side, and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-tires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
ous yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned  :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore them,  and  completely  routing  the  foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can  - 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances,  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re- 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 

before  the  (ire.  without  bread  or  salt. 

t 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen    a   member  ofi  j 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to   represent  I 
the  District  of  Ohio.     In   Congress   he    proved    anj 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re -nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects,  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisy-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


ry. 

TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


55 


OHN    TYLER,     the    tenth 
Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high    social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and   Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted   him- 
self with,  great    assiduity  to   the 
study    of    law,    partly   with    his 
father   and   partly  with   Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  lie 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
et of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
not  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  yeais  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  Govern- 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.  His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.  Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress,- — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  There  was  a  split  in  the  Democratic 


4  t 


JOHN  TYLER. 


party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  audit  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  Noith :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
f  pened  that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  found  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  longlife  he  had  been 
opposed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honest  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccomiTK'nded  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.  He  suggested,  however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The  ' 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his  \ 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the  • 
harassments  of  office,  tothe  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  iclief.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  r844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn  had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  deslroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,  he  was  taken  sick  and  soon  died. 


tit 


EB 


y 


ELEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


59 


AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C.,  Nov.  2,  1795.  His  par- 
ents were  Samuel  and  Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 

of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 

at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 

first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1806,  with  his  wife 

and  children,  ar.d  soon  after  fol- 


lowed  by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  farnly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry  Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
him  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a   situation    for   him   behind   the_ 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed  - 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Folk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Folk's  father  was  a  JefTersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  morals,  genial  and 


JAMES  K.  POLK. 


courteous  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  jo>  s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinued in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvasse'd  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  141)1  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  countryin  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  war 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion, "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge — was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  15111  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


1    I': 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  on  the  241)1  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.     His 
father,    Colonel    Taylor,     was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished  patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.     When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  wirh  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,    a    few 
miles  from  Louisville.     Inthisfront- 
«iw    ier  home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its   refinements,    young   Zachary 
could  enjoy   but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages.   When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter     He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,   and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.     There 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in    the   United  States 
army  ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.     Soon   after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a   young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  1812,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison.on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
led  by  Tecumseh.  Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering   fifty  men,    many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down ;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war  whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  Taylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.  There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


64 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
had  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
here  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
amidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula,  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
and  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
•  at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
,  from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
u  imposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
<•  being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
the  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
spread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  toil;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
their  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose  name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  -the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  gth  of  July,  1 85 o. 
His  last  words  were,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  short, 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortable,  labor- 
saving  contempt  for  learning  of  every  kind." 


M     ttfc 


of 

THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


FILLfflIIHE,<4 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y  .,  on 
the  yth  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances. Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.  She  died  in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished  prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy ; 
intelligent,  good-tooking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Near  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.     This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.     His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing.    Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.     His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate; 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually  ^ 
more   elevating   and  instructive.     He   read   history, 
biography,  oratory;  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en-j 
kindled  in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more-< 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;   and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  that 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence,— Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
no  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  halls 
and  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means  as 


68 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degn  e  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected,  and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  strength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he  was  elected  Comptroller  of  the  State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent  at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  trumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesof  Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  ^49, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  gth  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillniore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  'He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  South ;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacyof  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more,  having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,  1874, 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT, 


RANKLIN     PIERCE,   the 
fourteenth   President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborongh,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
2$,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,   who, 
with   his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a    home   in   the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though   uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman  ;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar ;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  of  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him.  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  yeais.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied.  Of  the 


72 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  born  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous- 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
verj  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  i2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States  on  the  4th  of  March,  1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "  irrepressible  conflict  "  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension,  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ;  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slaver)'  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladened  by  his  material  bounty. 


L'tiVfclRM 


fIFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


.  '.-'i  •.;'. '. '.  '..'i '.  'i  •.  ','.'<  •.'>•;.  '• '.  •'• '.  ':•:' .'  v ..'  •'  •"•'  •'  >\  •'  >' .'  v .'  v .'  >' .'  >'  •'  v .'  >'••:  v :  >' .;  V  I 


1 : ,' ;  i'.; ,' :  ,>  ,• ,' ; -,• ;  ,>..:-,< :  v  ."i'..vi'.;  i1; v ;  .: :. '. '.  "..v..'i  '.  v.,'i  •.  't!".,'r-..|i.'..'rv.v..v'.'.'i  •. '.  •.  • 


-*- 


AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
the  23d  of  April,  1791.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stood  .was  called  Stony 
>  Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
n  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated"  in 
1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantage.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers  en- 


abled  him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  with 
facility. 

In  the  year  1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  01  e  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  for 
len  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House. 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  eleVation  to  ihe  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Culhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  making  repri- 


L_ 


76 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Folk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement. 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1850, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
ceived 1 14  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
1,340,618,  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March  4th,  1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered. He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples, consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws, 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic. He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slavery 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
far.more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow-' 
ing  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable   exhibitions  of  governmental   im-^ 
becility  was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen. 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power   to  enforce   its 
laws  in  any  State  which    had   withdrawn,   or   which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the    Union.     This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with- 
his  hand  upon  his  sword  hilt,   he  exclaimed,   "  The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  1860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston:  Fort  Sampler 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized ;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looktd 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  country's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion. 
He  died  at  his  Wheatland  retreat,  June  i,  1868. 


»i  IM 


V 


SIXTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


79 


-  ABRAHAM 


BRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the 
sixteenth  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 
1 809.  About  the  year  1 7  80,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  buill  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"All  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother .  " 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana.  Where 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr. 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830, 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  their 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of 
education,  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate ;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain ;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborer 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat. 
,In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin- 
coln undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.  In  this  adven- 


8o 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


ture  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon 
his  return  tney  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  vTas  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
;he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6th  ot  June,  1860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "  The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
orominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
and  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  upon  this  good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln 'started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  frought 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to  "get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people. 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr.  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national.  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  be  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witli  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 
Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  his  country- 
men being  unable  to  decide  which  is  the  greater. 


- 


tt**, 
•  I"' 


nt 

»'  It., 


SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
was  born  December  29,  1808, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  even  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.  The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  on- 
ward laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos- 
sessed some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature, 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "  stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  those 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  111/1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  responsible  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abil- 


84 


ANDRR  W  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  free  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir,"' 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior  was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  1860,  he 
was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
[  Presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
ern Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.  In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the    United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  15, 

1865,  became  President.     In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must   be   taught,   if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished ;  that   the     Government  will    not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is   strong   not 
only  to  protect,  but   to    punish.     *     *     The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the   blackest   of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."     Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress ;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the  trial  began  March  23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotently, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  3 1,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect. 


EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


I 


LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
eighteenth  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  on 
the  agth  of  April,  1822,  of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resacade  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
he  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  hrs  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  animal,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  1860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army;  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.  On  the  i5th  of 


88 


UL  YSSES  S.  GRA  NT. 


June,  1 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 

r  victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 

I  district  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

*  Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the   results  of  victory.      He   immediately 
pushed  on  to   the  enemies'  lines.     Then   came   the 

•  terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.     Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with   over   thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non.    The   fall  of  Vicksburg  was   by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
and  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  new  office. 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being  cast  for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term,  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1880  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1885,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


^? 


NINETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  farbackas  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tune overtaking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  was  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  and  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes,  the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious, 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to  Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day, 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter- 
mined to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  i8r7.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  l;  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
him,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  li  That's  right !  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  wo.ild  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
wait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  but  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletovvn,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in  1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  subse- 
quent life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  as  Chief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 

_          |_[         <    ^  *  J\ 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  AVnerican  woman- 
hood. The  Literary  Club  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  up 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  ard  illustrious.      In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and. 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.     Subsequently,  however,  he  i 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.     At  the  battled 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,   and  while' 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed   courage   and   fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetled 
Major-General,  "for gallant  and  distirguished  fervices 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times. 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army  ;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  corne  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popular  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in  1875. 

In  1876  he  was  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
aucjurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  ruwever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  one. 


TWENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


95 


- 


AMES  A.  GARiTELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    19, 
1831,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His   par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballou)   Garfield,   both   of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
was  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
tween the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
hard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
The  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
their  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
James.  In  May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
tracted in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
this  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
tell  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  btother's 
toil  and  self-sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
ters live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  her  struggles  to  keep  the  little  family  to- 


gether.  Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor, 
the  humblest  fiiend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  wa;it  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  he 
was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.     He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.     She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtain 
some  other  kind  of  employment.     He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.    This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city. 
Afier  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get   aboard  a   lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.     He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  went 
home,    and  attended   the   seminary   at   Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.     This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in   1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.     He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way. 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.     He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hon- 
ors of  his  class.     He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.     As  above  stated,  he   early 
united    with   the   Christian   or   Diciples    Church    at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and    places  where 
he  happened  to  be.     Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion : 


96 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  ii  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called"  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
tarian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1 856, 
in  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
(Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  10,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  Geneial  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  history  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gen.  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  •  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  which 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Gaifield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  ap.d  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Elaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  Foreighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  mngnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grar.dly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J  ,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


TWENTY-FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


99 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 
twenty-first    President  of  the 
United   States,   was    born    in 
franklin  County,  Vermont,  on 
thefifthof  October,  1830,  and  is 
the  oldest   of  a    family    of  two 
sons  and   five   daughters.     His 
father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Arthur,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country  from 
the  county  Antrim,   Ireland,   in 
his  1 8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 
Newtonville,   near  Albany,   after  a 
long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  Schenectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  [wcket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
I  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  married  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nomination  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon- 
athan Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs. 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare, 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 


IOO 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge- Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In.  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  Yoik,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
jwlitics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
/New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 

Iceed  Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 
Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  leading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
was  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  i88r,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — those  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re- 
covery of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  tfie  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field  from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  never 
before  in  its  history  over  the  death  of  any  other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York, 
Sept.  20,  1881.  The  position  was  an  embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  own 
hands ;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  so 
wisely  that  but  few  criticised  his  administration. 
He  served  the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


UBUH 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND,the twenty-second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  tworand-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in '  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  ("anal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $100  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


I 


T.A.' 


104 


5.    GROVER   CLEVELAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him ;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
ask  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply.  "  Good  gracious !  "  remarked 
the  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  ?  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"  "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 
any." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  them  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
I  gaged  in  the  office,  but  Grover's  persistency  won,  and 
he  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 


- 


'  have  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  along  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
but  indue  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
elected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  punishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  1881  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning  contract :  "  This  is  a  time  for 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos';  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
n,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.;  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1885.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York ;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


, 


(B  -  S) 

^ 


LI* 

'»LL>-^^ 


H        I* 


e  » 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


in 


-s* 


HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  as  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "  Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
1812,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  1814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  1812  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
tion on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.  In  company  with  John  G.  Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown,  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W. 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  _great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  1818  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6, 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  1818,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan ;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros- 
ecuting attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was  honored  by  the  naming  of  a 


SHADRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  Siate,  even 
before  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were'  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "  Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Kelt  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  the  famous  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  1818  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor ;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and  de- 


clared that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  "  officers  of  the  State  " 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
lo  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur-  ' 
veys  and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole,  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was  ' 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  bestowment  of  his 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islature, with  VVm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershom 
Jayne,  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  n,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


f 


•'•• 


Y- 
GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


)££>war&  Coles. 


DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1807,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wm.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,  Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.  He  read  every- 


thing on  the  subject    that    came   in    his    way,    and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.     The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,   the    more    impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal   declaration 
"that  all    men  are  born   free   and   equal"   with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.     He  resolved,  therefore,  to. 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.     One  reason  which  de-J 
termined  him  to  accept  the  appointment    as   private*' 
secretary  to  Mr.   Madison  was  because   he  believed] 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could    make   at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what   part] 
of  the  non-slaveholding  portion  of  the  Union  he  would 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  .special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue. 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the  Emperor  (Alex.- 


t  3 


n6 


EDWARD  COLES. 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  parts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  desciibed  in  his  own  language  : 

"The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  me  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
I  a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
*  on  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  the  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  r8ig,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsville, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  question  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
putting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
Phillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
Browne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
itia. The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
lie  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  which  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in 'favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "  shiveree  "  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution ;  and  the  dominant  politics  • 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people, 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Luncey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  cami  to  this  country  with  Wm.  Penn  in  1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


•   • 


ittSI  I   |     v)    I. 


. 


GOl'ER.VOXS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


INIAN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
from  1827  to  1830,  was  a  son 
p  of  Benjamin  Edwards,  and 
was  born  in  Montgomery 
_,,<>  County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
~  1775.  His  domestic  train- 
.V"  ing  was  well  fitted  to  give 
his  mind  strength,  firmness  and 
honorable  principles,  and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character  to  which  he  afterwards 
attained.  His  parents  were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
principles.  His  education  in  early 
youth  was  in  company  with  and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  \Vni. 
Wirt,  whom  his  father  patronized 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.  An  intimacy  was  thus 
form.'d  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.  He 
was  further  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car 
lisle,  Pa.  He  next  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before  completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm  for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.  He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
County  before  he  was  21  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
elected  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  Comity  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age  !  In  addition,  in 
1802,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1806  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
[astice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  i  ith  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each  county,  by  an  informal 


** 


119 


• 


i 


120 


NINIAN  EDWARDS. 


vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  1810  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1812,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  .years 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1812,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
7  acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
f  came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He,  thought 
seriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  1821,  but  was 
persuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Wm.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
disgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
the  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
this  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
actor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
for  his  parfy  in  1824. 

In  1826-7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soir.e  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  lands 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "Black  Hawk  War"  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  have 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  was  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  him 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  well 
known  to  the  people  of  the  l;  Prairie  State,"  namely, 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield. 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  1809  to  1818;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  his 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  Edwards 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 


I" 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


j:OHN  REYNOLDS, Governor  1831- 

4,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
his  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
posed to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.  In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  2oth  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himself 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1812  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social  intercourse. 


124 


JOHN  REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
judicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
of  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
the  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  reccmmended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  witli  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
general  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

•  South  Carolina  nullification  coming  up  at  this  time, 
it  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
and  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  considering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
he  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  State  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
days  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
move  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  place 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable  heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex-Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "My  Own  Times"  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lady  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  proseeute  the  enterprise.  Accord' ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint !  " 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  1860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  1861,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


' 


. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


127 


ILLIAM  LEE  U.  EWING, 
Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
Moneys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
this  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
were  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
at  the  present  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
robbed,  by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
he  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  r832, 
when  it  was  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  and  his  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
reconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
subordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  igth  of 
July,  early  in  the  morning,  five  baggage  wagons. 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  might 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
and  the  worst  thickets ;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail  • 
gave  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the  •< 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skim  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  march.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,,  in- 


128 


WILLIAM  L.  D.  EWING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  in  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewing  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "  General,"  which  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
the  August  election  of  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Charles  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  i;th  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  iyth  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor ;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
was  sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  2 Qth  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes,  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Auditor  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.  He  died  March  25,  1846. 


* 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


— -887-  •  •  ijl 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
1834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
lie  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-General  of  the  Militia, 
a.  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
As  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  military  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr. 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,32 r  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  penonal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete  ;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


f  » 


32 


JOSEPH  D  UNCA  N. 


ncere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
ad  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
hich  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
icssage  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 

igajnst  the  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
e  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 

desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
lajority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
om  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
lainly  to  banks  and  internal  improvements. 
It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
eople  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
:rnal  improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
jpted  the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 

md   the   disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 

icse  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 

lally  charged   upon  the  two  political  parties.     Had 

ny  one   man   autocratic   power   to   introduce    and 

arry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 

ly  have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public ; 

t  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 

i  ndle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 

the  failure.     In  this  great  vortex  Gov.    Duncan 

s  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 

aracter  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the   Legislature 

Jrovided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 

)  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 

:  astern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
'erre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabash, 
loomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 

ix>ut  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
nprovement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia. 
linois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 

s  so  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
ibuted  to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve- 

n  tents  were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
itimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 

placed  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
lore  than  half  enough!  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
tddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000!  It 

w  as  sufficient  to   bankrupt  the  State   several  times 
yer,    even   counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 
One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 

i  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
y  in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
rm  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  Abolitionist," 

z  liting  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
avery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  the 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected, 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
that  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  policy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  right.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


it 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


HOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
1 8,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
judgment  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
lo  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  1810. 

In  1812  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
souri, where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
rollton,  in  that  county,  and  in  1825  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
post  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and  to  fulfill  the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  QuincJ. 

While,  in  1838,  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  it;s 
expensive    machinery,     amidst     bank     suspensions 
throughout  the    United  States,  a  great  stringency  ih 
the  money  market    everywhere,  and    Illinois   bondb 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times"  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election   of  State  officers  was 
approaching.     Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  1 1 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion,   met  with   disappointment.     A   Governor  i 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  noV 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  Sii  t 
policy.     But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost    t 
dazzling   influence    upon    the   minds  of  the   people 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstratei 
its  utter  absurdity.     Hence  the  question  of  arrestin 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  becom 
a  leading  one  with   the   dominant  party  during  th 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg 
islature  were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democratsvin  Stat 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  th 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten 
ant  Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed 
wards,  brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  Governo 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.     Edwards  came  out   strongljy 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while   Carlin 
remained  non-committal.     This  was  the   first    time 
that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.      The 
result  of  the  election  was :     Carlin,  35,573;  Ander- 
son, 30,335;  Edwards,  29,629;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

7M- 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  (Duncan)  in  his  mes- 


136 


THOMAS  CARLIN. 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Ch'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
to  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
through  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranto  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  Jchn  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!" 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scales,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Cov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too"  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  not  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that  they  should  have 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  daring  to 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  the 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved.  t 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  1841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  A  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1849 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


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Gt>  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


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JHOMAS  FORW,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
girls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi bluffs.  Here  young  Ford  received  his  first 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey^ 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education ; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
•have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.  Through  the  advice  of 


140 


THOMAS  FORD. 


this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  EdVards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  1831  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
ian  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  power  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
sound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
the  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
administration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
the  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
to  be  eminently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
the  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  effects  of 
the  notorious  "internal  improvement"  schemes  of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  to 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  foi 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints  "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  o 
their  leader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driver 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  \t 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford1  01 
course  was  non-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  a;ls< 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with^ht 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system'  o 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "  between  tw< 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rathe 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  whei 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compji- 
cated  matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  uj 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  ir 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  o 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  tern 
of  Mr.  Ford's  successor.  The  Governor's  connectioi 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  i 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  anc 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  i 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  arid  forcibl 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  Ii 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operation 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit 
able,  his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objectioi 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judge 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writing 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhiljii 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con 
temporaries  who  were  prominent  during  his  term 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  Il|l 
;    Nov.  2,  1850. 


bt    fit 


-3- 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


143 


Augustus  C.  French 


UGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846  to  1852,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Hill,  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  .the  fourth 
generation  of  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  1687  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life 'young  French  lost  his 
father,  but  continued  to  receive  in- 
struction from  an  exemplary  and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.  He  discharged  his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.  His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school  afforded.  For  a 
brief  period  he  attended  Dartmouth  College,  but 
from  pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.  He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.  Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.  A 
Strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
ihen  A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
tine  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
fcrd  County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident  when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  John  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scales, 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Win.  McMurtry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election ;  but  in  the  meantime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received  5,152  votes. 


144 


AUGUSTUS  c.  FRENCH: 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1848,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbent  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was,  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation ;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  time,  the  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  851,470. 


In  1849  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  1851.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions. 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urged 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  there  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Conaress  granted  . 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of   J 
the    completion    of  the    Illinois   Central    Railroad,    ! 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the   ' 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement- — his-  1 
tory  of  the  State.     The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in-  J 
terior  of  the  State  by  a  good  c.ass  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  185  i  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  rfature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1865,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St. 
Clair  Co.,  Ill, 


± 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


147 


.OEL  A.  MATTESON,  Governor 
1853-6,  was  born  Aug.  8,  1808, 
in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English  education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel  first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small  tradesman  in  Prescott, 
Canada,  before  he  was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  had 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  there 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  storm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried. In  1833,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  An 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
three  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.  He 
opened  a  large  farm.  His  family  was  boarded  12 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  during  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1835  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1836  and  spread  over  the  State, J 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apportionment,  John  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however, 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


•  •  • 


148 


JOEL  A.  MATTESON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $1,600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard ;  Lewis  W.  Ross,  of  Fulton ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson "s  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
rirtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "  Anti-Nebraska  "  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska  " 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  few  ballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson 's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  r856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  r855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson 's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818,07910  $349,951,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due ;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3,000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He  died  in  the  winter  of  1872-3,  at  Chicago. 


: 


l?JJVUtt»lll 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'5' 


I LLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
April  25,  1811,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
«ho  reared  their  children  under  trie  daily 
example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  o£that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a 'profession  to  be  a- mistake,  and,  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local  notoriety.  It  soon  came  lo  be  under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.     During  terms  of  Court  he  { 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the  * 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him   a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In_  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


—  A' 


WILLIAM  H.  BISSELL, 


of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  him  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 

was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being   the 

.  Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.    He  served 

two  terms  in  Congress.     He  was  an  ardent  politician. 

During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 

» of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 

the  repeal   of  the   Missouri   Compromise   act  and 

therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 

thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 

party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  up 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
implicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat-  J| 
ing  $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.  (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated ia  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned,  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
1860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  his 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  haii  been  a  member  since  1854. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'55 


|:OHN  WOOD,  Governor  1860-1,  and 
the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co.j 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  languages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown. 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  1821  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin, 


18  x  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  which 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  the 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  yet 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  a 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  jiewspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male  residents  and  half 


JOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Sinoe  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  1860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  1860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  the  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nation  from  destruction. 

In  1861  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1 864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  I37th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise ;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughter  of  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
June,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C.,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


it 


rr; 

GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS, 


'59 


ICHARD  YATES,  the   "War 
Governor,"  1861-4,  was  born 
Jan.  18,  1818,  on  the  banks  of 
the   Ohio   River,   at   Warsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.     His  father 
moved  in  1831  to  Illinois,  and 
after  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at   Island 
Grove,    Sangamon   County.      Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.    Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois     College     at      Jacksonville, 
where,  in    1837,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.     He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din  being  his  instructor.     After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West,  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
the  party  of  his  idol.  In  1 840  he  engaged  with  great 
ardor  in  the  exciting  "  hard  cider  "  campaign  for 
Harrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
tory that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
extending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
north  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
the  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
ular man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
beaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position, 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  was 
elected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates'  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  1860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  DuPage  County,  was  nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whirlpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ross, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr.  Allen  159,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


i6o 


RICHARD    YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism ;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  de'ep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  political  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  position  that 
the  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
had  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "  happiness, 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Constitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions ;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  sine  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !  "  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  27th  of  November  following. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Richard  J.  Ogles 


ICHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-elected 
in  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
Ky.( — the  State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  184^,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


pany of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
Asia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resu;ned  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  no.ainee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  1860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  w  is  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


1 64 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gallantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  from  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  when  he  returned  home. 
The  Republican,  or  Union,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,   May   25,   when  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,of  Sanga- 
mon,   and   John   M.    Palmer,  of  Macoupin.     Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,   was   nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.      On  the  Democratic   State  ticket  were 
James  C.  Robinson,  of  Clark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.    The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  the  Legislature   and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  home  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were  the   election  of  ex-Gov.    Yates   to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  131)1 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.      This   session    also    signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  1819.     Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature.    But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,   granted    in    1859  for  25   years,   and   now 
sought  to  be  extended  99  years.     As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt   to  check  their  headlong  career.     At   this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless  we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867   was  still  more   productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.     Many  omnibus  bills  were 
proposed,  and  some  passed.     The  contests  over  the 
location  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the 


Southern    Penitentiary,  and   the  canal   enlargement 
and   Illinois   River  improvement,  dominated  every 
thing  else. 

During  the  year  r872,  it  became  evident  that  if 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gastavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
3S>334  to  56,174, — the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  their  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  i879,*having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.   Oglesby  was  1 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.   Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,   nominated  by  the    Democrats.      Both  » 
gentlemen  "stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo-  " 
pie  elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  joint  1 
ballot,   as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the  I 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov-  J 
ernor,  and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.     The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Ardent  in  feeling  and  strongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  iovial 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost ;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure. 


1/fcfi 


Ar, 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


167 


JOHN  M.  PALMES 


||OHN  Me  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
ernor 1869-72,  was  born  on 
Eagle  Creek,  Sco'tt  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  13,  1817.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country,  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
early  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
1 8  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

During   the   summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then  making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.     Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 1 
dence,  fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be-  J, 
gan  to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading  t 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car-  I 
linville,  making  his  home  with   his   elder  brother,  I 
Elihu.     (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)     On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.     Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  In 
1 847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention, where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slavery 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op- 
position to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise; 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  party 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  the 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing 
a  circular  to  that  effect.  A  few  weeks  afterward, 


• 


i68 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
he  put  in  nomination  for  the  United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
r859,  but  was  defeated.  In  1860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
I  I4th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
I  at  Island  No.  10  ;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
J  extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
I  rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  I4th 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor ;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peori.i  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
persistently  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature  for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  f  >r 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  af:erward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimuely  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"  to  pay  railroad  subscriptions, 
"the  Chicago  Lake  Front  "bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution  "  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  1871,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  principles 
of  statesmanship. 


,-,-.• 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


171 


OHN  LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE, Governor  1 87  3-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
idge. His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
from  Scotland  just  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
Washington  County.  His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  .at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "  Asso- 
ciate Church,"  a  seceding  Presbyterian  body  of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  igth 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  i8th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  njt  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40  in  money  started  South  to  seek  his  fortune. 


I72 


JOHN  L.  BEVERTDGE. 


Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, 1847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  1849,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
law,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner,  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
111.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  1 8,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  ii,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


- 


tles and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days' 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  lyth  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of! 
1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced  1 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 1871,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby ;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  21,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large,  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge 's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "Haines"  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov. 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1881,  he  has  also  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer :  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


"" 


• 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'75 


SHMLB  Y  M.  CULLOM, 


HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 1877-83,13  the  sixth  child 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  born  Nov.  22,  1829,111 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  [being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
the  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
capital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  He  died  about 


Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 
opportunity  during  the  winter.  Within  this  time, 
however,  he  spent  several  months  teaching  school, 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  the  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  1'eoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  Anti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1856  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.  Practicing 


i76 


SHELB  Y  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  1860,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1861,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  party 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.  He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  entered  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  JohnT.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 

I  Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4,103!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  -of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Jourtial.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
placed  in  nomination  Lewis  Steward,  a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against   Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some-  ' 
what  handicapped  in  the   campaign   by   a   zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant  , 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected  " 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  for  the  Democratic  State 
ticket.     The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27,000.     Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again  ' 
became    Republican,  and    no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.     Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  iSSi.     In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lom was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

As  a  practitioner  of  law  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
field ;  and  he  has  also  bjen  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
12,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
two  daughters;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'79 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
TON, Governor  1883-5,  was 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMorris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
|  doun  County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth ;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
2 1  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  paying  for  the  land  and 
making  a  comfortable  home.  John  was,  of  course, 
'  '  A 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity, 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  Much  o: 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  int 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing] 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "  buckled  to  "  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  1860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient ;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  he 
attended  an  academy  at  Henry,  Marshall  County, 


i8c 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  141  st  III. 
Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  loo-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 

The  following  winter,  1864-5,  Mr.  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  'le 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  time  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
i  was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  1871.  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  Wm.  G.  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wejleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  "  on  the  stump  " 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany ;  and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect  John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  against  so 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"  laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peni- 
tentiary, which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President  pro  tern. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  was  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  Wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the' 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clairand  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 

1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  was  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 

1885,  when  the  great  favorite  "  Dick  "  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


—  A' 


•e- 


W£*  _^r' 


INTRODUCTORY, 


JHE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining wliocan  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
of  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  e.irnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
The  pyramids  of  Kgvpt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements. 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-bu'lders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea — 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  ot  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme,  give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived.  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  lift  to  modern  nges  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of.local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  though 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
h-is  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  portraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
thir.k  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  t)  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  lives 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


189 


i&&*#l&^ 


aj.  John  C.  Bond,  for  nearly 
half  a  century  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and 
valued  citizens  of  Warren 
County,  was  born  in  Knox 
Co.,  Tenn.,  Dec.  25, 1799. 
Here  he  was  reaied  and 
educated  and,  in  1818,  was  married 
to  Miss  Polly  Grimsley,  of  the  same 
county.  To  them  were  born  five 
children — Susannah  Johnson,  widow 
of  Walter  Johnson,  deceased;  W. 
G.  Bond,  ex-Sheriff  of  this  county; 
Jesse  W.  Bond,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Lenox  Township;  Ruby  L.  Cay- 
ton,  wife  of  A.  J.  Cayton,  of  S'.van 
Township  ;  and  Anna  Bond,  all  of  whom  are  living 
except  the  latter,  who  died  when  quite  young. 
Sketches  of  the  former  may  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  volume. 

Maj.  Bond  removed  from  Tennessee  to  Alabama, 
and  from  there  to  Morgan  County  this  State,  in 
1826,  in  which  county  his  wife  died.  In  May, 
1829,  he  was  married  the  second  time,  to  Miss  Mary 
Singleton,  of  Morgan  County,  and  by  her  had  three 
children — Fielding,  Mary  and  Eveline,  all  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Fielding  was  elected  School  Com- 
missioner of  Warren  County  in  1861  or  1862,  but 
died  shortly  after  his  election.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  brilliant  promise  ;  graduated  from  Lom- 
bard University  with  honors  in  1857  ;  shortly  after 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar,  but  died  April  19,  1862, 


when  only  28  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Bond  died  in 
September,  1842,  and  in  January,  1844,  Maj.  Bond 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Nancy  Terry,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children — Canzada  S.,  the  wife  of  Mathew 
Campbell,  of  Stella,  Neb  ;  and  Cordelia,  the  wife  of 
Henry  Staat,  of  Berwick  Township.  (See  sketch.) 
Maj.  Bond  was  the  father  of  ten  children,  six  of 
whom  survived  him,  and  all  of  whom  were  present 
at  his  funeral.  He  lived  to  behold  his  fourth  gen- 
eration of  children.  His  funeral  services  were  held 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  at  Greenbush, 
Sunday  afternoon,  May  21,  1882,  and  were  conducted 
by  Elder  Van  Meter,  a  well  known  minister  of  the 
Regular  Baptist  Church,  of  McDonough  County.  It 
was  attended  by  an  immense  concourse  of  old  set- 
tlers from  the  south  part  of  the  county,  who  knew 
the  venerable  and  esteemed  man  so  long,  so  inti- 
mately and  so  well.  He  was  buried  in  the  grave- 
yard laid  out  by  his  father  on  the  old  home  farm 
many  long  years  ago. 

Maj.  Bonfl  played  an  important  part  in  the  early 
history  of  Warren  County.  He  was  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  county  in  1839,  when  the  affairs  of 
the  county  were  conducted  by  three  men,  and  in 
1853,  together  with  Samuel  Hallam  and  Robert  Gil- 
more,  was  appointed  to  divide  the  county  into  Town- 
ships, which  they  did  as  they  now  exist.  After  the 
adoption  of  the  township  organization  system,  he 
was  the  first  Supervisor  elected  from  Greenbush,  and 
served  for  14  successive  years,  and  until  he  became 
so  deaf  and  bending  with  age  he  asked  his  fellow 
citizens  of  Greenbush  to  relieve  him  of  further  dis- 
charge of  his  arduous  duties.  He  served  the  county 


f 


190 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


on  the  Board  long  and  well,  and  his  judgment  and 
excellent  good  sense,  as  well  as  public  spirit,  per- 
vaded the  affairs  of  the  county  for  many  years.  He 
was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  south  part 
of  the  county,  to  which  position  he  was  elected  in 
1835,  and  appointed  his  own  constable  to  conduct 
his  court  and  serve  his  papers.  His  first  court  was 
held  in  a  smoke-house,  and  the  trial  was  over  a  steer 
belonging  to  some  Indianaian.  Being  his  first  term 
and  the  occasion  an  important  one,  he  ordered  his 
sons  to  clean  out  the  smoke-house,  and  set  the 
"  court-room  "  in  order.  While  carrying  out  the 
order,  they  performed  some  tricks  not  proper  to 
docket,  for  which  the  'squire  fined  them  "  for  con- 
tempt of  court,'  and  they  paid  the  penalty. 

In  1844,  Maj.  Bond  was  candidate  for  the  Legis- 
lature, and  was  beaten  by  only  three  votes.  He 
was  Assessor  for  his  township  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1828,  he  went  to  Galena  and  worked  in  the  lead 
mines.  He  passed  through  this  county  on  his  way 
and  camped  for  the  first  time  in  the  edge  of  the  tim- 
ber two  miles  west  of  what  became  his  own  home. 
At  that  time,  as  he  surveyed  the  broad,  open  prairie, 
that  stretched  out  for  miles  before  him,  he  was  en- 
raptured with  the  high  rolling  mound  where  the  old 
homestead  now  stands.  He  remarked  to  his  com- 
''panion  that  "  there  was  where  he  would  settle." 

He  received  his  title  as  Major  under  the  old  mil- 
itia law  of  Illinois,  and  was  Major  of  the  regiment  of 
this  section  of  the  country,  of  which  John  Butler, 
deceased,  of  Greenbush,  was  Colonel.  In  1834, 
Maj.  Bond  settled  on  the  old  homestead  where  he 
died.  The  land  was  entered  by  his  father,  and  after 
his  death  Maj.  Bond  purchased  from  the  other  heirs 
their  interest  in  the  farm. 

As  a  neighbor  and  friend,  he  was  a  most  genial 
and  companionable  man,  and  just  as  true  as  the 
needle  to  the  pole.  His  integrity  was  as  unbending 
as  the  oak,  and  no  man  more  heartily  despised  a 
dishonorable  action  than  he.  His  heart  and  purse 
were  ever  open  to  the  needy,  unfortunate  and  op- 
pressed, and  no  one  was  ever  turned  hungry  from 
his  door.  His  home  and  its  hospitalities  were  often 
shared  by  the  early  settlers  who  sought  locations  in 
this  county,  and  they  never  forgot  the  genuine  friend- 
ship they  received  from  John  C.  Bond,  and  many  are 
the  silent  tears  that  will  be  shed  to  his  memory  by 
those  who  bore  the  trials  and  vicissitudes  of  the 
years  long  gone  by  in  the  settlement  of  the  county. 


Having  well  and  faithfully  performed  the  task  set 
before  him,  and  more  than  filled  out  the  measure  of 
his  four  score  years  with  a  firm  and  abiding  faith  in 
the  mercies  of  a  true  and  just  God,  he  peacefully 
closed  his  eyes  and  rests  from  the  long  journey  of 
life.  Thus,  on  the  2oth  day  of  May,  1882,  passed 
away  John  C.  Bond,  as  good  and  true  a  man  as  ever 
resided  in  Warren  County,  leaving  to  his  descend- 
ants a  priceless  heritage — a  spotless  name.  His 
widow  is  still  living  and  now  resides  with  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Campbell,  at  Stella,  Nebraska.  His  grand- 
son, J.  C.  Bond,  lives  on  the  old  farm  in  Greenbush. 
We  are  pleased  to  present  the  portrait  of  Major 
Bond  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


B.  Houlton,  a  member  of  the  well  known 
banking  and  mercantile   firm  of  Chapin, 
Houlton   &  Co.,  Kirkwood,  was   born  in 
Maine,  in  1833.     His  father,  Joseph  Houlton, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  his  mother, 

. 

Almira  (Ray)  Houlton,  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  1852  and  set- 
tied  on  a  farm  in  Ellison  Township,  Warren  County. 
Here  the  elder  Houlton  passed  his  life  in  the  quiet 
pursuit  he  had  selected  31  years  before  his  death. 

In  1850  Mr.  F.  R.  Houlton  set  out  with  a  few 
others  to  cross  the  plains  to  California.  For  four 
years  and  a  half,  he  was  interested  in  gold  mining  on 
the  Pacific  Coast.  Returning  to  Illinois,  we  find 
him  in  1858,  entering  Kirkwood.  He  secured  an  en- 
gagement as  clerk  for  Knowles,  Ray  &  Chapin,  with 
whom  he  remained  one  year,  when  he  bought  out 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Knowles,  and  became  a  partner 
in  the  new  firm,  and  from  that  date,  1859,  until  the 
present,  he  has  been  connected  with  the  firm  and 
there  have  been  but  two  changes  in  it.  Besides  his 
interest  in  the  business  carried  on  by  Chapin,  Houl- 
ton &  Co.,  our  subject  owns  about  700  acres  of  land 
in  Warren  and  Henderson  Counties,  the  cultivation 
of  which  he  superintends  himself.  Politically  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Houlton  was  married  Jan.  22,  1862,  to  Miss 
L.  J.  Calkins,  who  was  a  native  of  Maine.  She  was 
born  June  18,  1836.  To  this  union  two  children 
have  been  born,  Blanche  L.  and  Fred.  N. ;  Fred.  N. 
died  in  infancy.  Blanche  L.  was  born  Sept.  7,  1863. 
Mrs.  Houlton  died  April  i,  1885. 


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WARREN  COUNTY. 


»9S 


i  illiam  Harrison  Frantz,  one  of  Warren 
County's  most  prominent  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens,  who  has  met  with  success 
in  his  chosen  vocation  of  life,  resides  on 
section  27,  Monmouth  Township.  He  is  a 
Director  in  the  Monmouth  National  Bank  and 
one  of  the  leading  general  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  of  this  section  of  Illinois.  He  is  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  was  born  in  Alleghany  County, 
that  State,  April  10,  1829.  His  father,  Solomon 
Frantz,  was  born  in  the  same  county.  His  par- 
ents were  John  and  Catherine  Frantz.  They 
were  early  settlers  in  the  State  and  their  grand- 
parents were  the  first  who  settled  in  the  United 
States  by  that  name,  having  located  in  Bedford 
Co.,  Pa.,  at  an  early  day.  A  few  years  previous  to 
their  demise  the  grandparents  removed  to  Alleghany 
County,  where  they  resided  until  their  death,  and 
where,  previous  to  that  event,  they  followed  the 
vocation  of  farming.  The  father  of  Mr.  Frantz,  of 
this  biographical  notice,  was  married  in  Alleghany 
County  to  Jane  McElroy,  a  lady  of  Scotch-Irish  ex- 
traction and  American  parentage.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  resided  in  Alleghany  County  until  1849, 
when  they  moved  to  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  and  there  be- 
came large  land-owners  and  successful  farmers, 
carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits  until  about  1871. 
During  that  year  they  came  to  this  State  and  settled 
on  a  part  of  the  farm  belonging  to  William  H.,  in  this 
county.  Here  the  father  died  in  March,  1882,  aged 
79  years.  He  was  a  strong  temperance  man  and  was 
one  of  the  first  to  sign  the  total  abstinence  pledge 
in  the  State  of  Maryland,  which  he  scrupulously 
kept  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  fact,  the  family 
were  noted  for  their  strong  temperance  views  and 
their  lives  were  passed  in  strict  accordance  with 
their  opinions.  The  mother  yet  survives  and  re- 
sides with  her  son,  H.  M.  Frantz,  and  although 
at  the  venerable  age  of  8t  years,-  is  enjoying  the 
best  of  health.  She  and  her  husband  were  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
were  respected  and  honored  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  resided.  Their  children  were 


nine  in  number,  two  of  whom  have  passed  to  the 
land  of  the  hereafter.  The  following  is  a  record  of 
their  family  :  Lucinda,  who  married  Alfred  Thayer, 
and  resides  at  Tuscola,  Douglas  County,  this  State. 
Mr.  Thayer  is  a  stock  dealer  and  farmer,  but  has  re- 
tired from  the  active  labors  of  life,  enjoying  the 
accumulations  of  the  past.  Andrew  J.  who  married 
Virginia  Johnson,  and  resides  in  the  city  of  Bran- 
don, Mississippi,  is  editor  of  the  Brandon  Re- 
publican ;  William  H.  was  the  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Isabella  was  united  in  marriage  with  O.  P. 
Wilson,  who  follows  the  occupation  of  a  fanner  in 
Monmouth  Township,  this  county ;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Thomas  Bushfield.  She  died  in  Ohio,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1855;  John  H.  (see  sketch)  married  Anna 
Porter  and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Spring  Grove  Town- 
ship ;  Catherine  became  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Free,  who 
is  a  resident  of  New  Lexington,  Perry  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  is  following  the  profession  of  the  law.  He 
was  also  Major  of  a  regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteers  dur- 
ing the  late  Rebellion;  Mrs.  Free  died  in  1864;! 
Nannie  E.  was  married  twice,  her  first  husband  be- 
ing J.  D.  Mackey,  after  whose  demise  she  became! 
the  wife  of  S.  K.  Cramer,  who  is  a  resident  of  Wap-K 
ello  Co.,  Iowa;  H.  M.  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Flora  Murphy,  and  is  a  farmer  and  stock  ship- 
per, residing  in  Monmouth  Township  (see  sketch).  • 

Our  subject  received  all  the  advantages  in  the  way 
of  an  education  afforded  by  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  county,  and  when  disengaged,  assisted  his 
father  in  the  duties  of  the  farm  until  he  attained  his 
i  gth  year,  when  his  parents  removed  to  New  Lexing- 
ton, Perry  Co.,  Ohio.  Remaining  at  the  latter  place 
three  years,  his  next  move  was  in  the  year  1851, 
when  he  came  to  Warren  County  and  -located  in 
Monmouth  Township.  Here  our  subject  rented 
land  for  about  four  years.  He  then  purchased  a 
tract  of  80  acres,  all  of  which  was  improved,  but 
soon  sold  this  and  bought  180  acres,  a  portion  of 
which  is  included  in  his  present  homestead. 

April  2,  1857,  Mr.  Frantz  was  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's 
parents  at  Monmouth,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Lucas, 
daughter  of  Marsham  and  Elizabeth  (Deweese) 
Lucas,  natives  of  Kentucky.  Her  mother  was  first 
married  in  her  native  State  to  William  Davidson,  by 
whom  she  had  four  children,  only  one  of  whom  sur- 
vives. Her  marriage  to  Mr.  Lucas  was  celebrated 
in  Monmouth  Township,  this  county,  and  to  them 


196 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


have  been  born  six  children,  of  whom  four  survive. 
Mrs.  F.,  our  subject's  wife,  is  the  eldest.  Next  in 
order  of  birth  was  John  T.,  his  death  occurring 
when  a  young  man  of  20  years  ;  William  B.,  the  third, 
formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Melissa  John- 
son, and  follows  the  vocation  of  farming  near  Ash- 
land, Neb. ;  Charles  is  also  married,  his  wife's  maiden 
name  being  Lidia  Taylor.  He  is  a  conductor  on 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railway,  and  re- 
sides at  Galesburg ;  Benedict  N.  is  a  resident  of  Ore- 
gqn,  and  is  engaged  in  farming ;  Cassius  died  in  early 
life.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Frantz  are  yet  living  and 
reside  at  Abingdon,  Knox  County,  this  State,  where 
they  are  living  in  retirement.  Her  father  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  this  county,  coming  here  as 
early  as  1830.  He  helped  to  locate  the  county 
road  and  lay  out  the  city  of  Monmouth,  and  exten- 
sively operated  here  for  nearly  half  a  century.  He 
was  here  when  the  Indians  were  numerous  and  en- 
dured all  the  privations  incident  to  the  settlement  of 
a  new  country.  At  that  early  date  Chicago  was 
their  trading  post,  and  thither  they  were  compelled 
to  go  to  do  all  their  marketing.  He  is  now  in  his 
851)1  year,  and  his  wife,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Frantz, 
in  her  7Sth  year,  and  both  are  enjoying  extremely 
good  health  for  that  age  in  life,  and  are  among  the 
best  known  and  most  highly  respected  pioneers  of 
this  part  of  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Frantz  enjoyed  only  such  educational  advan- 
tages as  the  common  schools — such  as  they  were 
in  an  early  day— afforded.  She  is,  however,  re- 
garded by  her  many  friends  as  a  lady  of  rare  cul- 
ture and  refinement.  She  is  one  of  the  leading 
spirits  in  every  circle  in  which  she  moves.  The 
most  excellent  judgment  which  she  possesses,  and 
the  qualities  of  both  mind  and  heart  with  which  she 
is  gifted,  eminently  fit  her  for  a  wider  sphere  than 
the  home  circle.  However,  in  this  divinely  endowed 
sphere,  that  of  the  home,  she  is  a  wife  and  mother  of 
the  most  admirable  type.  She  continued  to  reside 
with  her  parents  until  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Frantz. 
Of  their  union  seven  children  have  been  born, 
namely  :  Delavan  C.,who  chose  for  his  life  partner, 
Mary  E.  Paine,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Mon- 
mouth Township.  They  have  had  one  child, — 
Harrison  Paine;  Kate  married  Charles  Sickmon, 
who  is  also  a  farmer  of  Monmouth  Township;  Sina 
became  the  wife  of  Philo  Kettering,  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  she  also  lives  near  her  old  home;  Pearl, 


Ella  J.  and  Mary  L.  reside  at  home.    The  demise  of 
Georgie  V.  occurred  in  infancy. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frantz,  they 
located  on  the  homestead  which  Mr.  F.  had  previ- 
ously purchased,  and  where  he  was  for  a  few  years 
engaged  in  farming,  afterwards  going  extensively  into 
the  stock  business,  (  buying,  breeding  and  ship- 
ping stock  )  in  which  business  he  is  still  engaged 
at  the  present  time.  Mr.  F.  is  one  of  the  heaviest 
land-owners  in  this  county,  owning  nearly  1,000 
acres,  all  joining,  and  having  three  good  residences 
and  eight  houses  on  his  land.  His  land  is  all  under 
an  advanced  state  of  cultivation  and  he  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  of  Warren  County.  His  ac- 
cumulations of  this  world's  goods  is  indicative  of  that 
energy,  perseverance  and  good  judgment  which  he 
possesses. 

During  the  last  four  years  he  has  been  engaged  in 
the    breeding  of  fine  stock.      In  July  of  1882,  he 
visited    England,   Scotland   and    France,   where  he    T 
made  purchases  of  some  of  the  purest-blooded  stock  "i 
to  be  found  in  those  countries.     Among  the  animals  , 
he  bought  were  King  Cole,  Knight  of  Athloe,  Prin-  j  i 
cess  of  Wales,  Princess  Beatrice  and  Maggie  Wilson.^ 
These    are  the  names   by    which    these    splendid  i 
animals  were  known  in    the    herd   books   of  Great  I  i 
Britain    and    America.      They    were    pure-blooded ' 
Clydesdales,  and  rank  among  the  best  horses  ever 
brought  to  Illinois.    Princess  of  Wales  has  taken  the 
first  premiums  at  the  Chicago  State  Fair,  State  Fairs 
at  Peoria,  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,   and   at  the  great 
fair  at  St.  Louis.     These  magnificent  specimens  of 
this    excellent    breed   of    horses   were    bought    by 
Mr.  Frantz   for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  char- 
acter of  the    horses    throughout    his    section  of  the 
county.     The  results  have  been  most  gratifying,  and 
he  should    be    commended  for    his  enterprise    and 
receive  the  gratitude  of  farmers  and  those  interested 
in  raising  this  noble  animal  in  Warren  County. 

Not  only  has  Mr.  Frantz  exhibited  rare  enter- 
prise in  his  desire  to  develop  the  horse  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  State,  but  has  carried  the  same  spirit 
into  his  plans  to  better  the  grade  of  cattle.  This  is 
shown  by  his  purchase  of  several  head  of  pure  Gal- 
loway cattle  from  some  of  the  famous  herds  of 
Scotland,  which  he  added  to  his  already  extensive 
herd  on  his  fine  stock  farm,  near  Monmouth.  Among 
those  secured  from  Scotland  were  North  Star,  Rock- 
ford,  Bonnie  Lass  and  Bonnie  Perle. 


i  t 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


197 


The  publishers  of  this  ALBUM  are  not  only  pleased 
to  be  able  to  present  Mr.  Frantz's  property  as  show- 
ing one  of  the  most  beautiful  country  residences  and 
splendid  set  of  farm  buildings  in  the  Military  Tract, 
but  to  show  some  of  the  magnificent  specimens  of 
both  horses  and  cattle  above  mentioned. 

Mrs.  Frantz  and  some  of  her  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church.  Politically,  Mr.  F.  is 
a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  has  held  the  position 
of  Road  Commissioner,  School  Trustee  and  Director 
in  his  township,  and  is  a  gentleman  whose  word  in  a 
financial  point  of  view  is  considered  equal  to  his 
bond.  His  portrait,  as  one  of  the  truly  representa- 
tive men  of  this  county,  is  given  in  connection  with 
this  sketch. 


J.  Wood,  associate  editor  of  the  Dai- 
ly Evening  Gazette,  of  Monmouth,   a  son 
of  Cyrus    A.   and   Mary  A.  (Roe)  Wood, 
was  bom  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  3,  1858. 
His  father  was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  and 
died  when  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  but 
four  years  of  age. 

At  the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  sup- 
plemented by  a  thorough  preparatory  training  at 
Cortland,  N.  Y.,  Normal  Academy,  Cyrus  J.  Wood 
fitted  himself  for  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  University,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated  with  honors  in  the 
class  of  1883.  The  following  fall  found  him  at  Mon- 
mouth, where  he  at  once  began  the  study  of  law,  ac- 
cepting in  the  meantime  the  position  of  reporter  on 
the  Gazette.  It  may  be  well  to  remember,  that  for 
several  years  (and  the  question  may  not  even  yet  be 
definitely  settled)  he  was  not  quite  sure  as  to 
whether  the  third  or  the  fourth  estate,  as  recognized 
by  men  of  letters,  should  become  the  field  of  his  per- 
manent operations.  While  at  college  he  held  the 
position  of  telegraph  editor  of  the  Rochester  Sunday 
Morning  Herald,  and  after  graduating,  and  before 
coining  West,  he  was  police  reporter  of  the  daily  is- 
sue of  the  same  paper.  Since  coming  to  the  city  of 
Monmouth,  though  he  has  in  nowise  neglected  the 
study  of  law,  the  press  has  claimed  him  fully  as  one 
of  its  members.  From  reporter  he  was  first  promoted 


to  the  position  of  city  editor  of  the  Gazette,  and  was 
soon  afterward  advanced  to  the  position  he  has  since 
so  ably  filled  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  Gazette 
and  its  readers. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  October,  1885,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  legal  profession  he  may  yet 
achieve  the  highest  aims  of  his  ambition  and  a  rec- 
ord that  will  favorably  compare  with  that  made  by 
any  of  the  disciples  of  Blackstone. 


H3- 


eorge  Abbey,  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness at  Kirk  wood,  is  a  native  of  New  York, 
having  been  born  in  Steuben  County,  in 
1844.  He  is  a  son  of  Newman  and  Harriet 
(Van  Wagoner)  Abbey,  natives  of  Ulster  Co., 
N.  Y.  The  father  came  to  this  State  in  1857, 
and  at  first  located  on  section  3,  Tompkins  Town- 
ship, where,  on  rented  land,  he  was  engaged  in 
fanning  for  one  year.  He  then  moved  into  the  vil- 
lage of  Kirkwood  and  embarked  in  the  drug  business 
with  Mr.  L.  Howard,  the  original  firm  continuing  to 
exist  for  three  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  took  into  the  business  his  son,  Horatio,  and  the 
partnership  continued  until  the  death  of  the  father, 
Sept.  i,  1885. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  we  place  at  the  head 
of  this  notice  was  an  inmate  of  his  father's  household 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  17  years,  receiving  at  his 
hands  and  in  the  common  schools  of  the  county  a 
good  English  education.  At  that  young  age  in  life, 
George  Abbey  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union, 
joining  Company  A,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  a  private, 
and  served  in  defense  of  his  country's  flag  for  two 
years  and  eleven  months.  He  participated  in  the 
second  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  and  engaged  in  many 
skirmishes  with  the  guerrillas  and  was  in  between  20 
and  30  engagements  with  them.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge,  came  home  and  once  more  entered  upon 
the  peaceful  pursuits  of  life.  He  rented  land  and 
for  two  years  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  1 867  he 
embarked  in  the  livery  business,  with  which  he  com- 
bined that  of  a  feed  and  sale  stable  at  Kirkwood  and 
has  since  continued  in  the  same,  meeting  with  that 


i98 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


success  which  almost  universally  comes  to  a  man 
possessed  of  that  push  and  energy  which  has  char- 
acterized Mr.  Abbey's  career  in  life.  In  addition  to 
his  extensive  stables,  located  contiguous  to  the  tracks 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  Mr. 
Abbey  has  a  fine  residence  and  two  lots  in  the  vil- 
lage. He  is  also  the  owner  of  80  acres  of  land  in 
Kansas,  which  he  is  rapidly  bringing  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Abbey  was  solemnized  in 
1871,  at  which  time  Miss  Helen  Barnum,  a  native  of 
this  State,  became  his  wife.  Mr.  Abbey  votes  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  socially  is  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  He  is  eminently  worthy  to  be  classed  as 
one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  the  thriv- 
ing little  village  of  Kirkwood. 


'  saac  B.  Kirby,  engaged  as  a  general  farmer 
on  section  34,  Ellison  Township,  was  born 
in  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  June  25,  1825,  his  father 
being  Joseph  H  Kirby,  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
at  present  residing  in  Berwick  Township,  this 
county.     Of  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  our  subject  was  the  eldest. 

Isaac  B.  lived  at  home  until  he  attained  the  age 
of  25  years,  when  he  was  married,  on  the  7th  of  July, 
1850,  in  Greene  County,  to  Miss  Eliza  A^  Bailey,  a 
native  of  the  same  county.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  a  Pennsylvania  farmer,  and  lived  at  home  until 
her  marriage.  Her  parents  died  some  time  ago  in 
the  Keystone  State.  Mrs.  Kirby  was  the  youngest 
child  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  and  of  her  union 
with  Isaac  B.  Kirby,  she  has  become  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living.  Three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  of  the  above  mentioned  eight 
children,  are  married. 

In  the  fall  after  marriage,  Mr.  Kirby  came  to 
Illinois,  and  rented  land  for  two  years  in  Peoria 
County,  after  which  time  he  removed  to  Warren 
County  and  in  the  latter  county  purchased  an  80- 
acre  tract  of  land  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
improved  his  farm  and  added  to  his  original  purchase 
until  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  200  acres  in  this 
township,  and  240  acres  in  Iowa,  where  two  of  his 


sons  now  reside.  Mr.  Kirby  has  been  a  very  suc- 
cessful agriculturist,  which  is  attributable  to  his  in- 
domitable energy,  economy  and  perseverance,  with 
the  assistance  of  his  good  helpmeet. 

Religiously,  Mr.  Kirby  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  K.  has  filled 
the  position  of  Township  Trustee  and  has  also  held 
several  of  the  minor  township  offices,  creditably  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  each.  Politically,  he  is  iden- 
tified w ith  the  Democratic  party. 


ames  F.  Arthurs  is  a  pioneer  of  Warren 
County  of  1836  and  resides  on  section  18. 
Kelly  Township.  He  was  born  in  the 
southern  section  of  the  United  States,  and  was 
reared  there.  The  death  of  his  father  when 
he  was  three  years  old  left  a  heavy  burden  on 
the  mother,  as  there  were  eight  children  of  whom 
she  was  sole  guardian.  In  1831,  a  removal  of  the 
family  to  Putnam  Co.,  Ind.,  was  effected,  and  in 
1836  another  change  brought  the  widow  and  her 
children  to  Illinois. 

Mr.  Arthurs  was  born  Dec.  29,  1807,  and  is  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Wingfield)  Arthurs. 
Mr.  Arthurs  was  19  when  he  came  to  this  county, 
where  he  has  since  been  identified  with  its  develop- 
ment and  general  well-being.  The  journey  was 
made  hither  in  the  manner  common  in  those  days, 
with  horses  and  oxen,  and  the  domestic  affairs  were 
managed  while  the  party  were  en  route  as  nearly  as 
possible  as  in  the  home  they  had  left.  Mr.  Arthurs 
lived  with  his  brother-in-law  for  a  few  months  after 
reaching  Illinois,  and  meanwhile  bought  the  land  in- 
cluded in  the  farm  which  he  now  owns.  He  erected 
a  log  house  and  split  clapboards  for  the  roof  and 
puncheons  for  the  floor.  The  place  now  presents  a. 
modernized  appearance,  as  the  cabin  of  that  early 
period  has  given  place  to  farm-structures  that  are  in 
every  way  suitable  to  the  change  in  the  circum- 
stances of  the  proprietor  and  to  the  times. 

The  union  in  marriage  of  Mr.  Arthurs  and  Miss 
Elizabeth  A.  Carmichael,  took  place  in  1835.  She 
was  born  in  the  District  of  Newbury,  South  Carolina, 
July  5,  1817.  Five  of  their  children  are  now  living. 
Two  sons  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  361)1  111.  Vol.  Inf.  Will- 


: 


—  -  Y .  '. — "~ 

WARREN  COUNTY. 


199 


iam  T.  was  killed  in  the  action  at  Stone  River,  Tenn. 
Abraham  Y.  died  a  few  weeks  after  his  return  to  his 
home. 

Mr.  Arthurs  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  He  is  a  man  whom  his  fellow  citizens  re- 
spect and  esteem. 


ohn  P.  Campbell  is  the  present  Township 
Clerk  of  Spring  Grove.  He  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  6,  1853.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  fourth  generation  from  his 
earliest  known  ancestor  in  this  country,  being 
of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  John  A.  Camp- 
bell, his  father,  was  born  in  1807,  in  the  same  coun- 
ty in  Pennsylvania  where  the  son  was  born.  He  was 
bred  a  farmer,  that  •  having  been  the  calling  of  his 
race  for  many  generations.  He  was  married  in  the 
Keystone  State  to  Mary  J.  Wray,  who  was  also  born 
Huntingdon  County,  Oct.  16,  1817.  After  his 
marriage  the  senior  Campbell  bought  a  farm  in  Bra- 
dy Township,  seven  miles  from  the  county-seat, 
which  remained  the  home  of  the  family  until  1865, 
when  the  property  was  sold  and  a  removal  to  Illi- 
nois effected.  A  farm  was  rented  in  Suez  Township, 
in  Mercer  County,  where  they  resided  one  year,  dur- 
ing which  time  the  father  was  engaged  in  prospect- 
ing for  a  suitable  location  for  a  permanent  homestead. 
In  company  with  his  eldest  son,  he  bought  a  farm  on 
section  9,  in  the  township  of  Spring  Grove,  which,  in 
the  spring  of  1866,  he  took  possession  of  and  made 
it  the  family  residence  until  the  death  of  the  father, 
which  took  place  in  1873.  His  widow  now  resides 
in  Norwood,  Mercer  Codnty.  They  were  the  parents 
of  ii  children,  of  whom  eight  are  still  living. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  the  fourth  child.  He  was  12 
years  old  when  his  father's  family  removed  to  Illi- 
nois. He  had  obtained  a  fair  education  before  com- 
ing to  this  State,  but  after  removal  hither  he  contin- 
ued his  studies  in  the  common  schools  of  Spring 
Grove  Township.  In  the  interims  of  school  he  en- 
gaged in  the  duties  of  farming.  He  obtained  a  prac- 
tical education,  and  in  1874  he  commenced  teaching. 
He  made  his  first  engagement  as  a  pedagogue  in 
District  No.  5,  of  the  same  township  in  which  he  now 


lives.  In  July,  1877,  he  bought  an  interest  in  the 
dry-goods  establishment  of  G.  B.  Hardy,  at  Alexis, 
and  carried  on  a  commercial  business  for  14  months. 
He  sold  out  at  the  end  of  that  time  and  resumed 
teaching,  to  which  profession  he  has  since  devoted 
himself  exclusively,  having  been  engaged  for  nearly 
eight  years  in  the  schools  of  Alexis. 

Politically,  Mr.  Campbell  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
officiated  as  Collector  in  his  township  and  is  serving 
a  second  term  in  his  present  official  position. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Ida  Mc- 
Bride,  Oct.  n,  1877.  She  was  born  in  Monmouth, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Abisha  and  Parmelia  (Alley) 
McBride.  Their  children  are  Freddie  H.  and  Stan- 
ley Vergne.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  he  is  one  of  the  El- 
ders of  his  congregation. 


oseph  S.  Gowdy,  engaged  as  an  agricultur- 
ist on  section  24,  Hale  Township,,  was 
born  in  Clarke  Co., .Ohio,  June  29,  1831. 
He  lived  at  the  place  of  his  nativity  until  he 
was  about  20  years  of  age,  when  he  decided  Jo 
come  Westward,  deeming  the  facilities  better 
there  for  acquiring  a  competency  than  in  the  East. 
He  has,  since  1851,  made  his  residence  in  Warren 
County,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in 
Henderson  County.  He  purchased  70  acres  of  land, 
which,  by  his  careful  judgment  and  energy,  has  been 
put  in  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  and  is  second 
to  none  in  the  township  in  its  appearance  to-day. 

Mr.  Gowdy  was  united  in  marriage  in  Hale  Town- 
ship, Oct.  24,  1860,  with  Eliza  Hess,  who  was  born 
in  Clarke  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  8,  1840.  Of  their  union, 
four  children  have  been  born,  their  names  being  as 
follows  :  Lunetta  B.,  Henry  C.,  Meda  A.  and  Nan- 
nie L.  Mr.  Gowdy  has  been  School  Director,  and 
himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Gowdy  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

The  parents,  John  and  Ann  (Steele)  Gowdy,  were 
natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  They 
came  to  Warren  County  before  the  days  of  railroads, 
locating  in  Hale  Township  as  early  as  1851.  Here 


200 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1 


they  lived  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  becoming 
well  known  and  highly  respected  people  of  that  com- 
munity. The  elder  Gowdy  died  Oct.  12,  1864,  his 
wife  dying  March  8,  1880.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Gowdy  were  Christian  and  Nancy  (Sellburger)  Hess. 
They  were  both  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Hess 
came  to  Warren  County  the  year  before  the  elder 
Gowdy,  being  in  the  spring  of  1850.  His  wife  died 
in  Ohio,  in  May,  1845.  He  lives  at  Kirkwood,  111. 


\  saac  Jenkins,  a  retired  farmer  residing  in 
Berwick  village,  was  born  in  Clermont  Co., 
Ohio,  Aug.  20,  1814,  and  is  a  son  of  Zeph- 
aniah  Jenkins,  who  was  born  Aug.  9,  1789,  in 
New  Jersey,  and  who  moved  with  his  parents 
t  to  Ohio  in  1805,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  Dec.  i,  1854.  Zephaniah 
Jenkins  was  married  Jan.  16,  1812,  to  Miss  South, 
who  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  in  1789,  and  died  in 
Ohio,  in  1844.  Their  children  were  four  in  num- 
ber,— John  S.,  Isaac,  Frances  M.  and  Elijah. 

Isaac  Jenkins,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
no.tice,  worked  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the 
common  school,  developing  into  manhood.  He  also 
passed  a  portion  of  his  time  in  clerking  in  his  native 
State  before  coming  to  this  county.  He  came  here 
March  25,  1853,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, which  he  continued  until  the  time  he  removed 
to  Berwick  village. 

Mr.  Jenkins  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Kellum, 
March  4,  1841,  in  Ohio,  Rev.  Fife,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  officiating.  She  was  born  Sept. 
19,  1817,  in  New  Jersey,  her  parents  moving  to  Ohio 
when  she  was  but  one  year  old.  Her  father,  James 
Kellum,  was  born  May  i,  1792,  and  died  May  30, 
1878,  in  Berwick.  He  was  married  to  Ann  Albert- 
son,  in  1816,  who  died  Oct.  20,  1880.  The  issue  of 
their  union  was  nine  children, — Caroline,  wife  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch ;  Elizabeth,  born  April  30, 
1819;  Maria,  July,  26,  1821;  Rebecca,  Dec.  13, 
1823;  James,  Sept.  20,  1826;  Josiah,  Aug.  13,  1829; 
John  M.,  March  20,  1832;  Edward  M.,  Nov.  30, 
1834;  Sanford  W.,  March  21,  1837. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  have  had  born   to  them 


five  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased.  The 
record  is  as  follows:  Annie,  born  Dec.  3,  1841; 
John,  April  i,  1844,  died  May  19,  1866;  Amanda, 
born  Nov.  23,  1847,  died  Nov.  19,  1848;  Dean  F., 
born  Oct.  u,  1850,  died  the  same  year;  Belle,  born 
March  15,  1857. 

Mr.  Jenkins  has  7654  acres  of  good  farm  land  on 
section  8,  Berwick  Township,  and  also  2*4  acres 
inside  the  corporate  limits  of  Berwick  village,  on 
which  he  has  a  good  residence  and  there  resides  re- 
tired from  the  active  labors  of  life.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Good  Templars  and  also  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  to  which  latter  organization  he  has 
belonged  for  36  years.  He  at  present  is  a  member 
of  Lodge  No.  84,  Abingdon.  Religiously,  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  located 
at  Berwick,  and  politically,  he  votes  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 

The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Jenkins,  James  Kellum, 
was  born  Jan.  18,  1758,  and  died  April  26, 1817,  and 
his  wife,  Elizabeth  Kellum,  was  born  Feb.  n,  1759, 
and  died  in  1819.  Their  children  were,  Gilbert, 
born  April  8,  1780,  died  May  19,  1844;  Ziba,  born 
Feb.  18,  1782,  died  May  12,  1832;  John,  born  April 
23,  1785;  Lovisa,  born  Aug.  12,  1787;  Rebecca, 
Dec.  23,  1789;  James,  May  i,  1792;  Elizabeth, 
Jan.  17,  1795;  William,  birth  unknown  ;  Aaron,  born 
June  6,  1800. 


.ark  S.  Douglas,  manager  of  the  Star  Livery, 
Sale  and  Feed  Stables,  of  Monmouth,  is  a 
native  of  that  city,  having  been  born  Sept. 
13,  1847.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  Douglas, 
whose  biography  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  the 
pages  of  this  work.  Hark  S.  was  educated  at 
the  Monmouth  schools  and  studied  law  some  time 
with  Mr.  Almon  Kidder,  but  the  "  turf"  was  always 
more  attractive  to  him  than  were  the  pages  of  Coke 
or  Blackstone,  so  we  find  him  in  1880  engaged  in 
the  livery  business,  to  the  management  of  which  he 
has  since  devoted  himself  with  an  assiduity  that  fully 
betokens  his  eminent  fitness  for  that  particular  sphere 
in  life.  And,  in  point  of  fact,  aside  from  a  horse 
show  or  a  horse  race,  his  present  business  affords  him 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


JO  I 


more  real  pleasure  than  anything  else  that  he  could 
possibly  engage  in. 

He  was  too  young  for  a  soldier  and  too  honest  for 
a  politician,  so  the  name  of  Hark  Douglas  will  prob- 
ably continue  for  some  time  to  be  found  among  the 
plain,  every-day  people,  though  it  is  not  likely  that 
as  a  rule  the  class  named  will  have  quite  as  much 
fun  as  he  will.  >  In  politics,  the  Republicans  claim 
him,  but  as  he  boasts  of  being  a  "  Mugwump,"  it  is 
evident  that  his  great  love  for  the  old  land-marks  of 
that  party  did  not  include  a  certain  "  plumed  knight." 

Mr.  D.  was  married  at  Abingdon,  111.,  Feb.  15, 
1872,10  Miss  Lidie  Reynolds,  a  native  of  Warren 
County,  111.  They  have  two  children,  a  girl  and 
boy,  bearing  the  names  of  Leota  and  S.  Leonard. 


Sillis  Fruit  is  an  old  settler  of  Warren 
County  and  is  a  farmer  on  section  25, 
Kelly  Township.  He  was  born  Aug.  3, 
1810,  in  Henderson  Co.,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son 
of  Doakes  and  Milly  (Hanks)  Pruit.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  North  Carolina,  and 
were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  county  in 
Kentucky  where  their  son  was  born.  They  both 
died  there. 

Mr.  Pruit  received  the  bringing  up  and  education 
of  a  farmer's  son,  and  in  1829  he  went  to  Brecken- 
ridge  County,  in  his  native  State,  where  he  liyed  four 
years.  While  there,  in  1832,  he  was  married  to  Jane 
Moredock.  She  was  a  native  of  the  county  where 
she  was  married,  and  was  born  Dec.  24,  1823.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pruit  left  that  county  in  the  year  in  which 
they  were  married  and  returned  thither  in  1834.  Mr. 
Pruit  engaged  in  farming  until  the  struggle  between 
Texas  and  Mexico  gave  opportunity  to  see  the  world, 
and  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  Mexican  govern- 
ment. He  was  in  service  there  three  years  and  was 
in  the  action  at  San  Jacinto  under  Santa  Anna.  He 
remained  a  year  in  Henderson  County  after  his  re- 
turn to  Kentucky,  and  went  thence  to  New  Madrid 
Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  operated  as  a  farmer  two  years. 
In  1845,  he  came  to  Warren  County.  He  ob- 
tained the  ownership  of  the  farm  on  which  he  has 
resided  for  forty  years  and  on  which  there  had  been 


a  few  acres  of  prairie  broken.  He  erected  a  log 
cabin,  and  when  the  structure  burned  three  years 
later  he  erected  the  frame  house  in  which  his  family 
have  since  lived.  Mrs.  Pruit  died  in  1879.  They 
had  five  children.  William  is  a  resident  of  Furness 
Co.,  Neb. ;  Lucy  is  Mrs.  S.  G.  Heflin,  of  Shelby  Co., 
Iowa;  Abby  is  married  to  Mr.  E.  Guernsey,  of  Pot- 
tawatomie  Co.,  Iowa ;  Alfred  G.  lives  in  York  Co., 
Neb. ;  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  Homer  Guernsey,  and 
they  are  the  managers  of  the  Pruit  homestead. 


eorge   W.  Robinson,   the  owner  of  250 
acres  of  good  farm  land  located  on  sec- 
tions 5,  6  and  17,  Berwick  Township,  and 
which  he  is  actively  engaged   in  cultivating, 
was  born  in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  5, 
1842.     He  is  a  son  of  William  Robinson,  also 
a  native  of  York  State,  born  there  in  1812,  and  who 
died  in  his  native  State  in   1876.     The  father  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Ruah  Newman  in  1834.     She  was  born<J 
in    1815,  in   New  Jersey,  and  died  iiv  1878.     They! 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  born  in  the  follow- 
ing order:     Lydia  M.,  Oct.  28,  1836  ;  Cordelia,  Nov.] 
7,  1838;  William  W.,  Nov.    28,   1840;  George  W., 
Dec.  s,  1842. 

George  W.  Robinson  formed  a  matrimonial  alli- 
ance Oct.  24,  1867,  with  Miss  Anna  Jenkins,  who 
was  born  in  the  Buckeye  State,  Dec.  3,  1841.  Her 
father,  Isaac  Jenkins,  was  born  in  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  1815.  He  married  Miss  Caroline  Kellum  (born 
Sept.  19,  1818,)  March  4,  1841,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1853.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  children  and  are 
both  yet  living,  passing  the  sunset  of  their  lives  in 
peace  and  quiet  in  the  village  of  Berwick.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Anna,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice; 
John,  born  April  i,  1844  ;  Amanda  died  in  infancy  ; 
Dean,  who  also  died  in  infancy;  and  Belle,  born  in 

1857- 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson  of 
this  notice  are  John  W.,  born  May  4,  1869;  Edith, 
Dec.  9,  1873;  Claude,  June  7,  1875;  Zaida  Belle, 
May  6,  1879;  and  Arthur  Garfield,  Oct.  8,  1881. 

Mr.  Robinson  enlisted  in  the  War  for  the  Union, 
joining  Co.  C,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Aug.  9,  1862,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  service  at  Monmouth,  111. 


202 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


He  accompanied  his  regiment  to  Cairo,  111.,  where 
it  remained  some  two  weeks.  He  was  first  in  active 
service  at  Forts  Henry  and  Hindman  ;  was  then 
ordered  to  Fort  Donelson,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Feb.  3,  1863  ;  then  went  to  Clarksville, 
Tenn.,  at  which  point  he  remained  until  he  was 
mustered  out,  July  5,  1865.  He  was  once  wounded 
(in  the  back  of  the  neck),  but  it  was  not  sufficiently 
serious  to  prevent  him  from  participating  in  every 
battle  in  which  his  company  was  engaged  up  to  the 
time  of  being  mustered  out  of  service. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  he  returned  to  this 
county  and  again  engaged  in  the  peaceful  pursuits 
of  life.  On  his  fine  farm  of  250  acres  he  has  a  good 
residence  and  barn,  and  is  meeting  with  that  success 
in  life  which  is  duly  merited  by  a  man  of  his  energy 
and  perseverance.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.,  Post,  No.  239,  at  Monmouth,  and,  in  his 
politics,  votes  as  he  shot,  with  the  Republican  party. 


^lonzo  Sperry,  formerly  an  agriculturist  of 
this  county,  but  who  at  present  is  passing 
the  sunset  of  his  life  in  quiet  retirement, 
residing  on  section  10,  Hale  Township,  was 
born  in  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  22,  1822. 
He  continued  to  reside  in  his  native  State  un- 
til about  1849,  when  he  went  to  Jefferson  Co.,  Wis., 
and  there  lived  until  1860.  During  that  year  he 
came  to  this  county  and  became  a  citizen  of  Mon- 
mouth Township,  from  whence  he  moved  to  Lenox 
Township,  and  then,  in  1874,  made  another  removal, 
locating  in  Hale  Township,  where  for  the  past  n 
years  he  has  continued  to  reside.  He  has  disposed 
of  his  real  estate  and  now  lives  a  retired  life  in  Hale 
Township. 

The  marriage  of  Alonzo  Sperry  to  Miss  Julia 
Heath,  occurred  Nov.  15,  1844,  in  Ashtabula  Co., 
Ohio.  She  was  born  in  the  county  in  which  she  was 
married,  Aug.  2,  1826,  and  has  borne  her  husband 
three  children,— Aura  E.,  George  VV.  and  Plin  R. 
Aura  was  married  to  George  Lynch  Jan.  31,  1863, 
.  but  is  now  residing  with  her  brother  in  Hale  Town- 
ship; George  W.  is  a  mechanic  living  at  Monmouth; 
and  Plin  R.  is  engaged  in  farming,  living  in  Hale 
Township^where  he  is  the  owner  of  90  acres  of  land, 
the  major  portion  of  which  is  tillable. 


In  politics,  Mr.  Sperry  endorses  the  principles  ad- 
vocated by  the  Democratic  party. 


evi  B.  Cowick,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  re- 
siding in  Larchland,  and  owning  240  acres 
of  improved  and  well  equipped  farm  land, 
in  Lenox  Township,  is  the  second  child  in  or- 
der  of  birth  of  his  parent's  family.  He  was  born 
Sept.  2,  1846,  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  John 
and  Hannah  (Bixler)  Cowick,  his  parents,  were  na- 
tives of  the  Keystone  State,  coming  to  Warren  Co., 
111.,  in  1854,  \vhen  they  settled  in  Monmouth.  They 
now  reside  in  Lenox  Township.  Their  children  were 
Mary,  Levi  B.  and  Samuel  R.  Mary  and  Samuel  R. 
reside  in  Kansas. 

Levi  B.  Cowick,  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  biographical  notice,  was  but  a  child  of  eight . 
years  when  his  parents  removed  to  Warren  County, 
and  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  resident.  Mr. 
Cowick  was  among  the  many  who  with  brave  hearts  _- 
and  strong  arms  successfully  defended  the  Union 
flag  in  the  struggle  against  treason.  He  enlisted  in 
May,  1864,  in  the  i38th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served 
until  the  October  following,  when  he  returned  to 
this  county  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
becoming  also  quite  an  extensive  stock  dealer.  He 
has  endeavored  hard  and  earnestly  to  put  his  land 
.under  the  best  cultivation  possible  and  has  succeed- 
ed, for  at  present  his  farm  of  240  acres,  entirely 
fenced  and  improved  with  all  necessary  farm  build- 
ings, farming  implements,  machinery,  etc.,  is  second 
to  none  in  the  township. 

The  marriage  of  Sarah  O.  Jones  and  Levi  B.  Cow- 
ick occurred  in  Tompkins  Township,  this  county,  on 
Feb.  22,  1872,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Calvin  and 
Rebecca  (McQuown)  Jones,  who  were  natives  of 
Virginia.  They  came  to  Warren  County  about  the 
year  1854,  and  settled  in  Tompkins  Township,  mak- 
ing it  their  permanent  home.  Of  their  union  were 
born  four  children, — John,  Furney,  Parker  and  Sa- 
rah O.,  our  subject's  wife,  who  was  born  Oct.  10, 
1850,  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cow- 
ick have  had  two  children, — Arthur  G.  and  Frank 
B.  Mr.  C.  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  ten  years, 
and  in  politics  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


205 


1;  hilip  J.  Karns,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 32,  Berwick  Township,  was  born  in 
the  Province  of  Baden,  Germany,  Oct.  22, 
1815,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1828, 
with  his  uncle,  Jacob  Sackman.  He  landed 
at  New  York  city  after  a  voyage  of  52  days  on 
a  sailing  vessel,  and  Was  one  of  three  persons  out  of 
360  that  was  not  affected  by  what  is  known  as  sea- 
sickness. 

Soon  after  landing  he  accompanied  his  uncle 
to  Lancaster,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  1842, 
when  he  removed  to  Morgan  Co.,  Ind.  In  that 
county  he  remained  some  five  years,  engaged  in 
farming,  when  he  came  to  Greenbush  Township,  this- 
county,  and  there  followed  his  chosen  vocation,  that 
of  agriculture,  until  1870,  when  he  moved  one  half 
mile  north  into  Berwick  Township,  where,  on  section 
32,  he  had  purchased  467  acres  of  land,  and  which 
he  has  increased  by  subsequent  purchases  to  700 
acres.  He  has  a  fine  residence  on  his  place,  cover- 
ing 166  feet  of  ground,  two  stories  in  height,  with  a 
cellar  under  the  entire  building,  and  it  is  said  to  be 
one  of  the  most  splendid  farm  dwellings  in  Warren 
County.  It  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.  Not 
alone  to  agriculture  does  Mr.  Karns  attribute  his 
financial  success.  He  is  and  has  been  engaged  to  a 
considerable  extent  in  the  breeding  of  Norman  horses, 
and  also  lias  a  fine  lot  of  mules.  He  has  one  span 
of  roadsters  on  the  farm  which  are  "  beauties,"  and  is 
also  extensively  engaged  in  raising  Poland-China 
hogs  and  Short-horn  cattle.  His  herd  of  cattle  are 
seven-eighths  full  blood. 

Mr.  Karns  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Aug.  20, 
1837,  in  Ohio,  with'  Miss  Anna  Ellinger,  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  by  George  W.  Sanders,  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  She  was  born  Nov.  15,  1817,  in  Fair- 
field  Co.,  Ohio,  and  has  borne  her  husband  n  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  living  are: 
Catherine,  born  July  3,  1838;  Margaret  A.,  Oct.  27, 
1842;  Jacob,  Aug." 20,  1854  ;  William  H.,  Nov.  24, 
1858;  Joseph  L.,  Jan.  5,  1863.  Catherine  married 
Riley  Adams,  and  now  resides  in  Hardin  Co.,  Iowa, 
and  is  the  mother  of  eight  children.  Margarette  is 
'  the  wife  of  George  Emerick ;  they  live  in  Bourbon 


Co.,  Kan.,  and  are  the  parents  of  nine  children. 
Jacob  married  Amanda  Johnson,  and  they  live  upon 
the  home  farm,  and  are  the  parents  of  three  children. 
Samuel  L  married  Edwina  Bond;  he  died  Nov.  i, 
1873,  and  left  two  children,  Nora  and  Hulda  May. 
His  widow  married  Dr.  William  Randall.  John 
Hemy  married  Clara  Nier.  He  died  when  about  30 
years  of  age,  leaving  two  children,  now  deceased.  His 
widow  married  Charles  Thomas.  Thefatherof  Mrs. 
Karns,  Joseph  Ellinger,  was  born  Dec.  30,  1785,  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  Bowman, 
Feb.  14,  1815,  who  was  born  Dec.  10.  1787,  and  died 
March  30,  1862,  her  husband  having  preceded  her 
totheTand  of  the  hereafter  Oct.  6,  1853.  Their 
children  were  seven  in  number,  and  named  as  fol- 
lows :  Catherine,  born  April  4,  1816;  Ann,  Nov.  15, 
1819:  Samuel  L.,  Jan.  17,  1820;  Mary,  June  20, 
1823;  Elizabeth,  July  30,  1826;  John  E.,  twin 
brother  to  Elizabeth;  and  Barbara,  Nov.  30,  1828. 
Catherine  and  Ann  still  survive,  at  the  venerable  ages 
of  79  and  76  respectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Karns  have 
22  grandchildren,  and  are  passing  the  sunset  of  their 
lives  in  peace  and  quiet  on  their  homestead,  enjoy- 
ing their  accumulations  of  the  past.  On  the  cele-  . 
bration  of  Mr.  Karns'  7oth  birth-day,  his  children 
and  grandchildren,  friends  and  relatives  to  the  num- 
ber of  90  assembled  to  do  honor  to  the  old  gen- 
tleman.- 

Mr.  Karns  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  his  wife  of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  1836  he  cast 
his  first  vote,  which  was  for  Harrison.  In  1856,  upon 
the  formation  of  the  Republican  party,  he'  joined  it, 
and  from  that  time  to  the  present  has  remained  a 
firm,  staunch  and  liberal  supporter  of  the  principles 
of  that  party. 


illiam  H.  Brooks,  one  of  the  representa- 
tive men  and  respected  citizens  of  Warren 
County,  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  on  sections  9  and  10,  Roseville  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  always  resided.  The 
date  of  his  birth  is  Jan.  i,  1846,  and  he  is  the 
son  of  Thompson  and  Harriet  E.  (Ray)  Brooks,  who 
are  natives  of  Kentucky  and  who  came  to  Illinois 
with  their  parents  before  their  marriage  and  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  State.  Their  mar- 


2o6 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


riage  occurred  May  18,  1840.  They  had  three  sons, 
of  whom  W.  H.  is  the  only  survivor.  After  coming 
to  Illinois,  they  purchased  80  acres  of  land  in  Rose- 
ville  Township,  and  afterward  added  to  their  landed 
interests  520  acres.  Here  they  lived  until  their 
deaths,  the  father's  occurring  April  23,  1871,  and 
the  mother's  March  22,  1878. 

William  H.,  whose  name  heads  this  biographical 
notice,  remained  on  the  homestead  with  his  parents 
until  their  death.  Since  these  sad  events  he  has 
had  possession  of  the  estate,  and  has  added  to  the 
original  homestead  until  at  present  he  is  the  pos- 
sessor of  700  acres,  which  is  well  stocked  with  cattle, 
horses  and  swine.  We  are  pleased  to  give  a  full- 
page  view  of  his  residence  and  farm  buildings,  which 
may  be  seen  on  the  preceding  page. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  E.  Forl, 
March  4,  1866.  Like  her  husband,  Mrs.  Brooks  is 
also  a  native  of  Illinois.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Wash- 
ington Fort,  of  Henderson  Co.,  111.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  prominent  settlers  of 
Henderson  County.  Mrs.  Brooks  has  borne  to  her 
husband  five  children,  namely :  Efifa,  George  T., 
John  F.,  Jessie  and  Harriet. 

Mr.  Brooks  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner of  his  township,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Brooks  is  one  of 
the  solid  and  substantial  men  of  Warren  County. 
Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party. 


arren  B.  Jenks,  the  owner  and  manager 
of  100  acres  of  excellent  improved  land 
and  1 6  acres  of  timber,  residing  on  section 
26  of  Lenox  Township,  is  the  son  of  Eras- 
tus  and  Polly  F.  (Wilber)  Jenks,  natives  of 
the  Empire  State.  They  were  married  and  set- 
tled in  Warren  County,  where,  in  Lenox  Township, 
they  have  since  made  their  home.  Their  famly  con- 
sists of  five  children, — Alice  P.,  Warren  B.,  Ann  H., 
Genie  and  Flora  G.  Gertie  is  deceased. 

Warren  B.  Jenks,  (if  whom  we  write,  was  born  in 
Lenox  Township  on  the  igth  day  of  September,  1846, 
and  received  a  fair  English  education  and  has  al- 
ways made  this  his  place  of  residence,  When  a 


young  man  he  had  accumulated  sufficient  of  his  earn- 
ings to  procure  a  good  farm  of  100  acres,  which  op- 
portunity he  took  advantage  of,  and  now  is  the 
proprietor  of  as  nice  a  farm  as  there  is  in  his  town- 
ship. The  appearance  of  the  same  presents  that 
thrift  and  hard  labor  characteristic  of  our  subject, 
and  his  farm  is  now  cultivated  to  a  high  degree,  with 
a  fine  residence  and  all  the  necessary  and  suitable 
farm  buildings  erected  thereon. 

Mr.  Jenks.  was  married  on  the  7th  of  February, 
1875,  to  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  Asa  Capps  (see 
sketch  of  F.  L  Capps).  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed in  Lenox  Township.  Mrs.  Jenks  was  born 
there,  Oct.  15,  1855.  Of  this  union  were  born 
four  children,— Mabel  L.,  Wilber  B.,  Edna  F.  and 
Chester  G.  Mr.  Jenks  lias  served  his  township  as 
School  Director,  besides  having  held  other  minor 
offices,  and  with  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  In  political  opinion  he  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party. 


lorance  K.  Morris,  M.  D.,  practicing 
physician  residing  at  Berwick,  was  born  in 
Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  April  18,  1849,  and  is  the 
son  of  James  B.  Morris,  a  native  of  Mt.  Mor- 
ris, Pa.,  where  he  was  born  in  1827.  The 
father  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  soon  after  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  War,  enlisted  in  the 
cause  for  the  Union,  joining  a  regiment  of  infantry, 
and  was  selected  as  Captain  of  Co.  F,  and  served  in 
that  position  for  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time,  he  was  commissioned  Major  in  the  7th  W.  Va. 
Inf.  and  served  until  his  discharge  in  1864.  He 
participated  in  several  hotly  contested  engagements 
while  in  the  service.  The  father  was  married  in 
1848  to  Miss  Kezia  Way,  a  native  of  West  Virginia, 
where  she  was  born  in  1825.  They  are  both  living, 
and  have  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  seven  children  : 
Florance,  the  subject  of  this  notice  ;  Sturgis  W.  was 
born  Aug.  8,  1850;  Josephine  S.,  April  8,  1852; 
Mary  J.,  September,  1854;  Arabella,  April  28,  1856; 
Emma  L.,  Dec.  15,  1858;  George  T.,  October,  1860. 
Dr.  Florance  K.  Morris  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  L.  Kelley,  June  22,  1876,  in  West  Vir- 
ginia. She  was  born  in  that  State  in  1851,  and  has 
borne  her  husband  three  children,  namely:  Lena 


: 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


May,  born  April  9,  1877  ;  Mary  M.,  March  28,  1879; 
and  Emma  B.,  Oct.  n,  1882.  Dr.  Morris  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  at  Mt.  Morris,  his  na- 
tive State;  there  he  read  one  year  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Dr.  Spencer  Morris  and  two  years  under  Dr. 
Leander  McMillan.  He  then  attended  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  at  Philadelphia,  followed  the  curric- 
ulum of  that  institution  two  years  and  graduated 
thereat  with  honors  March  1 1,  1876,  receiving  his 
diploma.  In  April  of  the  same  year,  he  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his  native  State,  and 
then,  in  April,  1884,  came  to  Berwick  village,  and 
has  since  followed  his  practice  at  that  place.  By 
carefully  diagnosing  his  cases  and  bringing  his  ex- 
perience and  study  directly  to  bear  upon  them,  to- 
gether with  his  close  application  to  eacli  and  every 
case  he  has  in  hand,  the  doctor  has  built  up  a  fine 
practice,  both  in  medicine  and  surgery.  That  he 
might  be  sure  of  pure  drugs,  which  to  use  with  his 
practice  and  which  are  so  essential  in  the  treatn  ent 
of  cases,  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at  Berwick, 
which  he  is  at  present  conducting  in  connection 
with  his  practice.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


loseph  M.  White,  a  well-to-do  and  suc- 
\ji  cessful  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  residing 
on  section  27,  Monmouth  Township,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in 
Honey  Brook,  Chester  County,  that  Mate,  April 
12,  1833.  The  father  of  Mr.  White,  of  this 
notice,  Thomas  White,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
State  as  his  son,  his  father  also  having  been  born  in 
that  State.  Thomas  was  of  Irish  descent  and  in 
early  life  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which,  in 
the  sunset  of  his  years,  lie  abandoned  to  follow  the 
vocation  of  a  farmer.  The  parents  of  Thomas 
White  always  resided  in  their  native  State  until 
their  death.  Thomas  was  the  third  child  in  order  of 
birth  of  a  family  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  He 
was  married  in  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  to  Catherine  Mar- 
pie,  who  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  State 
in  which  she  was  married,  and  was  the  only  daugh- 
ter in  a  family  of  four  children  by  her  father's  first 
marriage,  the  issue  of  his  second  marriage  being 
two  children. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  biographi- 

—  A1 


cal  notice  was  the  oldest  and  only  son  of  his  father's 
family,  the  remaining  child  being  a  daughter,  Mary 
J.,  who  attained  the  age  of  majority  and  became  the 
wife  of  George  Brown,  a  merchant  in  Fayette  Co., 
Pa.  The  early  education  of  Mr.  White  was  ac- 
quired in  the  common  schools,  after  which  he  at- 
tended college  at  Meadville,  Crawford  County,  his 
native  State.  He  continued  to  reside  on  the  old 
family  homestead  until  he  attained  the  age  of  man- 
hood, in  the  meantime  engaged  in  teaching.  On  at- 
taining his  majority  he  set  forth  upon  the  road  of 
adversity  to  fight  the  battles  of  life  single-handed 
and  alone,  and  engaged  in  farming.  His  marriage 
occurred  in  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  where  his  parents  had 
removed  when  he  was  two  years  old,  March  18, 
1858,  when  Miss  Sarah  J.  Rankin,  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Rachel  (Hill)  Rankin,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, became  his  wife.  Her  father  and  mother 
were  both  children  of  Pennsylvania  farmers  and 
were  of  Irish  extraction  and  American  parentage. 
Her  father's  family  consisted  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  White  was  next  to  the  oldest.  She  was 
born  in  Fayette  County,  Nov.  20,  1834.  Her  father 
died  in  Pennsylvania  about  1875,  aged  67  years,  and 
her  mother  is  yet  living  and  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  in  that  State.  Mrs.  White  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  at  the  college  at  Waynes- 
burg.  Greene  County,  her  native  State.  She  lives  at 
home,  and  for  a  portion  of  her  time  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage was  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  a  teacher. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  become  the  parents  of 
three  children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased.  Thomas 
is  a  resident  of  Lenox  Township;  Lucian  resides  at 
home,  and  Roclanea  is  deceased. 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs;.  White  were  united  in  marriage 
they  continued  to  reside  in  Pennsylvania  for  a  short 
time,  when  in  the  fall  of  1858  they  came  West  and 
located  on  a  farm  of  tot  acres,  which  was  partly  im- 
proved. Mr.  White  has  since  devoted  his  time  to 
that  pursuit  in  life.  In  1869,  in  company  with  A. 
M.  Black,  Mr.  White  leased  1,400  acres  of  land  in 
Monmouth  Township,  which  embraced  the  present 
site  of  the  Monmouth  Mining  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. This  company  was  first  organized  by  Joseph 
M.  White  and  A.  M.  Black.  They  bored  for  coal 
at  an  expense  of  about  $1,000,  and  found  a  coal  vein 
of  two  feet;  but  the  most  important  discovery  was 
fire-clay.  The  first  vein  of  fire-clay  is  about  three 


208 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


feet  thick.  Going  still  farther  down,  they  found  su- 
perior quality,  a  vein  of  fire-clay,  eight  to  ten  feet 
thick.  As  the  coal  could  not  be  economically  worked, 
and  the  fire-clay  being  found  of  great  value,  they 
turned  their  attention  to  the  full  development  of  that 
discovery.  In  order  to  do  that  successfully,  a  stock 
company  was  organized  by  Messrs.  White  &  Black 
for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  sewer-pipe,  fire- 
brick, etc.  The  stock  was  $50,000.  The  capital 
stock  was  subsequently  raised  to  $100,000.  Mr. 
White  was  a  director  in  the  first  board,  and  a 
stockholder  until  the  fall  of  1884.  The  establish- 
ment now  is  among  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the 
State;  and  much  credit  is  due  to  Mr.  White  for 
his  energy  in  aiding  to  establish  this  great  en- 
terprise. He  has  done  his  full  share  in  building 
up  the  city  of  Monmouth.  Mr.  White  continued 
his  connection  with  it  until  recently.  At  present  he 
is  the  owner,  in  Monmouth  Township,  of  182^  acres, 
and  40  acres  in  Lenox  Township.  He  has  a  fine, 
we  might  say  magnificent,  residence  on  his  place, 
and  is  meeting  with  that  success  in.  life  which  his 
energy,  perseverance  and  good  judgment  have 
brought  him.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  mem- 
bers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 
denomination  Mr.  W.  is  at  present  Trustee.  In  poli- 
tics  Mr.  White  is  classified  as  a  "  true  blue  "  Repub- 
lican. 


}rs.  Mary  C.  Klingingsmith  is  the  widow 
of  Philip  Klingingsmith,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Roseville  Township,  and  for 
ft  \  many  years  a  prominent  and  influential 
business  man  of  the  village.  He  was  born  in 
1820,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1855,  selecting  a  quarter  of  a  section  of  land  in 
Roseville  Township.  Here  for  over  20  years,  until 
1877,  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Dur- 
ing that  year  he  moved  into  the  village  of  Roseville 
and  purchased  the  Roseville  Flouring-Mill.  This 
he  continued  to  run  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
Nov.  27,  1884.  Besides  his  mill  he  owned  six  dwell- 
ing-houses, and  160  acres  of  land  lying  three  miles 
northeast  of  Roseville,  all  of  which  he  managed  him- 
self. He  was  an  enterprising  man  and  a  valuable 


citizen  to  any  village,  and  in  his  death  Roseville  lost 
one  of  her  most  esteemed  citizens. 

Mr.  Klingingsmith  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  C. 
Rogers,  widow  of  John  Rogers,  Sept.  25,  1875.  She 
was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  daughter  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  Jane  (Robinson)  Clemmer.  Her  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  came  to  Illinois 
in  1862  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Berwick  Town- 
ship, this  county,  where  they  lived  until  1879,  when 
they  removed  to  Iowa,  and  in  1884  removed  to  Ne- 
braska. Mrs.  Klingingsmith,  who  was  born  in  1847, 
resides  in  Roseville  and  has  one  daughter  living  with 
her,  Emily  U.  Rogers,  who  was  a  child  by  her  former 
husband. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  a  native  of  Missouri  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Berwick  Township  at  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mary  C.  Clemmer.  He  died  in  1868, 
in  Quincy.  Mrs.  Klingingsmith  was  raised  in  Dod- 
dridge  Co.,  Va.,  and  remained  there  until  she  was 
14  years  of  age,  when  her  parents  came  to  Illinois 
and  to  Berwick  Township.  He  also  owns  the  flour- 
ing-mill. 


osephus  Kirby,  a  successful   farmer  and 
respected  citizen  of  Warren  County,  resid- 
ing on  section  7,  Berwick  Township,  was 
born  in  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  26,  1834,  and  is 
a  son  of  Joseph   H.  Kirby,  who  was  born  in 
the   same    county  and  State,   Feb.    21,    1802. 
Joseph  H.  Kirby  was  married  Oct.  26,  r824. 

Mr.  Kirby  of  this  sketch  traces  his  ancestry  in 
this  country  back  to  Richard  and  Anna  Kirby,  who 
had  a  son,  Joseph,  who  was  born  Oct.  18,  1731. 
Joseph  Kirby  was  married  and  had  a  son,  Isaac, 
who  was  born  Sept.  23,  1756  Isaac  was  married 
and  had  a  son,  Joseph  H.  Kirby,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  notice.  Joseph  H.  Kirby  came  to 
this  State  in  1853,  and  located  in  Berwick  Township, 
this  county,  where  he  purchased  270  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  located  with  his  family  and  engaged 
vigorously  upon  the  task  of  its  improvement.  Of 
their  union  nine  children  were  born,  whose  names 
are  Isaac  B.,  born  June  25,  1825;  Emily,  Jan.  23, 
1827;  John  M.,  Dec.  24,  1830;  Margaret,  Feb.  5, 
1833;  Josephus,  subject  of  this  sketch,  Dec.  26 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


209 


1834;  Phebe  A.,  July  22,  1837;  Sarah  J.,  Sept.  n, 
1839;  Mary  E.,  Oct.  26.  1842;  and  George  W., 
April  24,  1847.  Of  the  nine  children,  three  only 
are  now  living, — John  M.,  Isaac  B.  and  Joseplms. 
Joseph  H.  made  his  trip  to  this  county  overland 
with  wagons  and  teams,  and  was  occupied  27  days 
in  the  journey.  Since  coming  here  he  has  devoted 
his  time  exclusively  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  yet 
survives,  at  the  venerable  age  of  84  years.  In  pol- 
itics, he  is  an  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Prot- 
estant Church. 

Josephus  Kirby,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
has  followed  agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life.  He 
received  such  edacation  as  was  to  be  acquired  in 
the  common  schools  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Pennsylvania  until  his  parents  emigrated  to  this 
county,  when  he  emigrated  with  them,  and  has  here 
continued  to  follow  the  vocation  which  he  had 
learned  in  early  life.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Fannie  E.  Townsend  in  1862,  Rev.  P.  P.  Sirley 
officiating.  Miss  Townsend  was  born  April  19,  1843, 
in  New  Yoik  and  has  borne  her  husband  six  chil- 
dren,— Jennie  S.,  born  June  29,  1863;  Nellie  A.,  Jan. 
24,  1865  ;  Leeny  F.,  Aug.  26,  1869;  Harry  T.,  Aug. 
29,  1871;  Ross  J.,  Aug.  13,  1874;  and  Ralph,  June 
13,  1880. 

Mr.  Kirby,  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
land,  is  devoting  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  of  fine  stock,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
success.  He  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Good  Tem- 
plars, and  religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church. 


jilliam  P.  Speakman,  raiser  of  sugar  cane 
and  manufacturer  of  sorghum,  and  also  a 
general  farmer,  residing  on  section  31, 
Monmouth  Township,  was  born  in  New  Lin, 
Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  June  29,  1836.  Jacob 
Speakman,  father  of  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  notice,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county 
and  State  as  his  son,  and  was  of  English  descent  and 
American  parentage.  He  was  married  in  Chester 
Co.,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Hannah  Mitchner,  a  native  of  the 
county  and  State  where  she  was  married.  After  their 


marriage  they  continued  to  reside  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  Jacob  Speakman  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
operating  a  grist-rnill  until  1854.  During  that  year 
they  came  West  and  settled  in  Tompkins  Township, 
this  county,  where  they  purchased  and  improved  a 
tract  of  uncultivated  land,  on  which  they  resided 
until  1864.  Jacob  then  moved  to  Monmouth  Town- 
ship, where,  near  the  city  limits  of  Monmouth,  he 
purchased  36  acres  of  improved  land.  On  this  land 
he  and  his  family  moved  and  there  resided  until  the 
death  of  the  mother,  which  occurred  in  1879,  in  her 
dgthyear.  Jacob  is  now  in  his  8ist  year.  In  his 
politics  he  is  a  strong  adherent  to  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  always  taken  an  act- 
ive part  in  local  politics. 

After  the  parents  of  William  P.  had  moved  to  this 
county,  the  subject  of  this  notice  continued  to  reside 
with  them  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War, 
when  he  and  his  brother,  Henry  C.,  enlisted  in  the 
83d  111.  Vol  Inf.,  Co.  A,  the  date  of  their  enlistment 
being  Aug.  2,  1862.  His  regiment  was  assigned  to  ' 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  was  under  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Thomas.  It  participated  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Fort  Donelson  in  February,  1863,  in  that  of 
Pulaski  in  1864;  also  the  battle  of  Athens,  Tenn., 
and  many  skirmishes.  The  two  brothers  were  in  all 
the  engagements  in  which  the  regiment  participated,  J 
and  both  received  an  honorable  discharge  in  Chicago, 
in  1865.  After  his  discharge  Mr.  Speakman  returned 
to  his  home,  and  two  weeks  later  was  married,  on  the 
zist  of  July,  1865,  to  Miss  Parnee  L.  Harroun.  She 
was  born  near  Meadville,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  June 
n,  1839.  Her  father,  J.  E.  Harroun,  was  Captain 
of  a  militia  company  and  engaged  in  the  various 
Indian  troubles  on  the  Pennsylvania  frontier,  near 
Erie.  His  life  occupation  was  varied,  and  he  died 
when  Mrs.  Speakman  was  but  seven  years  old.  She 
then  went  to  Wisconsin  with  her  mother,  Lucinda 
(Hastings)  Harroun,  and  there  resided  for  seven 
years,  when  her  mother  died  After  ihe  death  of  her 
mother,  Mrs.  Speakman  resided  with  relatives  until 
her  marriage.  Of  her  union  with  Mr.  S.  six  children 
have  been  born,  three  of  whom  are  deceased.  Hur- 
bert  G.,  Rutherna  and  Fannie  are  living,  and  El- 
wood,  Mary  and  Ruth  are  deceased.  After  their 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  located  on  the  farm  and 
followed  that  vocation  in  life  for  a  while,  when  Mr. 
Speakman  purchased  eight  acres,  on  which  he  is  at 
present  residing  and  engaged  in  his  present  occupa- 


- 


210 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


tion  of  manufacturing  sorghum.  He  has  a  mill  on 
his  place  with  a  capacity  of  25,000  gallons  for  the 
season,  and  he  is  at  present  making  about  20,000 
gallons  annually.  The  mill  is  owned  by  himself  and 
brothers,  who  raise  sugar  cane  for  their  own  manu- 
facture and  also  manufacture  sorghum  for  the  neigh- 
borhood. In  politics  Mr.  Speakman  is  a  believer  in 
and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party. 


mdolph  A.  Beck,  a  member  of  the  mercan- 
:  tile  firm  of  Beck  &  Lewis,  at  Berwick,  was 
born  in  Ehingen,  Wurtemburg,  Germany, 
Aug.  18,  1834,  his  parents  being  Henry  and 
Anna  Beck.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  country,  at- 
tending them  until  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  when 
he  entered  college  and  there  remained  until  he  was 
14.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Henry  Beck,  died 
Dec.  21,  1848,  aged  42  years.  Rudolph,  after  this 
sad  event,  was  sent  by  his  mother  to  a  friend  of  his 
father's,  at  Merger,  to  learn  the  confectioner's  trade. 
He  lived  in  that  beautiful  country  for  some  six 
months,  and  on  returning  home  he  stopped  at  Berne 
and  fell  in  with  Sigel's  German  insurgents,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  awhile  and  then  returned  to 
Germany.  After  his  return  he  was  sent  to  Hoch- 
ingen  to  finish  his  apprenticeship,  and  there  remained 
for  two  and  a  half  years.  He  then  again  went  to 
France,  from  there  to  Switzerland  and  then  back  to 
his  native  land,  Germany.  After  staying  at  home 
six  weeks,  in  1853,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
via  Liverpool,  Eng.  After  a  voyage  of  30  days,  he 
landed  in  New  York,  where  he  remained  for  about 
one  and  a  half  years,  and  then  went  to  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  on  foot,  and  from  there  to  Wheeling,  W.  Va., 
and  then  to  Sabina,  Ohio.  In  the  latter  place  he 
worked  some  six  months,  at  the  enormous  salary  of 
$5  per  month  ! 

Leaving  Ohio,  1855,  Mr.  Beck  came  to  Illinois, 
where  he  found  work  on  a  farm  near  Berwick  village. 
During  the  spring  of  1861  the  war  for  the  Union  be- 
gan, and  Mr.  Beck  enlisted  in  October  following  in 
Co.  E,  1 3th  111.  Cav.,  under  Capt.  Rolland.  After 
participating  in  several  skirmishes  in  Arkansas  and 
Missouri,  he  was  sent  to  Jefferson  Barracks  Hospital, 
Missouri,  where  he  was  discharged.  He  was  mus- 


tered  into  the  service  at  Chicago,  and  from  there  his 
company  went  to  Pilot  Knob,  Mo.,  and  from  there  to 
Arkansas,  on  the  White  River,  where  they  were  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  Cotton  Plant,  after  which  they 
went  to  Helena,  Ark.,  where  Mr.  Beck  remained  for 
some  three  days,  and  from  which  place,  as  stated, 
he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  the  occasion  of  which 
being  the  falling  of  his  horse  upon  him  in  the  last 
battle  in  which  he  participated,  and  from  which  he 
has  never  fully  recovered.  He  received  his  discharge 
at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Oct.  9,  1862.  Returning 
home,  Mr.  Beck  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Berwick, 
endeavoring  to  regain  his  health,  until  the  22d  day 
of  May,  1863,  when  he  started  for  his  native  home. 
On  arriving  in  that  country  and  after  remaining 
there  some  three  or  four  months,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Mederle,  Sept.  2t,  1863, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  the  Rev.  Fulgey. 
She  was  born  July  24,  1846.  He  started  back  to 
the  United  States  with  his  bride  in  October  of  the 
same  year  of  their  marriage,  and  arrived  here  in  No-1 
vember  following. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren,— Ida  T.,  born  July  8,  1866;  Cora  A.,  Oct.  17, 
1868;  Grace  A.,  Jan.  it,  1873;  Irma  A.,  July  30, 
1875.  Mr.  Beck  has  a  fine  residence  in  the  village 
of  Berwick,  36  x  36  feet  in  dimensions,  and  two 
stories  in  height.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Lodge 
No.  619,  at  Cameron,  and,  religiously,  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

The  present  firm  of  Beck  &  Lewis,  at  Berwick  vil- 
lage, carry  an  average  stock  of  $3,000.  They  handle 
a  general  stock  of  dry  goods,  hardware,  groceries, 
and  in  fact  everything  that  periains  to  their  business, 
and  by  fair  and  honest  dealings  with  their  patrons 
have  built  up  a  good  and  constantly  increasing  trade. 

Mr.  Beck  has  held  the  office  of  Postmaster  at  Ber- 
wick for  the  last  25  years,  and  still  acts  in  that  ca- 
pacity. 


Henderson.     One   of  the  progressive 
and  energetic  farmers  of  Warren   County 
1    is  Mr.  S.  S.  Henderson.     He  was  born  in 
*^    Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  on  the  271)1  of  May,  1848, 
and   is  a  son  of  Harvey  and  Eliza  (Harris) 
Henderson,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  had  a  family  consisting  of  13  children,   five  of 


-§• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


21  I 


whom  are  living.  Mrs.  Henderson  died  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, March  12,  1870.  The  father  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Fayette  Co.,  Pa. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  remained  at  home  until 
he  attained  his  majority,  and  while  there  assisted  in 
the  farm  duties  and  also  attended  the  district  schools. 
He  afterwards  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm,  on 
shares,  for  six  years,  which  proved  very  successful, 
and  our  subject  managed  to  accumulate  sufficient  to 
enable  him  to  emigrate  West,  arriving  in  Larchland, 
this  county,  in  the  spring  of  1875,  and  in  the  fall 
made  a  purchase  of  160  acres,  where  he  now  resides, 
and  owns  240  acres  all  together.  On  this  land  he  is 
engaged  extensively  in  general  farming.  About  the 
year  1881  he  was  very  unfortunate,  having  his  house 
and  other  buildings  burnt,  but  since  has  replaced 
them  by  an  elegant  residence  costing  $2,000,  and 
good,  substantial  outbuildings. 

The  most  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Hen- 
derson occurred  on  the  5th  of  November,  1868,  when 
he  was  married  to  Miss  E.  J.  Woodward,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  a  daughter  of  Davis  and  Mary 
(Boyd)  Woodward.  They  were  farmers  and  the 
"•  parents  of  ^children,  all  of  whom  are  living  (except 
'  one  who  died  in  infancy)  and  had  married  and  raised 
families  of  children  before  the  father's  death,  which 
occurred  in  1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henderson  are  the 
parents  of  seven  children. — Mary,  Harvey,  Davis, 
Amanda,  Joseph  O.,  Iran  I.  and  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Henderson  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Masons, 
Monmouth  Lodge,  No.  37,  and  Odd  Fellows,  Warren 
Lodge,  No.  1 60,  at  Monmouih.  He  has  held  the 
offices  of  School  Director  and  Constable  of  his  town- 
ship, and  is  considered  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
Warren  County.  Politically,  Mr.  H.  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party. 


•Imiron  G.  Parker,  the  junior  member  of 
the  mercantile  firm  of  Foster  &  Parker,  ;it 
Gerlaw,  is  a  native  of  the  county  in  which 
he  is  a  business  man,  having  been  born  in  the 
township  of  Cold  Brook,  March  28,  1849.  He 
is  the  oldest  son  of  Barton  S.  and  Margaret 
(Rowe)  Parker,  who  were  pioneers  of  that  part  of 
Warren  County.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  the 
spn  was  brought  up  on  the  family  homestead..  He 


obtained  only  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
all  he  needed,  as  he  possesses  the  intelligence  neces- 
sary to  the  management  of  such  business  projects  as 
he  sees  fit  to  engage  in  ;  and  contact  with  the  world 
at  large  is,  to  a  man  of  his  proclivities,  equivalent  to 
the  advantages  afforded  by  extended  intimacy  with 
the  schools  ;  and  it  is  an  open  question  if  the  more 
practical  course  does  not  the  better  subserve  the  idea 
of  education.  In  the  spring  of  1875  he  made  his 
first  acquaintance  with  the  commercial  world,  and 
engaged  in  the  capacity  of  merchant  at  Cameron, 
where  he  operated  as  such  until  1881.  In  that  year 
he  formed  his  present  business  relation  at  th-;  point 
where  he  is  at  present  located.  He  has  pursued 
the  varied  avenues  of  its  connection  without  inter- 
mission ever  since. 

His  union  in  marriage  to  Hulda  Jewel  took  place 
in  February,  1870.  Mrs.  Parker  was  born  in  Logan 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  in  their  family  five  children  have 
been  born,  and  Harry,  Bertha,  Arnold,  Alva  and 
Charles  are  their  names.  The  father  and  mother 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Parker 
is  a  Democrat  in  political  persuasion. 


W.  Rhinehart,  proprietor  of  a  quar- 
ter-section of  land  located  on  section  34, 
Hale  Township,  where  he  resides  and 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  active  labors  of 
an  agriculturist,  is  a  nat:ve  of  New  York 
State,  having  been  born  in  Ulster  County, 
Oct.  14,  1824.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Rhinehart  were 
William  and  Maria  (Jansen)  Rhinehart,  they  both 
being  natives  of  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  father  died 
in  October,  1883.  The  mother  still  survives  and 
lives  in  New  York.  They  were  of  the  old  Huguenot 
stock,  coming  to  this  country  at  an  early  day.  Mr. 
Rhinehart  continued  to  reside  in  his  native  county 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  29  years,  receiving  the 
education  afforded  by  the  common  schools  and  pass- 
ing the  major  portion  of  his  time  until  that  age  on 
the  farm. 

In  1853,  David  W.  Rhinehart  emigrated  from  New 
York  to  this  county,  and  for  two  years  was  engaged 
in  farming  on  rented  land.  He  then  purchased  a 
quarter-section  of  land  on  section  34,  Hale  Town- 
ship, and  at  once  entered  actively  and  vigorously 


212 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


upon  its  improvement  and  cultivation.  He  erected 
a  good  residence,  barn  and  outbuildings  and  to-day 
has  the  entire  quarter-section  in  an  advanced  state 
of  cultivation,  and  the  place  is  indicative  of  that 
sbility  which  he  possesses  in  the  vocation  which  he 
has  chosen  for  a  life-time  pursuit. 

Miss  Maria  Bruyn,  sister  of  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Hoorn- 
beck,  whose  sketch  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume, 
on  the  i7th  of  November,  1853,  in  the  busy  and  en- 
terprising little  city  of  Monmouth,  became  the  wife 
of  the  subject  of  this  notice.  She  was  born  in  Ulster 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  18,  1832,  and  during  their  32 
years  of  married  life  eight  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  whose  names  are:  William,  Nathaniel  B., 
Lefever,  Headley,  John,  Cornelia,  Laura  E.  and 
Charles  J.  William  resides  in  Missouri;  Nathaniel 
lives  in  Iowa,  and  the  remaining  children  live  at 
home. 

Mr.  Rhineliart,  although  a  gentleman  who  has  no 
craving  for  public  office,  preferring  to  attend  strictly 
to  the  business  of  his  farm  life,  has  held  the  office 
of  Overseer  of  Highways.  He  and  his  wife  are 
strict  Presbyterians,  and  in  politics  Mr.  R.  vojes 
with  and  indorses  the  platform  of  the  Democratic 
parly. 


|[rthur  G.  Seymour,  owning  160  acres  of 
good  farm  land,  under  an  advanced  system 
of  cultivation,  on  section  2,  Ellison  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Fulton,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y. , 
Nov.  23,  1833.  Rodney  Seymour,  father  of 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
also  born  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the 
white  male  born  in  that  county.  His  father 
and  two  other  families  moved  to  that  county  before 
the  hand  of  civilization  had  improved  an  acre  of 
ground,  and  when  the  same  was  one  dense  wilder- 
ness. Rodney  was  reared  at  home  in  Oswego  County, 
and  the  necessity  which  compelled  him  to  assist  in 
the  maintenance  of  the  family,  and  the  absence  of 
common  schools  in  the  community  in  which  he  re- 
sided, deterred  him  from  receiving  an  education 
other  than  that  given  by  parental  instruction.  He 
assisted  his  father  in  "  tree-cutting  "  and  clearing 
his  land,  and  experienced  all  the  trials  and  privations 
incident  to  the  settlement  of  a  new  cpuntry.  He 


was 
first 


was  married  to  Amy  K.  Peabody,  a  native  of  Oswego 
County,  where  she  had  resided  with  her  parents  until 
her  marriage.  They  were  also  early  settlers  of  that 
county,  and  continued  to  reside  there  until  her 
death,  which  occurred  some  years  ago. 

The  parents  pf  Arthur  G.  had  three  children,  of 
whom  the  subject  of  this  notice  was  the  eldest.  He 
continued  to  reside  on  the  parental  homestead  until 
he  was  20  years  of  age,  when,  in  March,  1860,  in 
company  with  his  two  sisters,  Celesta  and  Emetine, 
he  came  to  this  State,  and  located  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  Berwick  Township,  this  county.  He  rented 
land  there  and  for  two  years  was  occupied  in  its 
cultivation,  when  he  removed  to  Tompkins  Town- 
ship, and  was  there  similarly  engaged  in  the  culti- 
vation of  rented  land  for  another  two  years.  He 
afterward  rented  land  in  Ellison  Township  and  oc- 
cupied his  time  one  year  in  raising  a  crop  thereon. 
During  his  residence  in  that  township,  Mr.  Seymour 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  M.  Abdill,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Mary  M.  (Bissett)  Abdill,  natives  of 
Delaware  and  New  Jersey  respectively,  the  date  of 
their  union  being  Dec.  30,  1864.  Her  parents  were 
married  in  New  Jersey  and  came  West  in  1858,  and 
located  at  Keithsburg,  111.,  having  lived  in  Kentucky  : 
for  some  years  after  their  marriage,  from  which 
Stale  they  came  here.  Her  f.ither  was  a  molder  and  j 
millwright,  and  died  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Seymour,  in  Ellison  Township,  March  6,  1875, 
and  his  wife,  mother  of  Mrs.  Seymour,  died  at  Mon- 
mouth, Jan.  20,  1875.  Mrs.  Seymour  was  born  in 
Cadiz,  Ohio,  in  1836.  She  acquired  her  education 
in  the  district  schools  and  resided  with  her  parents 
until  her  marriage. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Seymour  purchased  160  acres  of 
land  in  this  county,  the  same  being  his  farm  upon 
which  he  at  present  resides.  At  the  time  at  which 
he  purchased  it,  it  was  an  unbroken  tract  of  prairie 
land.  He  located  upon  it,  and  by  laborious  toil  has 
succeeded  in  placing  it  under  the  advanced  state  of 
cultivation  in  which  it  is  at  present.  He  has  a  good 
residence  on  his  farm,  built  some  years  ago,  and  the 
place  is  well  supplied  with  a  good  barn  and  neces- 
sary outbuildings.  Ten  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seymour,  one  of  whom  is  deceased, — 
Florence,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  Galbrith, 
who  is  a  farmer  residing  in  Ellison  Township ;  Jes- 
sie M.,  Willard  L.,  Nellie  M.,  Arlena  A.,  Mamie  G., 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Evelina,  Fannie,  Roscoe  and  Minnie  G.,  deceased. 
Mrs  S.  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

When  Mr.  Seymour  first  came  to  this  State,  he 
had  the  enormous  capital  of  45  cents  in  his  pocket, 
and,  in  addition  to  his  own  support,  had  the  care  of 
two  sisters.  Still,  having  faith  in  the  future  devel- 
opment of  the  country  and  a  firm  determination  to 
succeed,  backed  up  by  energy,  perseverance  and 
industry,  he  "  stuck  to  it,"  endured  the  privations 
which  a  settler  in  a  new  country  necessarily  encoun- 
ters, and  was  successful.  In  addition  to  his  home- 
stead in  this  county,  he  is  the  owner  of  400  acres  of 
good  farm  land,  all  fenced  and  partly  improved,  in 
Taylor  Co.,  Iowa. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Seymour  was  formerly  a  Republi- 
can, but,  since  the  Prohibition  party  sprang  into 
existence,  affiliates  with  that  party. 


H- 


["osh.ua  W."  Barber,  a  resident  on  section 
30,  Lenox  Township,  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  is  a  son  of  Aaron  W.  and 
Ann  C.  (Hill)  Barber,  natives  of  New  Jersey 
and  Ohio  respectively.  They  had  a  family 
consisting  of  six  children,  of  whom  J.  W.  Bar- 
ber was  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  born 
in  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  13,  1831,  and  lived  at 
home  with  his  parents  until  1846,  when  he  came  to 
Knox  County,  this  State,  and  there  resided  until 
1857.  We  next  find  him  in  Warren  County,  where 
he  located  in  Lenox  Township,  and  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  place  ever  since. 

In  October,  1864,  lie  enlisted  in  the  3oth  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  served  for  about  nine  months,  and,  on  re- 
ceiving an  honorable  discharge,  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  this  county  and  again  engaged  in  the  peace- 
ful pursuits  of  life.  His  farm  comprises  85  acres  of 
giod  tillable  land,  which,  by  his  industry  and  econ- 
omy has  been  all  improved. 

Joshua  W.  was  married  in  Knox  County,  this 
State,  on  the  151)1  of  November,  1855,  the  lady 
chosen  to  be  h's  companion  in  life  being  Mary  A. 
Woodmansee,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  Albert  F., 
who  is  a  conductor  on  the  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis 


Division  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road;  and  Edith  V.,  the  wife  of  Wm.  K.  Kittering,  a 
resident  of  Monmouth  Township,  are  the  two  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joshua  W.  Barber. 

Mr.  B.  has  served  his  township  as  Clerk  and  School 
Director,  and  politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  a 
St.  John  man  in  temperance.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 


athaniel  A.  Rankin,  general  farmer  and 
fruit-grower,  on  section  31,  Monmouth 
Township,  was  born  in  Henderson  Co., 
Ky.,  Feb.  r,  1809.  His  father,  Adam,  was  a 
doctor  by  profession  and  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  of  Scotch  descent.  He  was  married 
in  Kentucky,  near  Danville,  to  a  Miss  Speed,  who 
afterward  died,  leaving  five  children.  Before  the 
death  of  his  wife  he  had  moved  to  Henderson 
County,  in  another  part  of  the  State,  and  there  formed 
his  second  matrimonial  alliance,  the  lady  being  Miss 
Susan  Roan  Anderson,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  a  farmer  and  came  to  Kentucky 
when  quite  young.  Of  the  latter  union  five  children 
were  born,  of  whom  our  subject,  Nathaniel  A.,  is  the 
eldest  and  the  only  survivor.  His  brother,  James 
E.,  was  shot  by  a  band  of  marauders  while  in  his 
store  in  Henderson  County,  because  he  was  a  Union 
sympathizer.  He  was  a  prominent  merchant  and 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Nathaniel  A.  Rankin,  of  whom  we  write,  resided 
with  his  parents  until  the  death  of  his  father,  liv- 
ing with  his  mother  afterward  until  his  marriage. 
He  has  been  twice  married, — the  first  time  to  Miss 
Ann  Louisa  Holloway,  third  child  of  George  Hollo- 
way,  of  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.  The  acquaintance  which 
led  to  this  union  was  formed  while  she  was  on  a 
visit  to  her  relatives  in  Henderson  Co.,  Ky.,  and  was 
celebrated  at  that  place  March  29,  1831.  She  lived 
only  a  little  over  two  years  after  her  marriage,  her 
demise  occurring  Dec.  18,  1833.  His  second  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  near  Paris,  Bourbon  County, 
Ky.,  on  Christmas  day,  in  the  year  1834,  the  lady 
chosen  to  share  his  joys  and  sorrows,  successes  and 


I 


216 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


reverses,  being  Miss  Martha  Holloway,  a  daughter 
of  George  Holloway  and  sister  of  Hon.  Robert 
Holloway  (see  sketch).  She  was  born  in  Bourbon 
County,  Dec.  7,  1816,  and  was  reared  in  her  native 
county,  remaining  at  home  with  her  parents  until  her 
marriage.  They  were  farmers,  and  father  died  in 
Bourbon  County.  The  mother's  demise  occurred  at 
the  home  of  one  of  her  sisters,  the  wife  of  Gen. 
W.  F.  Thornton,  of  Shelbyville,  111.  Mrs.  Rankin 
was  the  fourth  child  of  her  father's  family  of  seven 
children,  and  she  has  become  the  "mother  of  ten 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  living :  William  H.  is 
married  and  engaged  as  a  furniture  dealer  in  Mon- 
mouth, where  he  resides;  Adam  is  also  married  and 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Johnson  Co., 
Kan.;  Anna  is  the  wife  of  D.  E.  Thompson,  a  stock 
speculator,  and  resides  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  Mary 
married  William  H.  Irwin,  who  is  engaged  in  the  real- 
estate  business  in  Dawson  Co.,  Neb. ;  George  C.  is 
Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Warren  County ;  Belle 

fand  Robert  reside  at  home,  the  latter  operating  the 
homestead.  Three  of  Mr.  Rankin's  children  died  in 

[infancy. 

Immediately  after  marriage  Mr.  and   Mrs.  Rankin 

I  came  to  Illinois,  locating  at   Springfield,  where  Mr. 

I  R.  had  established  himself  about  12  months  prior  to 
his  marriage  in  the  mercantile  business.  After  mar- 
riage he  lived  there  for  about  nine  years,  doing  a 
successful  business  in  his  line.  He  went  thence  to 
Shelbyville,  111.,  and  embarked  in  the  same  business 
and  remained  for  about  three  years.  In  1845,  he 
came  to  Warren  County,  and  settled  in  Monmouth, 
where  he  carried  on  an  extensive  business  in  pro- 
duce and  general  merchandise.  He  was  thus  occu- 
pied until  1861,  when  he  came  to  his  present  farm, 
which  consists  of  80  acres  of  land,  and  which  is 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation.  As  a  fruit- 
grower he  has  done  exceedingly  well,  and  at  the 
annual  fairs  he  represents  his  products,  which  always 
take  away  a  share  of  the  laurels.  Grapes  and  straw- 
berries are  his  specialty. 

Mr.  Rankin  has  overtaken  an  active  and  promin- 
ent part  in  every  enterprise  having  for  its  object  the 
advancement  of  the  public  interest.  He  has  always 
been  found  associated  with  the  best  and  most  prom- 
inent people  in  the  county  in  laboring  for  the  public 
good.  He  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  many  public 
positions,  which  he  always  did  with  a  high  degree  of 


satisfaction  to  all  concerned.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  Aldermen  of  Monmouth,  and  during  the  years 
1859-60  was  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  was  United 
States  Internal  Revenue  Assessor  of  his  district  for 
six  years — from  1862  to  1868.  He  served  as  Super- 
visor for  two  years  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
eight  years.  In  1864  the  Warren  County  Agricul- 
tural Society  elected  him  President,  and  re-elected 
him  the  following  year.  In  1868,  when  the  War- 
ren County  Reading  Room  was  first  organized,  he 
was  chosen  President  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  War- 
ren County  Library  from  1870  to  1879,  the  lat- 
ter institution  growing  out  of  the  Reading  Room. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen,  as  above  stated,  that  he  has 
been  both  an  active  and  a  leading  spirit  in  the  affairs 
of  Monmouth  and  Warren  County  for  years.  He 
never  has  pushed  himself  into  position,  but  being 
recognized  as  the  man  best  fitted  for  the  work  in 
hand  was  selected  without  opposition. 

Politically,  Mr.  R.  is  a  Republican,  and  takes  a 
prominent  part  in  politics.  Mr.  Rankin,  wife  and 
daughter  Belle  are  active  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  he  has  been  Elder  of  his  con- 
gregation  for  nearly  40  years,  which  position  he  is 
filling  at  the  present  time. 

We  are  pleased  to  present  to  our  patrons  the  por-   . 
trait  of  Mr.  Rankin,  which  we  do  in  connection  with 
this  sketch.     It  will  be  gladly  received  by  his  many 
friends   all  over  the  county   who  have  so   long  and 
favorably  known  him. 


W.  Meacham,  spending  the  sunset  of  his 
life  in  ease  and  comfort  at  Roseville,  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  July  26,  1830,  and  is  a 
son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Jones)  Meacham 
natives  respectively  of  North  Carolina  and  Ken- 
tucky. They  came  to  Illinois  in  1838  and  lo- 
cated in  Sangamon  County,  where  they  purchased 
120  acres  of  land  and  remained  for  two  years  ;  the 
elder  Meacham  then  sold  out  there  and  came  to 
Warren  County  and  made  a  purchase  of  a  farm 
where  the  village  of  Ellison  now  stands.  Here  he 
remained  for  four  years.  He  next  located  three 
miles  west  of  Roseville,  on  a  tract  of  80  acres  of 
land.  He  subsequently  went  to  New  Lancaster, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  and  grocery 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


217 


business  for  a  number  of  years.  After  selling  his 
interest  in  the  latter  enterprise  he  purchased  80 
acres  in  the  southeast  part  of  Ellison  Township, 
upon  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1878,  the 
death  of  his  wife  occurring  a  year  later.  Their 
family  consisted  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living, — Miles  G.,  Lavina,  Frances  VV.,  Etna  and 
Achilles. 

F.  W.  Meacham,  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  personal  narrative,  remained  the  compan- 
ion of  his  parents  until  he  reached  the  age  of  20 
years,  in  the  meantime  receiving  a  good  common- 
school  education.  After  leaving  home,  he  rented  a 
farm  for  the  first  year,  and  in '1851  made  a  purchase 
of  80  acres,  located  on  section  34,  Ellison  Township, 
and  upon  this  he  resided  for  20  years,  entering  act- 
ively and  energetically  upon  the  task  of  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation,  adding  by  subsequent 
purchases  269  acres.  He,  in  the  year  1870,  pur- 
chased a  house  and  five  acres  of  land  at  Roseville, 
where  he  resides.  This  he  has  since  increased  by  a 
ten-acre  tract. 

Mr.  F.  W.  Meacham  was  married  in  1851  to  Miss 
Harriet  Herring,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  She 
has  borne  him  seven  children,  as  follows :  Edward, 
Nora,  George,  Casa,  Luther,  Oscar  (deceased)  and 
Flora,  who  died  when  1 2  years  old.  Edward  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Bragg,  and  they  have  a  family 
consisting  of  four  children, — Frederick,  William, 
Clara  and  Angie.  Nora  married  William  Buckley, 
and  George  is  in  partnership  with  the  last  named 
gentleman  in  the  hardware  business  at  Roseville. 

Mr.  Meacham  is  a  Republican  and  with  his  wife 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


•"osiah  C.  Lucas,  one  of  the  largest  land- 
yjr  owners  in  Warren  County  and  also  one  of 
her  most  successful  farmers  and  respected 
citizens,  resides  on  section  18,  Cold  Brook 
Township.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  during  his  entire  life,  having  been  born 
in  Monmouth  Township,  July  30,  1832,  and  has 
consequently  witnessed  the  development  of  the 
county  to  the  present  magnificent  agricultural  con. 
dition  which  it  presents  to-day. 


The  father  of  Mr.  Lucas  of  this  sketch,  Marsham 
Lucas,  was  a  native  of  Hart  Co.,  Ky.,  and  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  He  was  married  in  his  native  county 
to  Miss  Cynthia  Ann  Whitman,  likewise  a  native  of 
that  county  and  State.  They  emigrated  to  this  State 
in  1829,  locating  in  Morgan  County,  and  after  a  resi- 
dence there  of  some  time,  came  to  this  county,  in 
1831,  where  Marsham  Lucas  purchased  land  from 
the  Government,  located  on  section  31,  Monmouth 
Township,  and  where  the  parents  continued  to  re- 
side until  the  death  of  the  mother,  which  occurred  in 
October,  1837.  Marsham  Lucas,  by  his  first  mar- 
riage, had  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  order  of 
birth  they  were,  Thomas  H.,'now  a  resident  of  Ore- 
gon ;  Christopher  W.,  who  died  in  1880  ;  Albert  W., 
also  a  resident  of  Oregon  ;  Sarah  E.  became  the  wife 
of  Elijah  I).  Butler  :  they  moved  to  Oregon,  where 
they  both  died  ;  Josiah  C.  was  next  in  order  of  birth  ; 
Emily  J.  became  the  wife  of  James  M.  Ellis,  and 
they  live  in  Palmyra,  Mo. ;  and  Samuel  C.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Indiana. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  article  was 
a  child  of  five  years  at  the  date  of  his  mother's  death.  ' 
He  was  the  youngest  but  two  of  his  parents'  children, ' 
and  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  his  father  was   a  J 
second  time  married,  when  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Davidson, 
nee    Deweese,    became    his    wife,  with   whom   Mr.  • 
Lucas  of  this  sketch  continued   to  reside  until  four 
years  after  attaining  his  majority.    In  1865  his  father 
and    step-mother  moved   to  Abingdon,   where  they 
are   at  present   living,  retired  from  the  active  labors 
of  life  and  enjoying  their  accumulations  of  the  past. 

Josiah  C.  Lucas  resided  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  24  years  old,  at  which  time  he  was  married  in 
the  township  of  his  nativity  fo  Hannah  J.  Townsend. 
She  was  a  native  of  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.,  born  March 
22,  1833,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents 
when  a  young  lady.  She  resided  at  home,  acquiring 
an  education  in  the  common  schools  and  assisting 
her  mother  in  the  household  labors,  until  her  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Lucas.  Her  parents  are  both  de- 
ceased. They  were  James  and  Polly  (Baldwin) 
Townsend.  They  became  residents  of  this  county 
in  1855  and  were  farmers  and  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  Mr.  Townsend,  in  politics,  was  a 
Democrat. 

Our  subject  and  wife  have  had  born  to  them  eight 
children,  namely  :  Berry,  who  married  Katie  B.  Jam.- 


f  V 


218 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


ison:  they  live  near  Abingdon,  Knox  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming  and  the  breeding  of  Polled 
Angus  cattle ;  Guy  is  deceased  ;  Ola  A.  is  now  a 
student  of  law  at  the  Chicago  Union  College  of 
Law :  he  is  a  graduate  of  Knox  College ;  James 
L.,  Jessie  E.,  Rosa  J.,  Harry  C.,  and  a  daughter 
who  died  in  infancy,  are  the  names  of  the  other 
members  of  the  family. 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucas  were  united  in  marriage, 
Mr.  Lucas  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in  Cold 
Brook  Township,  consisting  of  80  acres,  on  which  he 
located  and  engaged  actively  and  energetically  in  its 
improvement.  He  has  subsequently,  by  his  energy, 
good  judgment  and  perseverance,  added  to  his  orig- 
inal purchase  of  land  in  this  county  at  different 
times  until  he  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  i, 800 
acres  of  good  farm  land,  the  same  being  located  ia 
Cold  Brook,  Floyd  and  Monmouth  Townships,  and 
some  in  Knox  County.  The  landed  interests  of  Mr. 
Lucas  have  been  acquired  through  that  indomitable 
energy  and  perseverance  of  which  he  is  character- 
istic. He  is  a  gentleman  possessed  of  far  more  than 
ordinary  ability  as  a  business  man,  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Warren  County. 
He  is  also  engaged  in  breeding  thorougbred  Polled 
Angus  cattle.  A  view  of  his  home  is  shown  on 
another  page  of  this  ALBUM. 

Mr.  Lucas  and  his  wife  are  members  [of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Lucas  is  a 
believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party. 


|  iinothy  Thomas,  an  energetic  and  success- 
ful agriculturist  of  Lenox  Township,  War- 
ren County,  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Lucy 
(Sprague)  Thomas,  and  a  native  of  Ohio,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Clermont  County  in  August, 
1830.  His  parents  were  natives  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  New  Hampshire  respectively,  and  of  their 
union  four  children  were  born, — Zuba,  Alonzo,  Tim- 
othy and  Alice.  Zuba  is  deceased. 

Timothy  Thomas,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
sketch,  remained  at  home,  working  on  the  farm  and 
attending  school  when  opportunity  presented  itself, 


until  he  attained  the  age  of  majority,  at  which  age  he 
came  to  Warren  County  and  worked  out  by  the 
month  for  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  rented  land  and  improved  and  cultivated  it  for 
three  years,  when  he  engaged  in  working  with  his 
father.  After  thus  being  busily  engaged  for  several 
years,  he  accumulated  sufficient  to  enable  him  to 
purchase  a  tract  of  120  acres  of  land,  of  which  he 
is  now  the  possessor.  Having  entered  actively  and 
energetically  upon  its  improvement,  he  has  it  now 
under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  with  a  good 
residence  and  other  necessary  buildings  upon  it. 

July  7,  1870,  in  Knox  County,  this  State,  occurred 
one  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  life  of  Mr. 
Thomas,  it  being  his  marriage  to  Miss  Leannah 
Neff,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Shoemaker) 
Neff,  natives  of  Virginia  Jonathan,  Jackson,  Sally, 
Catherine,  Rebecca,  Melvina,  Leannah,  Susan,  Jo- 
seph, Mary  and  Elias  are  the  names  of  the  1 1  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neff.  Leannah,  now  the 
wife  of  Timothy  Thomas,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  March  28,  1840,  and  with  her  husband  has 
become  the  parent  of  four  children, — Mary  V.,  Asa, 
Charles  and  Lucy  B.,  all  residing  at  home  with  their 
parents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  politically  Mr.  T.  casts  his  vote  with 
the  Republican  party. 


Draper  Babcock,  the  leading  dry-goods 
merchant  of  Monmouth,  was  born  in 
Wales,  Mass.,  Dec.  i,  1827.  (For  a  his- 
tory of  the  parents,  see  sketch  of  E.  C.  Bab- 
cock  in  this  volume.)  Draper  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Monmouth  in  1842,  and  has  here 
since  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  be- 
came a  partner  with  his  father  in  1852,  and  assumed 
full  control  of  the  business  in  1864. 

From  1859  to  1865,  Mr.  Babcock  of  this  notice 
held  the  office  of  County  Treasurer,  and  during  the 
late  Civil  War  was  Deputy  United  States  Revenue 
Collector  under  Grimshaw.  In  1873,  the  Temper- 
ance element  elected  him  Mayor  of  the  city,  and  he 
has  represented  his  ward  in  the  City  Council  for 
many  years.  For  several  years  he  was  connected 


Of   -ttl 
WUVBW1.I 


RESIDENCE  OF  COLBY  M  AT  TESON.SEC.SG.  LENOX  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  or  J.  C.  Luc  AS,  SEC,  18,  COLD  BROOK  TOWNS  HI  P. 


•e- 


•- 


JO 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


221 


with  Monmouth  College  as  Trustee,  and  he  has  filled 
a  similar  capacity  on  the  Public  Library  Board  since 
its  organization.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  unfortunate  First  National  Bank,  and  was  one  of 
its  Directors  up  to  the  time  of  its  collapse. 

Leaving  the  old  Whig  party,  Mr.  Babcock  united 
with  the  Republicans,  and  while  no  politician,  he 
has  served  his  party  in  various  ways  effectively.  In 
popularity  as  a  business  man  and  citizen,  it  is  stating 
mildly  a  truth  that  has  passed  into  a  proverb,  to  say 
that  he  is  the  peer  of  any  man  in  Warren  County. 
He  is  not  rich  in  worldly  possessions,  perhaps,  but  is 
opulent  in  good  name. 

Mr.  Babcock  was  married  at  Monmouth,  Dec.  22, 
1852,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Elliott,  daughter  of  the  late 
Rev.  Joseph  Elliott,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  of 
his  three  sons  and  one  daughter  we  have  the  follow- 
ing brief  memoranda :  Edward  C.,  brought  up  to 
mercantile  pursuits,  was  quite  successfully  engaged 
in  business  at  Leadville,  Col.,  for  some  years:  he  is 
'  now  (October,  1885,)  in  Butte  City,  Montana;  How- 
ard resides  at  Galesburg,  111. ;  and  Lucius  A.  makes 
his  home  with  his  parents.  Probably  the  most  pop- 
ular young  lady  in  Monmouth  was  Miss  Jennie  O. 
Babcock.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  A.  B.  Seaman,  a 
prominent  young  attorney  of  Denver,  Col. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Babcock  is  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  to  which  he  devotes  much 
of  his  time  and  money. 


.lijah  Coddington  Babcock,  deceased, 
was  born  in  Wales,  Hampden  Co.,  Mass., 
Jan.  1 6,  1803,  where  he  lived  until  1841, 
and  died  at  Monmouth,  111.,  from  paralysis, 
Feb.  13,  1885.  He  was  a  son  of  James  and 
Phila  Babcock,  who  were  descendants  of  that 
Puritan  stock  of  which  Americans  are  so  proud.  In 
early  boyhood  he  manifested  a  taste  for  the  mercan- 
tile business  and  entered  a  store  at  the  age  of  14 
years.  His  thrift  and  enterprise  enabled  him  to  ac- 
cumulate the  means  with  which  he  purchased  an  in- 
terest in  the  establishment,  which  he  afterwards 
bought  entire. 

On  Dec.  17,  1823,  Mr.  Babcock  was  married  to 
Miss  Cynthia  Weld,  of  Brimfield,  Mass.  The  result 
Of  the  union  was  twq  sons  and  three  daughters,  viz.: 


Mrs.  Persis  W.  Stapp,  now  deceased;  John  Babcock, 
of  Denver,  Col.;  Draper,  of  Monmouth  (see  sketch)  ; 
Mrs.  Mary  Patterson,  also  of  Monmouth,  and  Mrs. 
A.  H.  Holt,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

In  the  early  part  of  1842  Mr.  Babcock  decided  to 
come  West,  and  some  time  in  April  of  that  year,  in 
company  with  his  brother  George,  reached  St.  Louis. 
Being  informed  by  merchants  of  that  city  that  there 
was  a  splendid  prospect  for  the  marcantile  business 
in  the  locality  of  Oquawka  on  the  upper  Mississippi, 
they  came  up  the  river,  but  on  reaching  Oquawka 
were  not  pleased  with  the  prospect.  They  started 
for  Monmouth,  riding  as  far  as  Olmstead's  Mill  with 
Uncle  William  Hopper  and  walking  the  rest  of  the 
way.  The  next  day  the  fortune-seekers  rented  a 
room  in  the  building  which  stood  where  the  Mon- 
mouth National  Bank  building  now  stands,  which  be- 
longed to  Daniel  McNiel,  George  Babcock  being  a 
silent  partner.  It  was  not  long  until  they  were  doing 
an  extensive  business,  having  a  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise, comprising  everything  that  satisfied  the 
demand  of  early  settlers.  In  1851  George  Babcock 
retired  and  the  deceased  gave  his  two  sons,  John 
and  Draper,  interests  in  the  establishment.  Mr.  •> 
Babcock 's  strict  honesty  and  correct  business  prin- 
ciples won  for  the  establishment  a  reputation  for 
fairness  and  upright  dealing  that  extended  for  many 
miles  around  Monmouth.  He  was  noted  for  the 
correctness  of  his  accounts,  but  his  great  trouble  was 
selling  on  credit.  At  the  time  of  the  great  fire  on 
May  o,  1871,  his  business  house  was  entirely  de- 
stroyed and  he  sustained  heavy  losses.  He  did  not 
again  re-open  business,  but  was  engaged  in  the  store 
of  his  son,  Draper. 

In  the  year  1841  the  Baptist  Church  was  organized 
in  Monmouth,  to  which  the  deceased  largely  contrib- 
uted. Mrs.  Babcock  joined  the  organization  by  let- 
ter in  1843,  an<3  Mr.  Babcock  became  a  member  by 
baptism  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Miner  in  1846. 
His  membership  in  the  Church  abounds  with 
liberal  contributions  and  unrelenting  interest  in  its 
behalf.  He  often  bore  half  of  the  expenses  of  the 
Church  and  was  the  head  and  shoulders  of  the  con- 
gregation. He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Deacon 
years  ago,  the  duties  of  which  he  performed  until  the 
time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babcock  celebrated  the  5oth  anni- 
versary of  their  marriage  on  Dec.  17,  1873.  Mrs, 


222 


rv: 

WARREN  COUNTY. 


Babcock  died  Sept.  29,  1878.  After  a.  long  life  of 
Christian  usefulness  she  sank  gently  to  her  rest, 
bowed  under  the  weight  of  years.  She  was  a  faith- 
ful and  constant  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for 
over  40  years.  Her  last  days  were  soothed  by  the 
loving  ministrations  of  her  children  and  friends. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Watson,  in  his  funeral  sermon,  paid 
the  deceased  the  following  tribute :  We  have  been 
called  together  to-day  to  pay  a  last  grateful  tribute 
to  the  memory  of  one  long  known  and  felt  in  your 
community.  Coming  to  this  city  in  1842,  the  de- 
ceased has  been  identified  with  the  progress  and 
prosperity  of  Monmouth  during  a  very  important 
period  of  its  history.  Felt  in  all  the  enterprises  of 
our  growth,  he  has  given  his  special  energies  toward 
the  establishing  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  this  place. 
Uniting  with  the  Church  in  1846,  he  ever  after  took 
a  deep  interest  in  all  her  struggles.  It  was  owing 
very  largely  to  his  untiring  efforts  and  large-hearted 
liberality,  that  this  building  was  ever  erected.  The 
f  regularity  of  the  enterprise  manifested  in  his  busi- 
I  ness  relations  was  but  the  exponent  of  his  habits  in 
|  reference  to  spiritual  matters.  Seldom  heard  in 
"  meetings  of  any  kind,  he  was  always  seen  in  his 
I  place  no  matter  how  fierce  the  storm ;  and  his 
beaming  eye  and  hearty  grasp  of  hand,  spoke  louder 
than  words  of  his  devotion  and  interest.  The 
encouragement  which  he  gave  to  the  Pastor  in  his 
labor  by  his  devoted  attendance  and  earnest  co-oper- 
ation, was  worth  more  than  the  most  eloquent  words 
of  some.  To  show  how  his  heart  yearned  for  the 
prosperity  of  Zion  during  his  late  suffering,  whenever 
one  entered  the  room  ha  enquired  about  the  meetings 
and  longed  to  be  there. 

Such  as  he,  when  they  are  called  hence,  leave  a 
vacancy  which  we  can  not  fill.  We  shall  miss  him 
sadly  from  our  midst,  bat  his  influence  shall  abide ; 
and  may  it  prove  a  lasting  incentive  to  us  all,  to 
quicken  us  and  prompt  us  to  greater  diligence  in 
every  good  work,  while  it  is  day. 

His  sufferings,  which  were  so  severe,  are  already 
passed  away  forever ;  and  he  has  joined  the  in- 
numerable throng  of  redeemed  ones  around  the 
throne.  One  more  added  to  the  treasures  in  heaven, 
who  shall  await  your  coming  with  the  King.  The 
Savior,  who  has  called  him  from  his  labors  into  rest, 
stands  by  your  side  and  whispers,  "  Let  not  your 
heart  be  troubled;  ye  believe  in  God,  believe  also  in 


me."  "Peace  I  leave  with  you;  my  peace  I  give 
unto  you,"  and  remember  that  "  The  Lord  will  not 
cast  off  His  people,  neither  will  he  forsake  his  in- 
heritance." Put  your  confidence  and  trust  in  Him. 

James  Babcock,  the  first  known  ancestor  of  our 
subject,  came  from  England  in  1663,  and  settled  in 
Rhode  Island.  His  youngest  son,  Jeremiah,  was 
born  at  Westerly,  R.  I.,  in  1679,  and  became  quite 
renowned  as  a  soldier.  In  Monmouth,  the  Babcocks 
erected  and  conducted  the  first  grain  elevator.  They 
were  also  the  first  pork-packers  in  this  part  of  the 
country. 

E.  C.  Babcock  led  a  life  which,  though  quiet,  was 
full  of  kindness  and  good  words.  Poverty  and  sick- 
ness found  in  him  a  friend.  He  was  a  good  friend, 
a  good  citizen  and  a  good  Christian,  always  openly 
avowing  his  convictions  yet  careful  of  the  feelings  of 
others.  His  demise  was  deeply  felt  throughout  the 
county. 


eorge  W.  Palmer,  another  of  Warren 
County's  farmers,  who  by  his  energy  and 
economy  has  succeeded  in  obtaining  a 
good  title  to  135  acres  of  good  tillable  land, 
located  on  sectij  i  7,  Hale  Township,  where 
he  is  actively  engaged  in  the  labors  of  an 
agriculturist,  is  a  son  of  Wilkinson  and  Nancy 
(Hurd)  Palmer,  natives  of  Brighton,  Canada  West. 
The  parents  came  from  the  latter  province  to  White- 
side  County,  in  r844,  from  whence  they  removed  to 
Hancock  County,  and  soor.  after  became  residents  of 
this  county,  having  settled  in  Monmouth.  They 
lived  in  the  latter  city  for  one  year,  when  they  lo- 
cated in  what  is  now  Hale  Township,  where  they 
lived  until  their  death.  The  mother  died  in  i863j 
and  the  father  in  1878.  Their  children  were  n  in 
number. 

George  W.  Palmer  was  the  eighth  child  in  order 
of  birth  of  his  parents'  family.  He  was  born  in 
Canada,  Aug.  15,  1838,  and  was  about  six  years  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  this  State,  and  is  conse- 
quently a  pioneer  settler  here.  He  came  \vith  his 
parents  to  this  county  and  engaged  in  the  active  la- 
bors on  the  farm,  and  has  continued  to  reside  here 
until  the  present  time,  having,  during  the  meantime, 
become  the  proprietor  of  135  acres  of  good,  tillable 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


223 


land,  on  which  he  resides  and  is  there  engaged  in 
the  vocation  which  he  has  followed  the  major  portion 
of  his  life, —  agriculture. 

In  Henderson  County,  this  State,  Oct.  25,  1859, 
the  ceremony  was  performed  which  united  for  life 
the  subject  of  this  notice  with  Miss  Sarah  Haines, 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  Amos  and  Catherine 
(Miller)  Haines,  natives  of  Ohio.  The  parents  of 
Mrs.  Palmer  had  six  children,  of  whom  she  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth.  She  was  born  near  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  March,  18,  1842,  and  has  borne  her  hus- 
band seven  children, — Flora  E.,  James  C.,  Ida  M., 
Emma  J.,  Laura  P.,  Maud  A.  and  Nettie  C.  James 
C.  died  in  infancy. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  believer  in  and  a  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republican 
party.  Mrs.  Palmer  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church. 


i,olby  Matteson.  Among  the  leading  ag- 
riculturists of  Lenox  Township  and  War- 
ren County  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
He  is  a  son  of  Norman  and  Emeline  (Matte- 
son)  Matteson,  who  were  natives  of  Vermont 
and  New  York  respectively.  Norman  Mat- 
ttson  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Isaiah  Matteson,  and 
was  born  at  Shaftsbury,  Vt.,  June  15,  1806.  At  the 
age  of  17  he  was  converted,  and  baptized  by  his 
father,  and  was,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  an  act- 
ive member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  When  2  r  years 
years  old,  he  went  to  Western,  New  York,  where,  in 
1829,  he  was  married  to  Mahal  a  Beckwith.  One 
child,  a  girl,  was  born  to  them,  but  mother  and  child 
died  in  1833.  In  1835  he  was  married  to  Emeline 
Matteson,  who  died  in  1856,  the  mother  of  six  chil- 
dren. Their  names  were  Colby,  Adelbert,  Abner, 
Caroline,  Avery  and  Florence.  Abner,  Caroline  and 
Avery  are  deceased ;  Florence  became  the  wife  of 
George  Best,  now  residing  in  Floyd  Township;  Adel- 
bert is  single  and  lives  in  Portland,  Oregon.  He 
served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  late  Rebellion, 
as  a  member  of  the  83d  Regt.  111.  Vol.,  and  partici- 
pated in  several  of  the  important  battles  of  the  war, 
in  one  of  which — Fort  Donelson — he  was  wounded 


in  the  arm.  This  being  serious,  he  was  honorably 
discharged. 

After  his  marriage  in  1835,  Norman  Matteson  and 
wife  settled  in  Avon,  N.  Y.,  where  they  lived  for  a 
time,  then  removed  to  Western,  and  subsequently  to 
Floyd,  N.  Y.,  and  from  there  to  Berwick,  111.,  in 
1838.  The  elder  Matteson  was  therefore  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  country.  From  Ber- 
wick they  removed  to  Roseville  Township,  but  af- 
terward removed  to  Floyd  Township,  where  they 
remained  for  several  years.  They  then  moved  to 
Lenox  Township,  and  in  1865  he  made  another  re- 
moval, this  time  locating  in  the  village  of  Betwick, 
where  he  continued  to  reside,  retired  from  the  active 
labors  of  life,  until  his  death.  His  second  wife  died 
in  Lenox  Township,  Dec.  25,  1856.  In  1857  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Schuessler,  at  Berwick.  She 
is  a  native  of  Hamburg,  Germany,  is  a  woman  of 
many  excellent  qualities,  and  proved  to  be  a  devoted 
wife  and  a  good  mother  to  his  children.  His  death 
occurred  Oct.  17,  1881.  His  widow  still  survives, 
and  now  lives  in  Floyd  Township,  and  is  highly  es- 
teemed by  her  neighbors  and  friends. 

Colby  Matteson  was  born  in  Avon,  Livingston 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  27,  1837,  and  came  to  this  county 
with  his  parents,  and  has  continued  to  reside  here 
ever  since.  He  acquired  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  this  county,  and  during  the  sev- 
eral years  which  have  elapsed,  he  has  been  a  careful 
observer  and  reader  of  the  current  literature  of  the 
day,  and  at  this  writing  we  find  him  to  be  a  man  of 
practical  views  on  the  many  important  questions  of 
the  times.  His  vocation  is  that  of  a  farmer,  agri- 
ricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising  having  not  only 
afforded  him  a  pleasing  but  a  profitable  occupation. 
His  farm  now  comprises  240  acres,  on  section  36, 
Lenox  Township,  and  is  one  of  the  handsomest  and 
best  improved  farms  in  the  township.  His  carefully 
kept  lawn,  well  appointed  house,  within  and  without, 
neat  and  substantial  barn  and  outbuildings,  and  well 
ordered  fences  and  hedges,  all  combine  to  show 
where  thrift,  enterprise  and  energy  dwell.  We  in- 
vite the  reader's  attention  to  another  page  of  this 
work,  on  which  is  shown  an  elegant  view  of  the  resi- 
dence and  farm  property  of  Mr.  Matteson.  In  his 
chosen  vocation  of  life  Mr.  Matteson  is  meeting  with 
that  success  which  his  energetic  disposition,  push 
and  tact  are  sure  to  bring. 

He    was    married    in    Roseville    Township,    this 


224 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


county,  Jan.  24,  1865,  to  Miss  Harriet  A.  Dillon. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Lavina  Dillon, 
and  was \born  Sept.  8,  1845,  in  Kentucky.  Of  the 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matteson,  four  children, — 
Harvey  N.,  Flora  E.,  Alfred  and  Ida, — have  been 
born  to  them  and  are  now  residing  at  home.  Mrs. 
Matteson  died  at  her  home  in  Lenox  Township,  May 
i  2,  1883.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
as  is  likewise  Mr.  Matteson. 

During  the  late  Rebellion  he  was  a  staunch  Union 
man.  In  politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party. 


illiam  W.  Wilson,  a  general  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  residing  on  section  16,  Mon- 
mouth  Township,  was  born  in  Perry  Co., 
Ohio,  on  the  igth  of  August,  1837.  His 
father,  James  J.,  was  a  farmer  and  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Scotch  descent.  He  was 
a  young  man  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Perry  County,  the  Buckeye  State,  and  while  there 
married  a  Miss  Elizabeth  Williams,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Washington  Co  ,  Pa.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
a  Pennsylvania  farmer  named  William  Williams, 
who  came  to  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  when  that  county  and 
even  all  that  portion  of  the  State  was  but  little  set- 
tled. They  located  in  the  woods  of  Perry  County, 
where  her  father  engaged  actively  and  energetically 
in  the  severe  task  of  clearing  and  improving  a  farm. 
James  J.  Wilson,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  also  resided  with  his  family  in  Perry  County, 
and  it  was  there  that  his  children  were  born.  His 
family  comprised  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  William  W.  is  the  seventh  child. 
Six  of  the  children  are  still  living,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  All  are  married  and  have  reared 
families,  and  all  but  one  live  in  Illinois ;  four  reside 
in  Warren  County.  James  J.  Wilson  also  repre- 
sented his  county  in  the  Ohio  Legislature  for  two 
terms.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  and  his  wife 
were  both  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  died  in  December,  1856,  and  his  widow 
survived  him  till  April,  1863. 

Mr.  Wilson,  of  this  notice,  was  about  18  years  of 


age  when  his  father  died,  and  afterwards  lived  with, 
and  was  the  principal  support  of,  his  mother  until 
her  death,  which  took  place  when  he  was  27  years 
old.  He  afterwards  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  tin- 
ner and  purchased  a  hardware  and  tin-shop,  which 
he  conducted  for  some  eight  years  in  New  Lexing- 
ton, his  native  county. 

He  was  united  in  marriage,  Dec.  4,  1869,  in  New 
Lexington,  to  Miss  Sarah  Kelley,  who  was  born  in 
Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  March  5,  1831,  and  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Riley  and  Jane  (Jones)  Kelley.  Her  parents 
were  married  in  Perry  County,  where  her  father  was 
for  some  time  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  and  later 
in  life  followed  the  occupation  of  farmer,  and  where 
he  died  in  1861.  Her  mother  is  yet  living,  in  Lex- 
ington, Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  about  75  years  of 
age.  Mrs.  Wilson  is  the  eldest  in  order  of  birth  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  and  of  her  union  with  Mr. 
W.  two  children  have  been  born,  one  of  whom  is  de- 
ceased. Jessie  M.  is  the  surviving  child  and  Victor 
is  deceased. 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  were  united  in  marri- 
age, they  continued  to  reside  in  New  Lexington, 
Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  for  one  year.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  they  came  to  McDonough  County,  this 
State,  where  Mr.  Wilson  followed  his  trade  one  year. 
They  then  came  to  Warren  County  in  1871,  and 
three  years  later,  in  1874,  located  on  a  farm  of  95 
acres  of  improved  land,  which  belonged  to  his  brother, 
O.  P.  Wilson,  and  on  which  Mr.  Wilson,  of  this 
sketch,  has  since  resided.  Politically,  Mr.  W.  is  a 
strong  adherent  to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party.  v 


homas  L.  Capps,  owning  170  acres  of 
good,  tillable  land  in  Lenox  Township,  and 
residing  on  section  24,  is  a  son  of  Asa  and 
Mary  (Brooks)  Capps,  natives  of  Kentucky. 
The  parents  were  married  and  settled  in  this 
county,  where  the  father  was  an  agriculturist 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  6,  1878.  His 
widow  still  survives.  The  issue  of  their  union  was 
nine  children,  named  Thomas  L.,  Nancy  E.,  John 
L.,  Sarah  J.,  Lewis  M.,  Lucy  C.,  Orville  and  Edwin 
R.  Mary  E.  died  when  she  was  about  ten  years 
old. 

The  gentleman  whose  life's   sketch  we  write,  is  a 


. 

V    iVUUUII 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


227 


native  of  this  county,  having  been  born  in  Rose- 
ville  Township,  June  6,  1843.  From  childhood  his 
inclination  was  'to  become  a  successful  and  inde- 
pendent farmer,  and  his  younger  days  were  passed 
principally  on  the  farm,  alternating  his  labors  thereon 
with  attendance  at  the  common  schools,  and  sup- 
plementing his  education  gained  here  by  a  five 
months'  course  of  study  at  Abingdon  College.  He 
is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  a  fine  and  well  im- 
proved farm,  and  a  gentleman  possessed  of  sound, 
practical  knowledge  of  the  vocation  of  an  agricultur- 
ist, in  the  following  of  which  occupation  he  is  meet- 
ing with  success. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Capps  wooed  and  won  and 
who,  on  Sept.  16,  1866,  became  his  wife,  Miss  Mary 
Jewell,  is  a  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Elizabeth 
(Johnson)  Jewell,  natives  of  New  York  State  and 
Virginia,  respectively.  Mrs.  Capps  was  born  in  this 
county,  March  5,  1844,  and  was  the  second  in  order 

•  of  birth  of  a  family  of  1 1  children.     Her  parents,  on 
•coming  to  this  county,  settled   in  Berwick  Township, 

where  they  resided  until  their  deaths. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Capps  have  become  the  parents  of 

>four   children, — Minnie    J.,   Nettie  B,  Ada  C.   and 

j  Orion  A.     The  head  of  the  household  has  held  the 

•  office  of  Supervisor  of  Lenox  Township  two  years  and 
•  also   the  offices    of  School    Director,   Trustee    and 

Tax  Collector.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  in  religious  matters  he  and  his  wife  both 
believe  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Baptist  Church,  to 
which  denomination  they  belong.  In  politics  Mr. 
Capps  votes  with  the  Democratic  party. 

A ^  <-:>  - ^ 


Benjamin  F.  Forwood  is  one  of  the  well- 
known  and  prominent  pioneers  of  Warren 
County.  He  settled  in  the  township  of 
Spring  Grove  as  early  as  1839.  He  was 
born  in  Hartford  Co.,  Md.,  Dec.  18,  1816. 
His  father,  William  W.  Forwood,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  a  descendant  of 
Irish  ancestry.  The  father  of  the  Mr.  Forwood  last 
named  was  also  a  native  of  the  State  where  his  son 
was  born,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers.  All  the  early  generations  of 
the  family  belonged  to  the  same  fraternity.  The 
grandfather  removed  with  his  family  to  Maryland 


and  there  bought  a  farm,  upon  which  William  was 
reared  and  attained  to  the  estate  of  manhood,  and 
served  his  country  in  the  War  of  1812.  Here  he  was 
married  to  Sarah  T.  Gilbert.  She  was  a  native  of 
Maryland  and  was  of  English  descent.  In  1822  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Hartford  County,  upon  which  there 
were  all  the  facilities  for  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber. They  consisted  of  a  saw-mill  and  an  excellent 
water-power.  He  built  a  small  factory  on  the  stream 
which  furnished  the  motive  power  for  the  saw-mill 
already  in  order  of  business.  He  managed  his 
varied  business  projects,  including  a  good-sized  farm, 
until  1837,  when  he  sold  the  place  and  in  the  year 
succeeding  set  out  for  the  West.  He  came  by  the 
water  route  from  Maryland  to  St.  Louis,  where  the 
family  passed  the  winter. 

In  the  spring,  the  father,  mother  and  seven  chil- 
dren once  more  took  passage  on  the  river  and  landed 
at  Oquawka.  In  company  with  a  man  named  Joseph 
Plum,  Mr.  Forwood  entered  640  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tions 15  and  22,  in  what  is  now  the  township  of 
Spring  Grove  There  was  a  vacant  log  house  on 
section  23  and,  although  not  owning  the  land,  the 
family  took  possession  and  it  was  their  abode  until 
the  father  could  erect  a  stone  house,  better  suited 
to  their  needs,  which  he  located  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  22. 

He  was  assisted  in  the  improvement  of  the  farm 
by  his  sons,  and  was  the  occupant  and  owner  of  the 
place  until  1850,  when  he  went  to  California,  ac- 
companied by  his  sons,  Philip  G.  and  Shadrach  R. 
They  operated  for  a  time  as  miners  and  afterwards 
built  a  saw-mill  at  a  point  known  as  Yankee  Jim's, 
in  Placer  County.  They  carried  on  a  profitable 
lumber  business  until  the  death  of  the  father,  which 
occurred  July  9,  1853.  His  wife  died  in  April,  1859, 
at  the  residence  of  her  son,  the  subject  of  this  per- 
sonal narration,  in  Spring  Grove  Township.  The 
latter  is  the  oldest  child  of  his  parents.  The  family 
record  reads  as  follows  :  Hannah  R.  is  the  wife  of 
L  A.  Cunningham,  of  Oquawka;  Cordelia  Ann  is 
the  widow  of  R.  P.  Tinkham  and  resides  in  Kirk- 
wood,  Warren  County  ;  Philip  is  a  resident  of  Wash- 
ington Territory ;  Shadrach  lives  in  Nevada  ;  Sarah 
J.  married  L.  H.  Gilmore,  of  this  township;  Harriet 
married  R.  P.  Barnes,  of  Spring  Grove  Township, 
and  is  his  survivor. 

Mr.  Forwood  resided   with   his   parents   until   the 


228 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


year  in  which  his  father  went  to  California.  He 
then  took  possession  of  the  farm  and  assumed  the 
entire  charge.  In  the  year  1840  he  bought  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  23,  which  was  then  un- 
improved, and  it  is  now  his  place  of  abode  and  field 
of  operations.  The  usual  improvements  have  been 
made  and  the  place,  which  consists  of  1 68  acres  of 
fine  land,  is  in  excellent  order  for  successful  cultiva- 
tion. His  other  property,  however,  increases  his 
entire  acreage  to  369  acres.  The  proprietor  is  en- 
gaged in  mixed  farming.  The  buildings  on  the  farm 
are  of  the  necessary  type  on  a  farm  of  advanced  im- 
provement. A  view  of  them  is  given  in  this  vol- 
ume. 

In  political  connection,  Mr.  Forwood  is  independ- 
ent. He  commonly  finds  the  best  man  to  receive 
his  vote  in  the  Democratic  party,  but  is  untram- 
meled  in  opinion.  He  has  held  the  position  of 
Township  Treasurer  of  Schools  since  1846.  He 
was  the  second  Clerk  in  the  township  and  has  also 
served  as  Supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  Mon- 
mouth  Lodge,  No.  37,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Warren 
Chapter  No.  30,  and  Council  No.  14,  of  the  same 
order.  Mr.  Forwood's  portrait  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  It  is  giyen  as  that  of  one  of  the 
representative  men  of  the  county.  As  a  pioneer  he 
was  known  here  nearly  half  a  century  ago,  and  is 
also  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
his  township. 


tenry  Teare,  a  farmer,  owning  80  acres  of 
good  land  on  section  22,  Lenox  Township, 
where  he  has  resided  since  1858,  is  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Ann  (Cane)  Teare,  natives  of  the 
Isle  of  Man,  where  they  resided  until  their 
death.  The  parents'  children  were  six  in  num- 
ber, named  Charles,  John,  Robert,  Thomas,  Eliza- 
beth and  Henry.  The  latter  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  and  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  Feb.  17, 
1839.  He  lived  on  his  native  isle  until  18  years  of 
his  life  was  passed,  when,  hearing  of  the  glowing  ac- 
counts of  a  country  across  the  waters  called  the 
United  States,  and  hoping  to  better  his  financial  con- 
dition in  life,  he  immediately  set  sail  for  that  land  of 
promise.  Soon  after  landing  at  an  Eastern  seaport, 


he  came  to  Peoria  County,  this  State,  where  he  re- 
sided for  one  year.  In  1858,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  located  in  Lenox  Township,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  engaged  in  agiicultural  pursuits. 
His  farm  is  well  cultivated  and  improved,  and  re- 
flects credit  upon  its  owner. 

Mr.  Teare  was  married  in  Lenox  Township,  Jan. 
i,  1868,  to  Elvira  A.,  daughter  of  Chambers  and 
Catherine  (Foster)  Wick,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  came  to  Warren  County  in  1858  and  first  set- 
tled in  Lenox  Township.  Here  Mr.  Wick  died.  His 
widow,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Teare,  still  survives  and 
resides  in  Stark  County.  They  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,— Theo.  F.,  Elvira  A.,  Nancy  E.,  Thos.  J., 
James  M.,  William  R.,  Belle,  Curtis  R.  Elvira  A., 
wife  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa., 
April  23,  1847,  and  her  home  circle  was  blessed  with 
the  birth  of  two  children,  Cora  E.  and  Flora  B.  The 
former  died  Jan.  14,  1884,  at  the  age  of  16  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teare  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and,  socially,  he  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  In  politics,  he  affiliates  with  the  Republi- 
can party. 


rs.  Jemima  Sawtell,  residing  at  Rose- 
ville,  is  the  widow  of  the  late  John  Saw- 
tell,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine 
in  1807,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  r842,  set- 
tling in  La  Harpe,-  Hancock  County,  where  he 
remained  three  years.  He  then  went  to  Mc- 
Donough  County,  where,  after  a  stay  of  seven 
years,  he  came  into  Warren  County  and  located  in 
Ellison  Township,  on  a  tract  of  80  acres  of  land 
which  he  had  purchased.  He  increased  his  landed 
possessions  by  a  subsequent  purchase  of  30  acres 
and  lived  on  the  same  until  1871,  when  he  came  to 
Roseville  village  and  there  bought  a  lot  on  Main 
Street.  He  erected  a  fine  substantial  residence  on 
the  same  and  lived  a  retired  life  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  March  23,  1882,  during  his  75th 
year".  He  was  also  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 

Mr.  John  Sawtell  and  Mrs.  Jemima  Johnson, 
widow  of  Norman  Johnson,  were  married  in  1842. 
She  was  a  native  of  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  her 
first  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Michigan  in  1835, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


229 


her  husband,  Mr.  Johnson,  having  been  born  in  1810. 
His  parents  were  Nathaniel  and  Lucy  (Smith)  John- 
son, natives  of  Vermont.  Norman  Johnson  had  a 
farm  of  80  acres  in  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  which  he  sold 
and  .came  to  Illinois  in  1841,  settling  in  La  Harpe, 
Hancock  County.  At  the  latter  place  he  remained 
until  his  death,  in  1841.  Of  this  union  were  born 
two  daughters, — Elvira  E.  and  Electa  L.  Elvira  E. 
married  John  Talbot  in  185  6,. and  they  have  become 
the  parents  of  one  child,  who  is  living, — Ida  A.,  wife 
of  Charles  Pyington,  who  is  book-keeper  for  Phillips 
&  Co.,  of  Burlington;  Mr.  Talbot  died  in  February, 
1883;  and  Electa  L.  married  Hiram  Huring  in  1855, 
his  demise  occurring  in  1875. 

Mrs.  Sawtell  was  born  July  10,  1818,  and  still  lives 
in  the  village  of  Roseville.  Her  parents  were  Isaac 
and  Electa  (Allen)  Goodell,  natives  of  Northampton, 
Mass.,  and  were  married  in  1812.  They  came  to 
Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1830,  and  there  purchased 
r,6oo  acres  of  land,  remaining  there  until  their  death, 
the  father  in  1842,  and  the  mother  in  1862. 

Mr.  Sawtell  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  Politically,  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. 


zra  Cable,  one  of  Warren  County's  success- 
ful agriculturists  and  a  gentleman  whose 
success  as  such  is  attributable  to  no  leg- 
acy, but  to  his  own  indomitable  perseverance, 
is  a  resident  on  section  19,  Floyd  Township, 
with  postoffice  at  Berwick.  His  father  was 
named  Henry  Cable,  was  of  German  extraction, 
born  in  New  York  in  1795,  and  died  in  Monmouth, 
March  8,  1878.  His  mother,  Olive  (Kingsley)  Cable, 
was  of  Scotch  extraction,  born  in  1792,  and  died  at 
Monmouth,  Feb.  23,  1876.  Ezra  Cable,  of  whom  we 
write,  was  born  at  Floyd,  OneidaCo.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  n, 
1821.  Leaving  his  native  county  and  State,  in  the 
fall  of  1835,  he  came  with  his  father's  family  to  this 
county,  where  the  senior  Cable  purchased  200  acres 
of  land,  on  which  he  located  with  his  family  and 
where  Ezra,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  lived  and 
labored  until  1855,  in  the  meantime  supplement- 
ing his  education  which  he  had  received  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county  by  an  attendance 


at  the   district   schools  for  a  period  of  about   three 
months. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Cable  purchased  a  farm  of  80  acres, 
on  which  he  moved  two  years  later,  and  has  there 
resided  until  the  present  time,  engaged  in  its  culti- 
vation and  improvement  in  which  he  has  met  with 
no  small  degree  of  success.  By  economy  and  perse- 
verance he  has  succeeded  in  increasing  his  landed 
interests  until  his  place  at  present  comprises  200 
acres  of  as  good  farm  land  as  can  be  found  in 
the  county,  and  to  the,  passer-by  it  presents  an  ap- 
pearance indicative  of  that  push  and  good  judg- 
ment possessed  by  its  proprietor.  Mr.  Cable  has 
been  School  Trustee  for  many  years  and  in  his  polit- 
ical views  is  strictly  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Cable  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  April  26, 
1854,  with   Miss   Martha  J.  Latimer,  the   ceremony 
being  performed  in  Knox  County,  this  State,  by  the 
Rev.  J.  M.  B.  Roach.     Of  their  union  six  children 
have  been  born  ;  the  record  is  as  follows  :  Addie  M., 
born  March  9,  1855;  Clara  L.,  Oct.  15,  1856;  Effie 
M.,  Nov.    13,  1858;  Carl  D.,  June  29,  1860;  Grace 
V.,  June  5,  1869;  Roy  E.,  Oct.  18,  1870.    Addie,  on  - 
the   15 th  day  of  January,  1879,  became  the  wife  of  ^ 
Alfred  A.  Phelps.     Sept.  13,  1881,  Clara  married  A.  \ 
T.  Brooks.     Dec.  27,  1883,  Effie  united  her  future 
life  with  that  of  Myron  D.  Matteson.  J 

Mrs.  Ezra  Cable  was  born  in  Knox  Co.,  111.,  Oct. 
13,  1833,  and  was  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
George  G.  and  Rebecca  (Drennan)  Latimer.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Sumner  Co.,  Tenn.,  Feb.  28,  1810, 
and  was  a  prominent  and  leading  citizen  of  that 
county,  and  after  his  removal  to  Illinois,  became  a 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Knox  County.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Cable  was  born  in  Kentucky,  Feb.  26,  1814,  and  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  extraction,  her  husband  being  of  Eng- 
lish descent. 


.ames  W.  Robertson,  who  is  engaged  as  a 
farmer"  on  section  32,  Lenox  Township,  was 
born  in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1822.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Margaret  Robertson,  natives  respectively  of 
Scotland  and  New  York  State.  They  first 
settled  in  the  latter  state  and  then  removed  to  Ash- 
tabula  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  resided  until  their 


\ 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


deaths.  Of  this  union  were  born  1 1  children,  the 
eighth  in  order  of  birth  being  James  W.,  of  whom  we 
write. 

He  remained  at  home  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, in  the  meantime  attending  the  common 
schools  and  assisting  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  At 
the  age  of  21  he  came  to  Warren  County,  and  re- 
sided at  Monmouth  for  something  over  three  years, 
being  engaged  in  different  occupations.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  War,  belonging  to  a  company 
known  as  Capt.  Stapp's  Cavalry.  He  remained  in 
the  army  for  about  a  year,  when  he  returned  home 
and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  this  county.  Mr. 
Robertson  is  the  owner  of  158  acres  of  fine  tillable 
land,  upon  which  he  lias  erected  a  substantial  set  of 
farm  buildings. 

In  Monmouth,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1849,  the 
wedding  of  Mr.  James  W.  Robertson  and  Miss  Erne- 
line  Morgan  was  celebrated.  Mrs.  R.  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  Empire  State  and  James  and  Penelope 
.Morgan  were  her  parents.  They  had  a  family  of 
four  children,  the  following  being  the  names:  Mar- 
garet J.,  Ralph  J.,  Harlow  C.  and  Nellie  A.  Mrs. 
Robertson  died  in  Lenox  Township,  April  17,  1868, 

I  and  Mr.  J.  W.  Robertson  was  again  married  on  the 
8th  of  September,  1880,  at  Monmouth,  to  Mrs.  Jen- 
nie (Wilcox)  Clark,  daughter  of  Arom  and  Mary  Ann 
Wilcox  and  widow  of  David  Clark".  She  was  born  in 
Rockford,  this  State,  Oct.  i,  1838.  Mr.  Robertson 
has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  one  term  and  also 
other  minor  offices  in  his  township.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  politically  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party. 


> 

Daniel  Bird,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 

tile  and  brick  at  Roseville,  was  born  in 
Shropshire,  England  in  1832,  and  is  a  son 
of  an  English  potter.  Daniel  Bird,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  remained  at  home  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  20  years,  in  the  meantime 
learning  the  pottery  trade  of  his  father,  having  com- 
menced to  turn  the  potter's  wheel  at  the  age  of  eight 
years.  After  leaving  home  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  tile  and  brick  and  was  thus  occupied  until 
the  fall  of  1856,  when  he  emigrated  to  the  United 


States,  reaching  New  York  in  October.  He  stopped 
but  a  short  time  in  that  city,  when,  learning  of  the 
fertility  and  rapid  growth  of  the  West,  he  pushed 
forward,  corning  to  Illinois  and  settling  in  Swan 
Township,  this  county,  and  here  engaging  at  his 
trade,  which  occupation  he  continued  for  ten  years. 
He  subsequently  came  to  Roseville  village  and  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business,  at  which  he  has  met 
with  excellent  success  and  is  doing  a  constantly  in- 
creasing business.  He  employs  about  13  men.  He 
has  erected  fine  large  buildings,  suitable  to  his  oc- 
cupation, costing  him  over  $10,000.  His  sons  are 
interested  with  him  in  his  manufacturing  business. 

Mr.  Bird  and  Miss  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Jane  Barker,  were  united  in  marriage  in  Eng- 
land, in  the  year  1856,  she  being  a  native  of  that 
country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bird  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  three  children, — George,  John  and  William. 
George  is  married  to  Miss  Sarah  McCammon  and 
they  have  four  children, — Delia,  Mary,  Charles  and 
"Roy.  John  married  Miss  Minda  McCammon. 

Mr.  Bird's  political  affiliations  are  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  he  is  considered  one  of  the  solid  and 
substantial  men  of  Warren. 


eorge  W.  Morey.  As  early  as  1841, 
Charles  Morey  with  his  family  came  into 
Warren  County  and  located  in  what  is 
now  Floyd  Township.  Accompanying  him 
was  his  son,  George  W.,  the  subject  of  this 
personal  sketch.  The  elder  Morey  had  mar- 
ried, in  his  native  State,  Miss  Polly  Blair.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  the  winter  of  1872,  but  his  wife 
still  survives  him.  They  had  a  family  of  12  chil- 
dren, of  whom  George  W.  was  the  third.  He  was 
born  Jan.  18,  1824,  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.  His  early  life 
was  passed  at  home,  and  when  a  lad  of  17  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  this  county,  which  at  the 
time  was  newly  settled,  without  railroads,  and  in  fact 
almost  a  wilderness.  Here  he  has  lived  for  44 
years,  and  has  witnessed  a  wonderful  transformation 
in  the  face  of  the  country.  About  22  years  ago  he 
moved  into  Lenox  Township,  where  he  has  been 
living  since.  He  now  owns  an  excellent  farm  of  160 
acres  thereon  section  i^.  He  has  been  prominent 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


*33 


in  the  affairs  of  his  township,  and  has  served  in  var- 
ious official  positions  for  many  years.  He  has  been 
Road  Commissioner  for  12  years  and  much  of  the 
present  good  condition  of  the  highways  is  due  to  his 
management.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.  He 
voted  twice  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  during  the 
war  was  a  staunch  Union  man.' 

While  living  in  Floyd  Township,  he  was  married 
to  Emily  Bonnell,  their  wedding  occurring  Sept.  20, 
1851.  His  wife  was  born  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Bonnell. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morey  have  a  family  of  three  children  : 
Mary  V.,  who  is  the  wife  of  T.  W.  Russell,  and  re- 
sides in  Nebraska ;  William  F.  married  Emma  F. 
Patterson  and  they  live  in  Monmouth;  and  Charles 
H.,  who  lives  at  home.  Besides  these,  two  died  in 
infancy.  Mrs.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

When  Mr.  M.  began  life  he  had  nothing  but  his 
strong  hands  to  aid  him,  but  with  that  tenacity  of 
purpose  characteristic  of  the  pioneers,  he  has  suc- 
ceeded in  gathering  together  a  comfortable  compe- 
tency for  his  old  age. 


L.ineus  B.  Crane.  Prominent  among  the 
extensive  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  War- 
ren County,  may  be  classed  Mr.  S.  B. 
Crane,  who  is  residing  on  section  12,  Ellison 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Morris  Co.  N.  J., 
June  3,  1831,  and  his  father,  Benjamin  Crane, 
also  a  farmer,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  of 
English  descent.  His  grandfather,  whose  name  was 
Norris,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  married  Jennie 
Dunham.  They  both  lived,  after  marriage,  in  Mor- 
ris County,  where  they  died.  The  former  was  born 
near  Elizabeth,  Union  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  the  latter  in 
Essex  County,  same  State.  The  father,  Benjamin 
Crane,  was  married  in  Morris  County  to  Julia  A. 
Bebout,  who  was  born  in  the'same  county,  the  date 
of  her  birth  being  March  16,  1802,  and  who  died 
Sept.  7,  1880.  She  was  of  New  England  parentage 
of  Holland  Dutch  and  Scotch  descent,  and  a  most 
estimable  lady.  Mr.  Benjamin  Crane  had  been 
fairly  successful  in  life  and  was  appointed  Lieuten- 
ant of  militia  in  his  native  State.  The  date  of  his 
birth  was  April  j6,  1802,  and  that  of  his  death  April 


8,  1873,  when  he  was  aged  71  years.  He  and  his 
wife  were  Methodists  in  the  latter  years  of  life. 

Sineus  B.,  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
biographical  notice,  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth 
of  a  family  of  three  children  born  to  his  parents,  one 
of  whom  was  a  daughter  named  Sarah  J.  She  was 
born  Sept  18,  1834,  and  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Linds- 
ley,  a  resident  at  Green  Village,  N.  J.,  ex-State  Rep- 
resentative and  quite  a  prominent  man  in  public  life. 
He  is  a  farmer  by  vocation.  The  other  member  of 
the  family,  John  O.,  was  born  May  23,  1826,  and 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Searing,  who 
is  now  deceased.  The  husband  resides  in  Morris 
Co.,  N.  J.,  and  is  a  farmer. 

.Sineus  B.  lived  at  home  with  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
»6  years  of  age,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  par- 
ents in  Morris  Township,  Morris  Co ,  N.  J.,  Dec.  9, 
1856,  to  Miss  Caroline  M.  Mills,  daughter  of  Alfred 
and  Sally  (Kinnan)  Mills,  who  was  -born  in  Morris 
Co.,  N.  J.,  and  of  English  and  Scotch  extraction. 
The  father  was  a  successful  fanner,  visiting  his  chil- 
dren in  Illinois  twice  since  their  removal  West,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  April  28,  1880, 
at  the  venerable  age  of  80  years.  The  mother  still 
survives  and  is  living  with  her  children  in  New  Jer- 
sey, aged  82  years.  Mrs.  C.  of  this  notice  was  born 
in  Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  Oct.  6,  1835.  She  was  reared 
and  educated  at  her  father's  home,  and  is  the  mother 
of  ii  children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased,  namely: 
Augusta  M.,  born  June  i,  1858,  resides  athome; 
Joseph  H.,  born  Aug.  25,  1859,  married  Miss  Electa 
Nutt,  resides  on  a  farm  in  Nodaway  Co.,  Mo.,  and 
has  a  family  of  two  children, — Elizabeth  and  Mary 
E. ;  Alfred  B.,  born  Jan.  27,  1862,  living  with  his 
brother  in  Missouri,  is  unmarried;  Frank  L.,  single, 
born  March  4,  1863,  died  Dec.  n,  1885;  Eliphalet 
C.,  born  Nov.  17,  1865,  resides  at  home;  Llewella 
C.,  born  July  3,  1869,  also  resides  at  home;  Julia, 
born  Oct.  17,  1871,  lives  at  home  ;  Henry  M.,  born 
Dec.  27,  1873;  Sarah,  born  March  28,  1876;  Sineus 
B.,  born  Sept.  25,  1878  ;  and  Anna  L,  born  May  18, 
1 88 1.  All  that  have  passed  school  age  have  re- 
ceived a  good  common -school  education. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Crane  engaged  in  farming  in 
Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  for  a  short  time,  but  soon  began 
to  feel  like  coming  West.  This  move  was  made  in 
October,  1859,  when  he  came  to  Warren  County  and 
settled  on  a  rented  farm  in  Berwick  Township.  His 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


' 


first  purchase  of  land  was  of  60  acres,  all  improved,' 
which  was  bought  in  the  spring  of  1861.  This 
he  owned  until  April,  1865,  when  he  sold  it  and 
bought  1 60  acres,  his  present  site  in  Ellison  Town- 
ship, which  was  then  only  slightly  improved.  He 
has  since  made  all  the  necessary  improvements,  has 
a  splendid  farm,  fully  equipped  and  all  fenced.  He 
owns,  in  Roseville  Township,  1 16  acres  of  improved 
land,  and  360  acres  of  land  in  Nodaway  Co.,  Mo., 
all  of  which  is  under  excellent  cultivation.  In  ad- 
dition to  farming,  Mr.  C.  is  engaged  in  stock-raising. 
Among  his  herd  is  a  thoroughbred  Short-horn  cow, 
only  four  years  old  and  yet  is  the  mother  of  four 
calves.  He  also  feeds  and  fattens  stock  for  the 
market.  Of  the  many  splendid  farm  scenes  shown 
in  the  view  department  of  this  ALBUM,  those  of  Mr. 
Crane's  farm,  given  in  connection  with  this  sketch, 
are  among  the  most  inviting.  His  comfortable  resi- 
dence, the  excellent  facilities  for  caring  for  his  stock 
and  storing  grain,  the  beautifully  undulating  fields, 
the  splendid  specimens  of  the  horses  and  cattle 
:  of  the  farm,  are  all  shown,  which  form  a  pleasing 
picture. 

Mr.  C.  has  been  Supervisor  of  Ellison  Township 
for  two  terms,  and  once  for  Berwick  Township.  He 
has  also  held  many  of  the  minor  offices  of  his  town- 
ship. Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 


jj^iram  M.  Frantz,  one  of  the  influential  citi- 
zens as  well  as  progressive  and  successful 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  this  county,  re. 
siding  on  section  25,  Monmouth  Township,  is  a 
native  of  Maryland,  having  been  born  in  that 
State,  March  7,  1844.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Frantz  of  this  notice,  was  Solomon  Frantz.  (See 
sketch  of  William  H.  Frantz  in  another  part  of  this 
work.)  Hiram  M.  lived  in  his  native  State  only 
three  years,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Perry  Co., 
Ohio,  in  which  State  he  continued  to  reside,  liv- 
ing in  the  parental  household  until  1 6  years  of  age. 
At  this  age  in  life  the  country  was  imperiled  by  the 
secession  of  the  Southern  States  and  shot  and  shell 
from  Rebel  guns  had  been  thundered  against  the 
walls  of  Sumter.  The  President  had  called  for  brave 
hearts  and  strong  arms  to  put  down  the  Rebellion, 


and  Hiram  Frantz,  then  but  16  years  of  age,  re- 
sponded to  the  call  by  enlisting  in  Co.  D,  171!)  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf.,  under  Capt.  L.  ].  Jackson  and  Col.  J.  M. 
Council,  for  90  days,  the  date  of  his  enlistment  be- 
ing April  1 6,  1 86 1.  After  serving  his  time  of  enlist- 
ment, he  re -enlisted  in  the  3ist  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.  under 
Capt.  \V.  H.  Free  and  Col.  N.  B.  Walker,  and 
his  company  was  assigned  to  the  Third  Division, 
141)1  Army  Corps,  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
Mr.  Frantz,  of  this  notice,  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Mill  Springs,  Stone  River,  Hoover's  Gap,  Dalton, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  was  also  in  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  Previous  to  the  Atlanta  campaign  he 
was  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  it  was  in  that 
battle  that  his  regiment  and  company  sustained  their 
heaviest  loss  during  the  war.  Although  Mr.  Frantz 
did  his  part  in  each  and  every  battle  in  which  his 
company  was  engaged,  he  was  fortunate,  never  re- 
ceiving even  a  wound  nor  losing  a  day  from  duty.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  Aug. 
27,  1865. 

After  the  war  was  over  and  the  cause  for  which 
he  fought  was  victorious,  Mr.  Frantz  went  to  Perry 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  for  two  years.  In  1868, 
he  came  West  and  two  years  later,  March  30,  1870, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Flora  L.,  the 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Melinda  (Claycomb)  Mur- 
phy. Her  mother  was  a  second  time  married,  her 
second  husband  being  Benjamin  H.  Kittering.  (See 
sketch.)  Mrs.  Frantz,  wife  of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  notice,  was  born  in  Monmouth 
Township,  this  county,  May  10,  1848.  She  lived 
with  her  parents,  who  were  early  settlers  in  this  county, 
until  her  marriage.  Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frantz,  two  children  have  been  born,  Talma  J.  and 
Ruth  B. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frantz,  in  the 
fall  of  1870,  he  purchased  159  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 25,  Monmouth  Township,  where  he  is  at  pres- 
ent residing,  and  subsequently,  by  purchase,  has 
increased  his  landed  interests  in  that  township  to 
289  acres.  His  home  farm  presents  that  appear- 
ance which  is  indicative  of  the  push  and  energy  pos- 
sessed by  its  proprietor.  Mr.  Frantz  has  been  a 
more  than  ordinarily  successful  man  in  his  vocation 
of  farming  and  stock-raising.  In  the  latter  depart- 
ment of  his  vocation,  he  has  indeed  traded  to  a  very 
large  extent,  having  shipped  more  than  $200,000  of 
stock  and  an  average  of  about  $12,000  annually. 


•     • 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


23S 


Religiously,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frantz  are  members  of 
the  Christian  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  F.  votes  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  held  the  minor  offices 
within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  his  township. 


on.  Daniel  D.  Parry,  dealer  in  real  estate 
and  insurance  agent  at  Monmouth,  was 
born  at  Xenia,  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  May  28, 
1839,  and  was  the  fifth  child  of  Walter  and  Ann 
(Dean)  Parry,  natives  of  South  Wales  and  of 
Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  respectively.  The  parents  were 
married  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  where  their  two  sons 
and  six  daughters  were  born.  The  family  came  to 
Warren  County  in  1862,  and  here  the  mother  and 
father  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the  old  lady 
dying  in  1876,  aged  71  years,  and  Mr.  Parry  four 
years  later,  at  the  age  of  76  years.  Walter  Parry,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  came  with  his  widowed  mother 
to  America  when  he  was  about  14  years  of  age  and 
lived  in  Ohio  up  to  1862.  The  Deans  came  to  Ohio 
r8i3,  and  occupied  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Greene 

j- County,  where  quite  a  number  of  that  name  yet  re- 
side, and  annually  meet  at  what  they  term  the  "  Dean 

1  Picnic." 

The  Xenia,  Ohio,  schools  afforded  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  such  opportunities  for  an  education  as 
was  practicable  before  he  was  17  years  of  age,  and 
after  clerking  in  a  grocery  house,  at  that  place,  he 
developed  at  once  into  a  coal  oil  prospector.  April 
19,  1861,  at  Hamilton,  Ohio,  he  enrolled  as  a  private 
soldier  in  Co.  F,  3d  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.  (three-months 
men),  and  June  3,  following,  was  mustered  into  the 
three-years  service  in  the  same  company  and  regiment. 
His  final  discharge  was  dated  at  Camp  Der.nison, 
March  r,  1863,  While  in  the  service  he  spent  his 
first  six  months  in  West  Virginia,  went  South  with 
the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  and  returned  with  Buell.  At 
Perry ville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8,  1862,  a  minie  ball  penetrated 
his  left  knee,  which  led  to  the  amputation  of  the  limb 
25  hours  later.  He  landed  at  Monmouth  March  23, 
1863,  and  the  next  day  was  given  a  position  as 
Deputy  County  Clerk.  He  held  this  place  about  three 
years,  and  in  November,  1867,  was  elected  County 
Treasurer,  an  office  he  held  four  terms  in  succes- 
sion. In  1870  he  was  selected  as  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  and  for  four  years  dis- 


charged the  duties  of  the  two  offices,  and  in"  1880 
represented  Warren  County  in  the  Illinois  Legisla- 
ture. His  last  political  venture  was  his  candidacy 
for  the  nomination  for  State  Treasurer  in  1882,  which, 
however,  he  failed  to  get. 

Mr.  Parry  has  always  been  a  Republican  of  the 
most  pronounced  type,  and  his  official  life  has  always 
reflected  credit  upon  that  party.  He  is  an  active 
business  man  ;  a  man  of  unswerving  integrity  ;  pure 
in  his  private  life,  unblemished  in  his  public  career 
and  fitted  intellectually  to  fill  any  position  to  which 
the  people  of  his  district  may  assign  him. 

March  24,  1864,  he  was  married  at  Monmouth, 
to  Miss  Mary  A.  Reed,  daughter  of  Samuel  Reed  of 
Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.  Their  three  children  are 
named  Nettie  A.,  Walter  D.  and  Jessie  M. 


were 


ohn  A.  Nesbit,  an  energetic  and  prosperous 
\  resident  of  Lenox  Township,  residing  on 
section  n,  where  he  is  engaged  quite  ex- 
tensively in  agricultural  pursuits,  is  a  son  of 
Fisher  and  Jeniza  (Adams)  Nesbit,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  where,  in  Perry  County,  they 
married  and  settled.  About  the  year  1836, 
they  removed  to  Franklin  County,  their  native  State, 
but  finally  returned  to  Perry  County,  there  residing 
until  death  called  them  to  their  eternal  home.  Their 
family  consisted  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living. 

John  A.,  whose  name  is  prominent  in  the  affairs  of 
his  township,  was  the  eldest  of  his  parents'  family 
and  was  born  in  Perry  County,  the  Keystone  State, 
May  1 6,  1825.  His  school  privileges  were  quite 
limited  and  he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  the  State 
of  his  nativity  until  the  year  1869,  when,  in  October 
of  that  year,  he  determined  to  travel  Westward, 
thinking  the  facilities  were  much  greater  for  acquir- 
ing a  competency  there  than  in  his  native  State.  He 
soon  found  a  desirable  location  in  Lenox  Township. 
His  success  WAS  remarkable  in  his  last  move  and  he 
has  since  made  this  his  permanent  abode.  After 
laboring  quite  a  while  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
he  had  accumulated  something  of  this  world's  goods 
before  his  emigration  West,  which  enabled  him  to 
purchase  a  tract  of  120  acres  of  good  land.  Of 


236 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


course  this  was  unimproved,  except  having  been 
fenced  and  broken,  but  Mr.  Nesbit  entered  actively 
and  energetically  upon  its  improvement;  and  the  re- 
sults of  his  efforts  have  been  rewarded,  for  his  farm 
is  now  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  a  fine 
residence  has  been  erected  thereon,  as  well  as  all 
other  suitable  outbuildings. 

Mr.  N.  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  on -the  i8th 
of  September,  1848,  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  with 
Miss  Hetty  A.  Hemp,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Eliza- 
beth (Bowlar)  Hemp,  both  natives  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Nesbit  was  the  eldest  of  a 
family  of  four  children,  and  \vas  born  in  Cumberland 
Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  14,  1825.  Their  home  circle  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child, — Addison  H.,  who 
married  Harriet  G.  Weakley  and  resides  in  Lenox 
Township,  this  county. 

Mr.  Nesbit  has  held  the  position  of  School  Di- 
rector, besides  other  minor  offices  within  the  gift  of 
the  people  of  his  township,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Politically, 
Mr.  N.  casts  his  vote  with  the  Republican  party. 


fwrville  Capps,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
J>  pursuits  on  section   25,  Lenox  Township, 

where  he  was  born  Oct.  23,  1857,  is  a  son 
of  Asa  and  Mary  A.  (Brooks)  Capps.  (See 
sketch  of  T.  L.  Capps  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume.) Orville  remained  at  home,  attending 
the  district  schools  and  assisting  in  the  home  duties, 
until  he  became  the  owner  of  160  acres  of  land, 
which  he  then  engaged  in  cultivating  and  improving, 
and  which,  as  the  result  of  his  hard  labor  and  en- 
ergy, now  presents  the  appearance  of  thrift  and  suc- 
cess. It  is  all  good,  tillable  land  and  under  an 
advanced  state  of  cultivation.  Besides  this,  he  owns 
six  acres  of  timber  land. 

Mr.  Orville  Capps  and  Miss  Minerva  ].  Ray  were 
married  Jan.  n,  i88r,  in  Roseville  Township,  she 
being  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Landis) 
Ray.  Of  their  eight  children,  Mrs.  Capps  was  the 
eldest,  and  was  born  in  Berwick  Township,  Sept.  i, 
1858.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Capps  had  one  child,  Roy, 
who  died  when  six  weeks  old. 

Mr.  C.  has  been  School  Director  in  his  township, 


and  politically,  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Capps  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 


I.  Wickersham,  engaged  as  a  general 
merchant  at  Roseville,  was  born  in  Hen- 
derson Co.,  III.,  in  1845.  His  parents, 
Sellers  and  Adelia  (Brown)  Wickersham,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Indiana  respect- 
ively. They  were  married  in  1844,  in  Illinois, 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  their  only  child. 
He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until  of  age, 
in  the  meantime  receiving  a  fair  English  education. 
After  leaving  home  he  engaged  to  clerk  for  his  uncle, 
John  Edwards,  at  Oquawka,  Henderson  County, 
this  State,  and  remained  in  his  store  for  about  a  year 
and  a  half.  He  then  formed  a  partnership,  which 
existed  two  years,  when  he  bought  out  the  interest  of 
his  uncle.  He  conducted  the  business  himself  for  a 
year,  when  William  Stockton  was  taken  in  as  a  part- 
ner and  the  firm  name  became  Wickersham  &  Stock- 
ton. This  continued  for  only  a  year,  when  Mr. 
Wickersham,  being  desirous  of  making  a  change, 
sold  out  to  his  partner  and  went  to  Galesburg.  At 
the  latter  place  he  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  a 
clerk  in  the  firm  of  Willard,  Kurd  &  Butler.  He 
remained  a  year  with  this  firm,  and  in  1871  came  to 
Roseville  and  connected  himself  with  a  Mr.  Janes, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Janes  &  Wickersham,  in 
the  merchant-tailoring  business,  located  on  the  cor- 
ner where  now  stands  the  Roseville  Bank.  They 
continued  in  partnership  for  two  years,  when  Mr. 
Wickersham  bought  out  his  partner's  interest  and  ran 
the  business  one  year  himself.  He  then  took  Ben- 
jamin Morford  as  a  partner,  and  the  firm  name  be- 
came Wickersham  &  Morford.  These  relations 
continued  for  only  two  years,  when  Mr.  Wickersham 
again  sold  out  to  his  partner,  removing  to  Villisca, 
Iowa,  and  engaged  in  the  store  of  C.  C.  Lundy,  as 
clerk,  remaining  there  for  the  short  space  of  six 
months.  He  again  returned  to  Roseville,  and  clerked 
for  E.  F.  Emans  for  a  year.  His  first  purchase  was 
the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  Avenue  and 
Market  Street,  where  he  erected  a  store  building  and 
engaged  in  business,  where  he  has  since  remained. 


. 


I* 
* 


4* 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


241 


In  his  chosen  vocation,  that  of  general  merchant,  he 
has  been  very  successful. 

Mr.  Wickersham  was  married  in  October,  1873,  to 
Miss  Louisa  Pratt,  daughter  of  Abijah  and  Mary 
Pratt,  natives  of  Massachusetts,  who  came  to 
Illinois  at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Roseville,  this 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wickersham  have  had  their 
home  circle  blessed  and  brightened  by  the  birth  of 
five  children, — Ellis  B.,  Mary  L.,  Cora  A.,  Clarence 
E.  and  Ella. 


tenry  Staat,  one  of  Warren  County's  most 
successful  farmers  and  large  land-owners, 
residing  on  section  30,  Berwick  Township, 
was  born  in  this  county,  Aug.  7,  1842.  He  is  a 
son  of  Francis  Staat,  a  native  of  Alsace,  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  born  May  17,  1813. 
The  father  emigrated  to  America,  landing  at  New 
York  in  May,  1832,  and  there  worked  at  his  trade 
for  some  years.  In  1837  he  left  the  metropolis  and 
journeyed  westward.  Finding  a  desirable  location 
in  this  county,  he  made  a  settlement  here,  and  was 
consequently  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the 
county.  He  was  an  edge-tool  maker,  and  made  the 
first  scouring  plows  used  in  the  county.  He  settled 
on  Crooked  Creek,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of 
blacksmithing  and  edge-tool  making  for  one  year, 
when  he  came  a  few  miles  east  and  located  near 
Greenbush,  where  he  remained  until  1849.  During 
the  great  gold  excitement  of  that  period  he  was 
one  of  the  thousands  who  left  their  homes  to  seek 
their  fortunes  in  the  far  western  mountains.  He  left 
this  county  in  1850,  reached  California  after  the 
usual  tedious  journey  common  to  that  day,  but  re- 
mained there  only  ten  months,  when  he  realized  that 
the  fleeting  goddess  of  fortune  was  no  nearer  than 
when  the  merry  song  of  toil  and  labor  rang  out  from 
the  anvil  in  his  rude  cabin  shop  in  Warren  County. 
County.  Besides,  being  a  man  of  domestic  habits 
and  having  strong  family  ties,  the  glittering  nuggets 
were  too  few  and  too  small  to  compensate  for  being 
deprived  of  the  pleasures  of  the  home  circle.  He 
accordingly  returned  to  this  county,  and  we  shortly 
afterwards  find  him  engaged  in  land  speculation.  In 
1856  he  moved  to  the  place  where  his  son  Henry 
now  lives,  which  at  the  time  was  somewhat  improved. 


Here  he  made  his  home  until  the  spring  of  1870, 
when  he  retired  from  the  active  labors  of  life  and 
moved  to  Monmouth,  where  he  was  pleasantly  lo- 
cated and  lived  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  an 
active  and  well  spent  life,  until  robbed  of  his  com- 
panion by  the  hand  of  death,  Nov.  19,  1880.  He 
then  returned  to  the  old  farm  homestead,  and  lived 
with  his  son  until  August  i  of  the  following  year, 
when  he  was  called  to  join  the  companion  of  his 
earthly  life.  He  was  married  (March  19,  1855)  to 
Miss  Margaret  Ehrhardt,  who  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1810.  Their  children  were  seven  in  number, 
namely :  Frederick,  Francis,  Sallie,  Elizabeth,  Henry, 
George  and  Emma.  Four  died  in  infancy.  Eliza- 
beth was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Huston:  she  died  Aug. 
19,  1869,  leaving  no  children.  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
John  Wesley  Malcolm.  She  and  Henry  are  the  only 
survivors  of  this  large  family  of  children. 

The  elder  Staat  was  not  only  one  of  the  early  pio- 
neers of  Warren  County,  but  one  of  its  .  most  active 
and  enterprising  citizens.  He  was  an  energetic, 
stirring  fellow,  and  was  a  leading  spirit  in  the  affairs 
of  his  community.  We  are  pleased  to  be  able  to 
present  his  portrait  in  this  ALBUM  of  the  portraits  of  ^ 
so  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  county.  As  a 
fitting  companion  picture  to  his  we  present  that  of 
the  lady  who  was  so  long  his  companion  in  life. 
The  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  the  labor  and  strug- 
gles of  their  early  years,  were  alike  shared  by  her. 
Few  of  the  present  day  realize  what  are  the  hard- 
ships of  those  who  push  ahead  into  a  new  and  un- 
settled country,  subdue  and  prepare  it  for  a  home  for 
their  children  and  posterity.  There  were,  of  course, 
pleasures,  pure,  simple,  but  genuine,  which  softened 
the  hard  experiences  and  were  a  shield  from  the 
thorny  and  rocky  paths  over  which  they  traveled. 

Henry  Staat  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Cordelia  C.  Bond,  Aug.  12,  1869,  at  Burling- 
ton, Iowa.  She  was  born  June  2,  1850,  in  this 
county,  and  was  the  daughter  of  John  C.  Bond,  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  where  he  was  born  in  1779. 
Her  father  came  to  this  county  in  1832,  and  died 
May  20,  1882.  For  a  further  biography,  we  refer 
the  reader  to  his  sketch  in  another  part  of  his  vol- 
ume. Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Staat,  eight 
children  were  born,  seven  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Ora  A.,  born  Oct.  30,  1870;  John  F., 
Nov.  24,  1872;  Nellie  M.,  Sept.  30,  1874;  Lena, 
, 1876;  George,  Sept.  21,  1877  ;  Eddie  J.,  Sept, 


34* 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


i,  1881  ;  Norris  H.,  Jan.  18,  1885.  A  twin  brother  to 
George  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Staat  is  the  proprietor  of  2,027  acres  of  land 
in  this  county,  and  on  his  home  farm  he  has  a  fine 
residence,  together  with  a  good  barn  and  other 
necessary  outbuildings.  His  land  lies  in  Berwick, 
Roseville  and  Swan  Townships.  He  is  probably 
the  largest  stock-raiser  in  Warren  County,  and 
ships  large  quantities  direct  to  the  great  markets. 
He  is  also  engaged  in  raising  fine  horses  and  mules, 
and  at  the  present  writing  has  over  100  head.  He 
is  a  gentleman  noted  for  his  business  judgment, 
strict  integrity,  and  fair  and  honest  dealing  with  his 
fellow  men,  and  his  success  in  life  is  attributable  to 
the  energy  and  good  judgment  which  he  always 
brings  to  bear  in  business  transactions.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the  principles 
advocated  by  the  Democratic  party. 


lohn  Caldwell,  an  influential  citizen  and 
successful  farmer  of  Hale  Township,  resid- 
ing on  section  1 1,  where  he  owns  200  acres 
of  good  farm  land,  is  a  native  of  Cadiz,  Ohio, 
having  been  born  there  Dec.  31,  1813.  When 
Mr.  Caldwell  was  eight  years  of  age  his  father 
died,  and  he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  he  attained  his  majority.  At  that 
time  he  engaged  to  learn  '.he  carpenter's  trade,  which 
he  mastered  and  followed  until  he  was  about  35  years 
of  age.  He  came  to  this  State  in  1853,  and  settled 
in  Sumner  Township,  this  county,  where  he  resided 
for  about  one  year,  when  he  made  a  transfer  to  Hale 
Township.  In  the  latter  township,  upon  his  excel- 
lent farm,  he  has  erected  fine  buildings,  and  by  in- 
cessant labor  has  placed  his  land  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation,  until  his  farm  to  day  present?  an 
attractive  appearance  to  the  passer-by. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Caldwell  to  Mary  A.  (Mc- 
Mehan)  Nichol  took  place  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov. 
5,  1840.  She  was  bom  in  Belmont  County,  that 
State,  March  26,  1822,  and  has  borne  her  husband 
ten  children, — Nancy  J.,  Jackson  N  ,  Joseph  M., 
John  M.,  Francis  M.,  James  R.,  Donna  M.  E.,  Lelia 
A.,  Eva  J.  and  William  E.  Nancy  J.  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Goudy,  of  Kansas;  Jackson,  Joseph  and 
John  also  reside  in  Kansas  and  are  all  ^married; 


Francis  M.  is  a  professor  of  music  at  Monmouth, 
and  is  also  married;  James  lives  at  home;  Donna 
married  Henry  Runyan,  a  resident  of  Iowa;  Lelia  is 
the  wife  of  John  Shaffer,  a  farmer  in  Hale  Township; 
Eva  married  James  T.  Nash,  who  also  resides  in 
Hale  Township;  William  E.  is  likewise  a  resident  of 
the  township  last  named. 

Mr.  Caldwell  has  been  Supervisor  and  Justice  of 
the  Peace  and  held  other  minor  offices  within  the 
gift  of  the  people  of  his  township.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
and,  in  politics,  Mr.  Caldwell  votes  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 


bsalom  Vandeveer.  Prominent  among  the 
leading  agriculturists  of  Warren  County  is 
Absalom  Vandeveer,  who  resides  on  seo- 
tion  15,  Swan  Township.  He  has  long  been 
regarded  as  one  of  the  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  the  county.  He  was  born 
Sept.  22,  1822,  in  Jackson  Co.,  Ind.,  and  is  a  son  of 
Charles  Vandeveer,  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  The 
father  spent  the  early  part  of  his  life  prior  to  his 
marriage  in  Kentucky,  and  was  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Illinois,  coming  here  as  early  as  1830. 
He  then  located  in  Sangamon  County,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1836,  when  he  removed  to  this  county 
and  here  resided  until  his  death,  in  1854,  at  the  age 
of  66  years.  He  was  born  in  1788,  and  had  occu- 
pied the  pulpit  for  over  30  years,  preaching  the  doc- 
trine of  the  old-school  Baptist.  His  marriage  to 
Polly  Gilbraith  took  place  in  1810.  She  was  born 
in  1788  and  was  of  Irish  parentage,  her  father  hav- 
ing emigrated  to  this  country  in  time  to  take  part  in 
the  Revolutionary  War.  She  died  in  March,  1856, 
in  Warren  County,  after  having  borne  her  husband 
eight  children, — Eveline,  John,  William,  Elizabeth, 
Aaron,  Cynthia,  Absalom  and  Polly,  only  four  of 
whom  are  yet  living,  viz.  :  John,  William,  Cynthia 
and  Absalom. 

Absalom  Vandeveer,  of  whom  we  write,  formed  a 
matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss  Delila  Lieurance, 
Dec.  14,  1845.  She  was  born  Aug.  23,  1827,  in 
Clinton  Co.,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  par- 
ents in  1835.  Her  father  still  lives  in  this  county, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


at  the  advanced  age  of  84  years,  having  been  born 
in  1 80 r  in  Tennessee.  He  married  Miss  Anna 
Wright  in  1822.  She  was  born  in  1803,  and  died  in 
1838,  leaving  to  the  care  of  her  husband  six  chil- 
dren,— Mary,  Delila,  Aylett  R.,  Rebecca,  Jehu  and 
Amos,  the  latter  two  of  whom  have  deceased. 

Mr.  Vandeveer  and  his  wife  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children.  The  record  is  as  follows: 
Silas  B.,  born  Dec.  8,  1846;  Amelia  J.,  Feb.  16, 
1848;  Abbie,  Dec.  16,  1851;  Lovell  P.,  Oct.  12, 
1852;  Mary  E.,  Match  10,  1854;  George  M.,  Dec. 
15.  1855  ;  William  A.,  Jan.  8,  1858;  Donezell,  Nov. 
19,1859;  and  Flo  N.,  Oct.  27,  1861.  Mr.  Vandeveer 
has  12  grandchildren.  Of  his  own  children  men- 
tioned above,  George  was  killed  in  the  memorable 
tornado,  May  *2,  1873.  He  was  in  the  cellar  under 
the  house  when  the  tornado  took  the  building  from  its 
foundation,  and  a  field  roller  was  blown  into  the 
cellar,  which  was  probably  the  cause  of  his  death, 
the  roller  striking  him,  while  in  motion,  on  the  back 
[part  of  his  head.  His  life  was  thus  cut  short  in  the 
1 7th  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Vandeveer  is  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  he  is  Deacon.  He  has  280  acres 
of  land  in  Swan  Township,  with  a  fine  two-story 
residence,  30  x  36  feet  in  dimensions,  and  a  barn 
24  x  50  with  2o-foot  posts.  In  addition  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  his  land,  he  is  also  devoting  a  portion  of 
his  time  to  the  breeding  of  thoroughbred  Short- 
horns, of  which  he  has  seven  head.  In  the  tornado 
of  1873  he  lost  everything  save  his  land,  but  he  had 
many  kind  neighbors  who  contributed  to  the  wants 
of  himself  and  family  until  assistance  was  no  longer 
necessary,  and  now  that  he  has  recovered  his  losses, 
and  is  in  a  fair  way  to  secure  a  certain  competency, 
he  does  not  forget  the  acts  of  kindness  bestowed 
upon  him  and  his  in  the  hour  of  need.  All  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vande veer's  children,  except  Amelia, 
are  living  in  this  county.  She  became  the  wife  of 
James  M.  Crabb,  and  is  now  living  with  him  in  Mac- 
pherson  Co.,  Kan.  They  have  seven  children,  whose 
names  are  Leon,  Minnie;  Rena,  Edward,  Paul,  Mar- 
lin  and  Flo  Crabb.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Larkin,  a  farmer  of  this  county,  and  they  have  three 
children, — D.  Alvin,  Walter  and  an  infant.  Lovell 
married  Ida  Lawrence  and  resides  on  the  home 
farm  :  Floss  Rose  is  the  name  of  their  only  child. 
Donnie  married  Robert  Beekner,  a  farmer  of  Swan 


Township,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children, — Lova 
and  Zelma.  The  entire  family  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  V.  is  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party. 


— oe; 


IK  illiam  Patch,  who  is  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists  and  stock-raisers  of  Ellison 
„  Township,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
V  of  his  parents,  on  section  31  of  this  town- 
ship, July  ii,  1858.  His  home  farm  is  now 
on  section  30.  His  father,  Mayhew  Patch,  in 
early  years  was  engaged  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
but  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  'at 
which  he  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire,  of  New  England  ancestry, 
and  was  married  in  Eaton,  his  native  State,  to  Mi§s 
Susan  Snow,  a  native  of  that  place,  where  she  was 
also  reared.  As  early  as  1855,  they  came  West,  and 
located  upon  a  tract  of  raw  land  in  Ellison  Town- 
snip.  Here  he  erected  a  house,  made  excellent  im- 
provements and  with  the  exception  of  three  years 
spent  in  the  cily  of  Monmouth,  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  here.  He  died  at  his  home  July 
24,  1880,  at  the  age  of  57  years.  He  was  highly  es- 
teemed for  his  many  excellent  virtues,  and  was  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  in  Ellison 
Township.  His  widow  yet  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. She  is  the  mother  of  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living  and  all  married. 

William  Patch  was  the  youngest  but  one  of  the 
family  mentioned  above.  He  was  born,  reared,  edu- 
cated and  embarked  in  business  for  himself  in  this 
township.  He  lived  with  his  mother  after  the  death 
of  his  father,  working  on  the  home  farm  until  his 
marriage.  This  important  event  of  his  life  occurred 
June  10,  1885,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  father 
in  Prairie  City,  111.  The  lady  who  joined  him  at 
this  time  was  Miss  Hattie  Jones,  daughter  of  Robert 
Jonee.  She  is  a  native  of  New  England,  and  was 
only  five  years  of  age  when  her  parents  came  to 
Prairie  City.  Here  she  was  reared  and  educated 
and  lived  at  home  until  her  marriage  For  five  years 
previous  to  this  event,  however,  she  had  been  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school.  Her  mother  died  in  1881. 


244 


WARREW  COUNTY. 


Her  father  is  a  blacksmith,  residing  in  Prairie  City. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Patch  were  active  and  zealous 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to 
which  our  subject  with  his  wife  is  also  connected, 
and  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  labors  of  the 
Church.  His  father  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but 
William  is  inclined  to  be  more  independent  in  his 
political  views.  He  has  held  the  minor  offices  of 
his  township,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing young  farmers  of  Warren  County. 


•  saac  Van  Tasell,  who  is  passing  the  sunset 
of  his  life  in  ease  and  comfort,  having  re- 
tired from   active  labors  of  the   farm   and 
who  is  at  present  residing  at   Monmouth,  is  a 
son  of  Green  and  Deborah   Van  Tasell.     The 
parents  of  Mr.    Van   Tasell   died   in  Lyons, 
|Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  when  Isaac  was  but  two  years 
fof  age.     Isaac   was    born    in   Dutchess   Co.,    York 
State,  July  3,  1822,  and  continued  to  reside  there 
[until  1851,  when,  hoping  to  better  his  financial  con- 
dition in  life,  he  came  to  Kendall  County,  this  State. 
In  the  latter  county  he  resided  for  ten  years,  follow- 
ing  agricultural    pursuits,  and  in  the   fall  of  1859 
came  to  this  county  and  located  in  Lenox  Township 
and  followed  the  same  occupation   there  until  1883, 
when  he  removed  to  Monmouth. 

'Mr.  Van  Tasell  was  united  in  marriage  in  his  na- 
tive county  and  State,  Sept.  12,  1850,  Miss  Phebe 
D.  Cargill  becoming  his  wife.  She  was  a  native  of 
York  State  and- has  borne  her  husband  five  children, 
— Mary  E.,  Julia  A.,  Jam-is  W.,  Ella  L.  and  Carrie 
M.  Mary  E.  became  the  wife  of  George  Brown,  a 
farmer  of  Kendall  County,  this  State;  Julia  A.  mar- 
ried Jacob  Ball,  and  resides  in  Nebraska;  James  W. 
follows  farming  in  Lenox  Township  (see  sketch) ; 
Ella  L.  resides  at  home;  Carrie  M.  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Ira  Sprout,  a  resident  of  Kirkwood. 

Mr.  Van  Tasell  is  the  proprietor  of  134^  acres  of 
land,  r2oof  which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of 
cultivation.  He  resides  in  Monmouth  Township, 
where  he  is  passing  the  sunset  of  his  life,  enjoying 
the  accumulations  which  toil  and  economy  have 


brought  him.  He  has  held  the  office  of  School 
Director,  and  his  politics  are  those  of  a  staunch  and 
unflinching  Republican. 


ranklin  Booth,  located  on  section  [8, 
j-  Swan  Township,  where  he  resides  and  is 
~  actively  engaged  in  its  cultivation  and 
improvement,  which  has  been  the  vocation  of 
his  life,  was  born  in  Cabell  Co.,  Va,,  Nov.  7, 
1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Ferguson  Booth,  de- 
ceased, who  was"  born  in  Virginia,  Oct.  10,  1799. 
The  father  came  to  this  State  in  March,  1836,  and 
located  in  Knox  County ;  remained  there  for  a  time, 
then  moved  to  this  county,  where  he  died,  Feb.  14, 
1876.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Lucinda  Perdue  in 
1819.  She  was  born  in  1804  in  Virginia,  and  still 
survives,  residing  in  this  county.  Of  the  parents' 
union,  these  children  were  born  :  Sarah  J.,  Burwell, 
Franklin,  Russell,  Morris,  James  W.,  Leander  and 
Mary  A.  Marinda  was  drowned  when  four  years  of 
age  while  wading  across  a  stream  in  Virginia.  She 
became  bewildered,  and  falling  was  unable  to  re- 
cover herself,  and  was  thus  drowned.  Sarah  J., 
wife  of  Stephen  Spordock,  died  leaving  eight  chil- 
dren ;  William  Lewis,  the  eldest  child,  died  in  his 
infancy. 

Franklin  Booth,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Sargent,  March 
23,  1854,  at  Monmouth,  111.  She  wds  born  April  3, 
1836,  in  Jacksonville,  Morgan  County,  this  Slate, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Sargent,  born  in  Ohio, 
Dec.  15,  1801.  Her  father  came, to  this  State  in 
1822,  and  participated  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  His 
wife,  Mary  (Johnson)  Sargent,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1827,  was  born  in  1809,  and  died  in  1838, 
her  husband  surviving  her  until  Sept.  24,  1884.  Of 
their  union  nine  children  were  born, — Elizabeth, 
Mary  A.,  Sarah,  Martha  J.,  Lorinda,  Eveline, 
Thomas  B.,  Tobitha  and  Mary  L. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Booth  are  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  James  W.,  born  July  2,  1857;  Ira 
S.,  Jan.  20,  1858;  Henry  T.,  March  8,  1859;  Nellie, 
June  23,  1863;  Allen  C.,  Sept.  27,  1865  ;  Nola  E., 
Feb.  20,  1868;  Annie  M.,  July  19,  1873.  Two  of 


;ve 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  WONDERLY,  SEC.  13., LENOX  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  or  B.r.  FORWOOD  SEC.  23.,  SPRING  GRQMZ TOWNSHIP. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


247 


the  above  named  are  deceased,  James  and  Nellie, 
the  former  dying  May  17,  1858,  and  the  latter  June 
3,  1864.  Ira  S.  married  Ada  Cooper,  and  resides  in 
Swan  Township.  All  are  at  home  except  Ira  S.  and 
Henry  T.  The  latter  is  fanning  in  Swan  Township. 
Mr.  Booth  and  family  are  pleasantly  situated  on 
their  magnificent  farm  of  375  acres,  located  on  sec- 
tion 18,  Swan  Township.  He  owns  his  land  and 
has  the  same  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation, 
and  since  coming  to  the  county,  in  1852,  he  has  de- 
1  voted  his  time  and  attention  to  its  cultivation.  In 
addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  he  is  to  no 
'  small  extent  interesting  himself  in  the  breeding  of 
:  Short-horn  cattle,  and  fattens  stock  for  the  purpose 
of  shipping. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Booth  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Booth  is,  and  has  been  all  his  life,  a  Republican. 


ohn  H.  Lippy,  engaged  in  merchandising 
at  Swan  Creek,  is  a  native  of  Hamilton 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  July  31, 
1841.  He  came  to  this  State  in  1844,  landing 
in  Fulton  County  July  4,  of  that  year.  The 
father  of  Mr.  Lippy,  John  Lippy,  Sr.,  was  born 
in  Maryland,  in  1804,  and  married  Miss  Sarah  Zepp 
in  1832.  She  was  born  May  i,  1806,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  14  children,  nine  daughters  and 
five  sons,— Mary  E.,  Rebecca,  Sarah  C,  J.  H., 
George  W.,  David  E.,  Susan  L.,  Marinda  J.,  Jane, 
Edna  M.,  William,  and  three  unnamed  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Lippy  of  this  notice  was  married  April  12, 
1866,  to  Miss  Hulda  Luper,  who  was  born  Aug.  29, 
1846,  and  has  borne  her  husband  four  children, — 
Ida  May,  S.  J.,  P.  H.  and  Louisa  I.  Mr.  Lippy 
has  a  .fine  stock  of  goods  in  Swan  Creek,  his  store 
room  being  22  x  50  feet  in  dimensions,  and  is  meet- 
ing with  financial  success  in  his  business.  He  car- 
ries a  stock  of  about  $3,500.  In  July,  1877,  he  was 
appointed  Postmaster,  and  still  holds  that  office.  In 
politics,  he  is  an  active,  working  Republican.  In 
1862  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Union,  and  June 
6  of  that  year  was  mustered  in  at  Knoxville,  111., 


joining  Co.  D,  io2d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Col.  McMurtry 
commanding.  He  first  did  service  in  Kentucky, 
"  after  Bragg,"  and  was  in  several  general  engage- 
ments and  24  skirmishes.  He  was  wounded  twice 
in  the  left  leg  while  in  Mississippi,  but  is  receiving 
no  pension  from  the  Government.  Jan.  6,  1865, 
almost  at  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Lippy  received 
his  discharge  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  and  returned 
home. 

In  addition  to  his  general  mercantile  business,  Mr. 
Lippy  is  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain  and 
stock.  He  started  his  business  at  Swan  Creek 
March  13,  1876,  and  by  his  fair  and  honest  dealings 
with  his  patrons  has  established  a  good  trade.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  He  has  nine 
lots  and  four  buildings  in  Swan  Creek. 


ohn  Wonderly,  one  of  the  best  known  of 
the  many  well-to-do  farmers  of  Lenox 
Township,  is  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm 
located  on  section  15,  where  he  is  residing. 
He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Wolf) 
Wonderly,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which 
State  they  also  died.  John  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  of  a  family  of  six  children.  He  was  born  in 
Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  20,  1822,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools.  His  years, 
prior  to  his  emigration  to  this  county,  were  passed 
in  farming  in  his  native  State,  with  the  exception  of 
about  ten  months,  which  were  spent  in  Indiana.  He 
came  here  in  1855,  and  after  being  a  short  time  in 
Monmouth,  located  in  Lenox  Township,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  is  the  owner  of  1 60  acres, 
the  major  portion  of  which  is  tillable,  and  with  his 
family  resides  on  the  farm  on  section  13,  Lenox 
Township;  besides,  he  owns  a  tract  of  timber  land 
in  Floyd  Township  on  section  8.  He  has  a  com- 
modious and  well  furnished  farm  residence,  which 
with  its  pleasant  surroundings  are  illustrated  in  the 
view  on  page  245. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Wonderly  to  the  lady  whom 
he  wooed  and  won,  Miss  Margaret  Zug,  occurred  in 
Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  28,  1844.  She  was  a 
native  of  the  county  in  which  she  was  married  and 


-: 


f "4JT 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


has  borne  her  husband  nine  children.  The  living 
are  Mary  E.,  Emma  C.,  Daniel  Z.,  John  W.  Martha 
J.  and  Charles  A.  Those  deceased  are  George  W., 
Ann  M.  and  Clara  A.  Mary  E.  became  the  wife  of 
J.  L.  Young,  a  farmer  of  Lenox  Township ;  Emma 
C.  was  united  in  marriage  with  Wm.  Jewell,  who  re- 
sides in  Nebraska ;  Daniel  Z.  is  a  resident  of  Hen- 
derson County;  John  lives  in  Nebraska;  the  husband 
of  Martha,  Henry  Norcross,  with  his  wife  resides  in 
Nebraska ;  Charles  A.  lives  at  home. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Wonderly  casts  his  vote  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Road 
Commissioner  and  School  Director,  and  is  one  of  the 
energetic  and  highly  respected  farmers  of  Lenox 
Township.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 


:!  ayton  A.  Vaughn,  farrner,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 20,  Greenbush  Township,  was  born  in 
Dinwiddie  Co.,  Va.,  March  31,  1810,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  E.  Vaughn,  a  native  of  that 
State.  The  father  married  Miss  Susan  Cotton 
in  1808.  She  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
bore  her  husband  five  children, — Payton,  Nancy, 
George  C.,  Jane  and  Emily. 

Payton  A.  Vaughn  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Dar- 
neille,  July  18,  1834,  Rev.  Kirkpatrick,  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  officiating.  She  was  born 
Feb.  13,  1820,  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to  this  State 
in  1833  with  her  mother,  and  located  near  Quincy, 
Adams  County.  Of  their  union  seven  children  were 
born,  the  following  being  their  names:  Elizabeth, 
Dec.  5,  1835  ;  Martha  A.,  June  27,  1838,  died  March 
13,  1843;  Barthenia,  Jan.  6,  1841  ;  James  T.,  May 
21,  1843;  Mary  Z.,  Nov.  2,  1848;  George  E.,  July 
10,  1852,  and  Douglas  B.,  Feb.  14,  1860. 

Mr.  Vaughn,  of  this  sketch,  owns  370  acres  of 
good  farm  land,  located  on  section  20,  Greenbush 
Township,  and  is  there  engaged  in  farming  and  rais- 
ing graded  stock.  He  has  some  very  fine  Norman 
horses,  and  also  a  fine  half-blooded  Clydesdale  four- 
year-old,  and  in  both  branches  of  his  vocation  is 
meeting  with  financial  success.  He  has  served  as 
Road  Commissioner  and  School  Trustee.  In  politics, 


he  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the  principles  ad- 
vocated by  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  Vaughn  and 
and  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church. 


trs.  Rebecca  Morford,  residing  at  Rose- 
ville,  is  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Morford, 
who  was  born  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  March 
18,  1813.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Morford  were 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Fell)  Morford,  natives 
of  New  Jersey.  The  family  of  the  parents 
consisted  of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  the 
age  of  manhood  and  womanhood. 

Benjamin  Morford,  husband  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  and  attended 
the  common  schools,  developing  into  manhood.  Four 
years  after  he  attained  his  majority,  when  25  years 
of  age,  his  father  gave  him  a  farm,  on  which  he  lo- 
cated and  at  once  engaged  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  received  instruction  at  home  up  to  that  time, 
— farming;  and  on  this  place-  he  remained  and 
continued  to  cultivate  the  same  for  14  years.  He 
then  sold  his  farm  and  came  to  this  State,  in  1851, 
and  settled  at  Roseville,  purchasing  80  acres  of  land 
on  the  east  and  one  acre  on  the  west  side  of  Main 
Street.  On  this  land  he  erected  a  residence  and 
there  made  his  home  until  the  date  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  Jan.  14,  1875.  He  platted  a  part  of 
his  farm,  and  since  his  death  the  remainder,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  acres,  has  been  incorporated 
within  the  present  limits  of  the  village  of  Roseville. 

Mr.  Morford  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Re- 
becca Stem  in  1838.  She  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, her  parents  being  Frederick  and  Sarah 
(Harris)  Stem,  natives  of  Maryland  and  Pennsyl- 
vania respectively.  Her  father  came  with  his  family 
to  this  State  in  1861,  and  settled  one  and  a  half 
miles  east  of  Roseville,  where  he  purchased  160 
acres  of  land,  and  by  his  economy  and  perseverance 
increased  his  landed  interests  in  the  county  to  400 
acres.  He  and  his  wife  continued  to  reside  on  the 
old  homestead  until  their  deaths,  that  of  the  former 
occurring  June  9,  1875,  and  the  latter  Jan.  14,  1867. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morford  became  the  parents  of  ten 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


249 


children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living, — Sarah  E. 
Patch,  Zilpah  A.  Lewis,  Nelson  A.,  Ross  C.,  Cora 
D.  and  George  E.  Mrs.  Morford  still  continues  to 
reside  on  the  old  homestead,  with  her  daughter  Cora 
and  son  George.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  to  which  denomination  he  also  belonged. 
Mr.  Morford  was  the  first  Postmaster  in  Roseville, 
and  held  the  office  for  some  10  or  12  years.  He 
also  held  the  offices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
Road  Commissioner,  and  was  one  of  the  respected 
and  honored  pioneers  of  the  village  of  Roseville. 


Chester  Brooks,  a  prosperous  and  ener- 
getic farmer  and  stock-raiser,  on  section 
1 6,  Ellison  Township,  was  born  in  Ni- 
agara Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  27 th  of  December, 
1817.  His  father,  Noah  Brooks,  a  farmer  and 
mechanic  by  occupation,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, of  New  England  parentage  and  Welsh  de- 
scent. He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Ulster 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  Miss  Maria  Russell,  also  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  and  of  similar  ancestry  and  descent. 
Before  the  war  of  1812,  the  parents  settled  in  Gene- 
see  Co.,  York  State,  where  they  remained  for  some 
years.  Mr.  Noah  Brooks,  during  the  War  of  1812, 
held  the  position  of  a  militia  soldier,  and  after  his  re- 
turn moved  to  Orleans  Co.,  the  same  State.  When 
our  subject,  Chester  Brooks,  was  but  a  small  child  of 
about  12  years  of  age,  and  while  living  near  his  birth- 
place, Noah  Brooks,  his  father,  died.  The  mother 
afterward  lived  with  her  daughter  in  Wisconsin  and 
Ohio,  dying  at  the  former  place  at  an  advanced  age. 
Chester,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  went  to  live  with 
a  Mr.  William  Jackson,  of  Orleans  Co.,  Empire  State. 
Here  he  remained,  making  that  his  home  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  26  .years,  having  attended  the 
high  schools  of  Orleans  and  Niagara  Counties  in  the 
meantime.  In  the  fall  of  1844  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and  began  teaching  in  the  common  schools  and  also 
teaching  music  in  Cass  County,  and  later  worked  at 
his  trade,  that  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he  had 
learned  in  his  native  State.  While  in  Cass  County 
he  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1847,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
V.  Beard,  daughter  of  Alex,  and  Lucy  (Yates)  Beard, 


the  latter  a  cousin  to  Governor  Yates.  Mrs.  Brooks 
was  born  in  Cass  County,  this  State,  Nov.  26,  1830, 
and  her  parents  were  successful  farmers  and  natives 
of  Kentucky  and  Virginia,  respectively.  After  Mr. 
Beard's  first  marriage,  he  came  to  Illinois,  but  re- 
turned to  Kentucky  after  the  demise  of  his  wife,  and 
married  the  second  time.  He  again  returned  to  this 
State  and  here  both  he  and  his  wife  died.  Mrs. 
Brooks  was  well  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
lived  at  home  until  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brooks  have  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  of 
whom  the  following  is  a  brief  record :  William  mar- 
ried Jennie  Reynolds  and  they  reside  on  a  farm  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Iowa;  Edwin  C.  is  the  husband  of 
Sarah,  nee  Baldwin,  and  is  engaged  in  stock-raising  at 
Centralia,  Nemaha  Co.,  Kan.;  Lucy  A.,  wife  of  B.  F. 
Graham,  lives  on  a  farm  in  Grundy  Co.,  Iowa; 
George  A.  resides  at  home,  as  likewise  does  Emma  E. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Brooks  resided  in  Cass  County, 
this  State,  for  10  years,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
in  farming.  In  October,  1864,  he  came  to  this' 
county  and  purchased  137  acres  of  land,  all  of  which 
was  improved,  with  good  buildings,  etc.  Since  that 
time  he  has  added  40  acres  to  his  purchase  and  now 
has  177  acres  of  good  farm  land.  He  has  held  the 
offices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Township  Clerk 
and  also  School  Trustee,  which  latter  office  he  has. 
held  for  15  years  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  He 
has  been  a  Republican  ever  since  the  organization 
of  that  party,  and  is  an  active  and  e.iergetic  worker 
in  support  of  its  principles. 


amos  B.  Reynolds  is  a  fanner  on   section 
24  in  the  township   of  Sumner,  where   he 

r*"  has  resided  since  186?.  At  the  time  he  suc- 
J 

j>  ceeded  to  its  ownership  a  small  frame  house 
was  on  the  place,  which,  with  the  other  appur- 
tenances of  the  site,  was  in  a  dilapidated  con- 
dition. He  has  erected  a  good  set  of  buildings  and 
put  the  place  under  improvements  second  to  none  in 
the  county.  The  residence  and  its  surroundings  are 
beautiful,  the  former  being  of  much  more  than  ordin- 
ary style  for  a  farm  house,  and  the  well  planned  and 
beautified  grounds  adding  greatly  to  its  attractive 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


appearance.  The  ornamental  trees  include  Scotch 
pine,  European  larch  and  others  of  equal  rarity  and 
beauty.  It  is  but  justice  to  state  that  the  estate  is 
one  of  the  most  attractive  and  valuable  in  Warren 
County.  The  location  is  on  a  southern  slope,  and 
from  the  buildings,  which  are  placed  on  the  height 
of  the  land,  the  spires  of  Monmouth  are  plainly  vis- 
ible. 

Mr.  Reynolds  has  been  a  Democrat  until  later 
issues  engaged  his  attention,  and  now  adopts  the 
views  of  the  Prohibitionists.  He  was  born  in  the 
township  of  Hale  in  Warren  County,  Feb.  18,  1838. 

Thomas  Reynolds,  his  father,  was  a  pioneer  of  the 
county,  of  1836.  He  was  born  Oct.  15,  1782,  in 
North  Carolina,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  origin.  He 
passed  all  the  earlier  years  of  his  life  in  his  native 
State,  where  he  was  married  to  Eleanor  McClanahan. 
She  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  March  10,  1803. 
In  addition  to  the  business  of  farmer  the  senior 
Reynolds  was  a  practical  miller,  and  he  followed 
the  combined  relations  of  his  two  callings  in  his  na- 
tive State  until  1834. 
L.  About  that  time  the  spirit  of  progress  seemed  to 
take  possession  of  the  people  in  a  manner  then  un- 
common, and  Mr.  Reynolds  yielded  to  it  and  to  the 
belief  that  he  could  secure  for  himself  and  his  in- 
creasing family  the  advantages  of  a  broader  field  of. 
operation.  Accordingly,  in  the  year  named,  he  set 
out  with  his  household  for  Indiana.  The  country 
between  North  Carolina  and  the  point  of  destination 
in  the  Hoosier  State  was  traversed  with  a  team  and 
a  covered  wagon ;  and  the  same  conveyance  carried 
the  goods  of  the  household ;  and  the  cooking  and 
domestic  arrangements  generally  were  conducted  on 
the  way  much  after  the  same  pattern  as  in  the  de- 
serted home  in  the  South.  They  stayed  their  steps 
in  White  Co.,  Ind.,  and  resided  there  two  years.  In 
1836  they  took  up  their  line  of  march  to  the  west- 
ward and  came  in  the  same  manner  in  which  they 
had  made  their  former  journey,  to  Illinois.  The 
father  made  a  location  at  Sugar  Grove,  in  Hale 
Township,  in  this  county.  He  rented  land  for  a  time 
to  give  himself  an  opportunity  to  look  about  and  de- 
termine on  the  best  plan  to  pursue  and  where  was 
the  best  place  to  make  a  permanent  settlement.  He 
decided  to  go  to  Henderson  County.  He  bought  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  timber  in  the  vicinity  of  Hollings- 
worth/s  mill,  and  proceeded  to  arrange  his  affairs  on 


the  accepted  plan  of  the  pioneers.  He  erected  a  log 
cabin  for  a  temporary  home  and  cleared  40  acres  of 
land.  There  he  remained  about  14  years.  On  sell- 
ing out,  he  bought  a  prairie  farm  two  miles  from 
Biggsville  and  was  its  owner  and  occupant  until 
1866.  That  was  the  year  in  which  he  made  his  final 
removal  to  Sumner  Township.  He  settled  on  the 
farm  which  his  son  had  bought  in  that  township  and 
his  life  continued  only  a  few  years  after.  He  died 
June  12,  1869.  The  wife  and  mother  lived  until 
Aug  15,  1881.  Of  their  seven  children  only  two 
survive.  Mr.  Reynolds  has  a  younger  sister — Mar- 
tha E.,  the  wife  of  R.  W.  Wiley,  of  Sumner  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  ten  years  of  age  when  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Henderson  County.  He  was  brought 
up  to  the  calling  of  his  forefathers  and  was  a  pupil 
in  the  public  school.  Later  he  attended  the  High 
School  at  Oquawka,  and  finally  finished  his  educa- 
tion with  three  years'  attendance  at  Monmouth  Col- 
lege. 

Feb.   1 8,  1868,  he  was   married  to   Araminta   C. 
McCrery,  and  they  have   two  children.      Mabel   is 
pursuing  a  course  of  study  at    Monmouth    College.  < 
Bertha  A.  is  the  younger,     Mrs.  Reynolds  was  born 
in  Monmouth,  June  25,  1849. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  as  is  their  oldest  daughter. 


illiam  K.  Stewart  attorney  at  law,  Mon- 
mouth, was  born  in  McDonough  County, 
this  State,  Dec.  3,  1845.  He  spent  his 
youth  largely  at  school,  and  graduated  from 
Monmouth  College  in  the  class  of  1867.  He 
began  the  study  of  law  at  once  under  his  father 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  April,  1868,  and  be- 
gan practice  at  Oquawka  the  following  fall.  (For 
parentage,  etc.,  see  biography  of  Hon.  J.  H.  Stewart, 
this  volume.)  In  1873  he  came  to  Monmouth  from 
-Oquawka  and  became  the  junior  of  the  firm  of 
Stewart,  Phelps  &  Stewart,  probably  the  strongest 
law  firm  in  the  city.  At  the  end  of  two  years  the 
firm  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Stewart  repaired  to  Burling- 
ton, Iowa,  and  was  there  two  years.  Returning  tq 


\H    'K 


>u 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


•S3 


Monmouth  in  1877,  he  was  at  once  appointed  City 
Attorney,  and  in  1878  was  elected  Police  Magistrate, 
which  he  resigned  at  the  end  of  three  years  to  be- 
come a  member  of  the  firm  of  Stewart  &  Grier. 
Since  1883,  this  firm  has  been  Stewart  &  Stewart, 
and  is  composed  of  Hon.  J.  H.  Stewart  and  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  At  the  spring  election  of  1885, 
Mr.  Stewart  was  elected  City  Attorney,  and  is  the 
present  incumbent  of  that  office. 

He  was  married  in  McDonough  County,  this  State, 
April  16,  1873,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Mariner,  and  has 
three  children. 


acob  Byers,  a  sturdy  tiller  of  the  soil, 
which  vocation  he  has  followed  the  major 
portion  of  his  life,  resides  on  section  18, 
Hale  Township.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Lawyer)  Byers,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  father  died  in  Darke  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  12,  1862,  aged  80,  and  the  mother  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  4,  1842,  aged  63.  The  parents  of  the 
elder  Byers  were  of  German  and  Irish  ancestry  re- 
spectively. The  record  of  the  elder  Jacob  Byers' 
family  of  seven  children  is  as  follows:  David,  Re- 
becca, Elizabeth,  Joseph,  Solomon,  Rosana  and 
Jacob.  David  married  Miss  Eve  Stake,  of  Frank- 
lin Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  had  one  son :  the  father  and 
son  are  deceased.  Rebecca  married  George  Ens- 
menger,  of  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  a  large  family 
blessed  this  union  :  the  mother  is  deceased.  Eliza- 
beth married  Isaac  Basehore,  of  Franklin  Co.,  Pa., 
and  became  the  mother  of  two  children,  one  of 
whom,  with  the  mother,  is  deceased.  Joseph  mar- 
ried Rebecca  Rafesnyder,  of  the  same  county,  and 
had  a  family  of  two  boys  and  three  girls.  Solomon 
married  Sarah  A.  Bitner  and  had  15  children,  five  of 
whom  are  deceased :  the  father  died  in  1884.  Ro- 
sanna  married  Samuel  Railing,  of  Cumberland  Co., 
Pa.,  and  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  deceased. 

Jacob  Byers  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  seven 
children  born  to  his  parents,  all  growing  to  attain  the 
age  of  their  majority.  He  was  born  June  16,  1821, 


and  during  his  early  boyhood  attended  the  common 
schools,  receiving  a  fair  education.  At  the  age  of 
15  years  he  went  forth  in  the  cold,  unfriendly  world 
to  d )  for  himself.  His  first  occupation  after  leaving 
the  parental  roof  was  that  of  an  agriculturist,  which 
he  followed  for  two  years,  receiving  remuneration  for 
his  services,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time,  when 
he  was  17  years  of  age,  he  apprenticed  himself  to 
learn  the  blacksmith's  trade.  This  he  mastered  and 
continued  to  follow  as  a  means  of  livelihood  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  even  after  coming  to  this  county  he 
was  thus  engaged  in  connection  with  his  farm  duties 
for  about  seven  years.  He  came  to  Warren  County 
in  1853,  and  for  about  three  and  a  half  years  lived 
in  Monmouth,  where  he  followed  his  trade.  He 
moved  to  Hale  Township  in  1857,  and  settled  on 
section  18,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  88  acres 
of  good  tillable  land,  and  on  which  he  has  lived  and 
labored  until  the  present  time.  By  his  energy  and 
economy  he  has  succeeded  in  making  additions  to 
his  original  purchase  until  he  is  at  present  the  pro-  • 
prietor  of  208  acres  of  land  in  Hale  Township  and  a 
farm  of  69  acres  in  Henderson  County. 

Mr.  Byers  was  wedded  to  Harriet  E.   Bitner,  in   « 
Franklin   Co.,  Pa.,   June   20,    1845.       She  was  the 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Jane  (Goodman)  Bitner, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  . 
the  latter  in  Monmouth.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Byers  have 
become  the  parents  of  eight  children,   whom  they 
have    named    Priscilla   J.,  Catherine  E.,   John  F., 
William  E.,  Jacob  M.,  Lydia  B.,  David  I.  and  Grace 

E.  Priscilla  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Cooper   and  re- 
sides in  Henderson   County;  Catherine  E.  married 
Ralph  Ostrander,  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  John 

F.  lives  in  Georgetown,  Col. ;  William  E.  is  engaged 
in  teaching  in  Iowa;  Jacob  lives  at  home;  Lydia  B. 
married  Nicholas  Resener,  who  is  a  resident  of  Gris- 
wold,   Iowa;  David   I.  lives  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  and 
Grace  E.  is  deceased. 

Mrs.  Byers  died  in  Hale  Township,  March  28 
1879,  and  Mr.  Byers  was  the  second  time  married, 
in  that  township.  The  date  of  this  marriage  was 
Dec.  21,  1882,  at  which  time  Miss  Hannah  Stevenson 
became  his  wife.  They  lived  together  as  man  and 
wife  but  three  short  months,  when,  March  4,  1883, 
she  passed  to  the  land  of  the  hereafter.  Mr.  Byers 
has  held  the  offices  of  Road  Commissioner  and 
School  Director  in  his  township,  and  his  political 
views  coincide  with  the  principles  ao>ocate4  by  thq 


r 


~1 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Republican  party.  He  has  attained  no  little  prom- 
inence as  a  man  of  energy  and  honor  in  the  com- 
munity, and  his  accompanying  portrait  gives  addi- 
tional interest  to  this  volume. 


ichard  Henry  Shultz,  deceased,  was  born 
at  Maysville,  Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  June  7, 
1829,  and  died  at  Monmouth,  May  21, 
1883.  His  parents  were  Christian  and  Char- 
lotte (Lee)  Shultz.  The  former  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  descent, 
while  the  latter  was  a.  native  of  Kentucky  and  of 
English  extraction.  The  Shultz  family  was  of  the 
sturdy  old  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock,  which  was 
noted  for  habits  of  economy  and  industry,  combined 
with  a  strict  regard  for  the  rights  of  others,  and 
formed  the  elements  of  a  superior  citizenship,  while 
the  Lees  combined  with  all  these  elements  the  blue 
blood  of  the  patrician,  which  infused  itself  with  no 
stock  but  to  better  it,  assimilating  with  none  to  the 
exclusion  of  its  inherent  potency,  and  displaying 
itself  ever  and  anon  in  the  very  highest  order  of 
manhood.  Men,  eminent  in  State  craft  and  in  war; 
distinguished  in  belles-lettres  and  in  song;  men  who 
have  adorned  the  Bench  and  the  Bar;  men  whose 
eloquence  have  swayed  the  assemblage  from  the 
pulpit,  the  rostrum  and  forum, — aye,  these  are  the 
men  whose  names  will  ever  be  found  in  the  biog- 
raphy of  the  Lees.  The  mother  of  Richard  H. 
Sluiltz  was  a  cousin  of  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee  and  Gen. 
"  Stonewall  "  Jackson.  Thus  in  our  own  great  Re- 
public alone  can  the  combinations  of  these  elements 
be  found  possible;  and  when  in  the  fullness  of  time 
the  best  people  of  all  the  races  of  the  earth  shall 
have  brought  each  his  own  peculiar  superiority, 
whatever  that  virtue  may  consist  in,  and  the  whole 
shall  have  intermingled  to  form  one  race — the 
American — then,  indeed,  will  the  human  family  have 
attained  that  high  eminence  to  which  it  is  by  the 
Creator  destined.  The  partial  effect  of  this  com- 
bination of  race  may  be  noticed  daily  by  the  student 
of  human  nature.  Short  biographical  sketches  of 
men  who  have  been  identified  with  the  growth, 
progress  and  welfare  of  a  single  county,  often  dis- 


closes the  important  fact,  though  insignificant  as  it 
may  appear,  that  the  great  design  of  nature  was  in 
these  good  men  being  partially  carried  out. 

Read  the  biographical  sketches  in  the  Warren 
County  ALBUM,  note  there  the  history  of  the  lives 
of  the  best  people  that  live  and  have  lived  within  its 
province,  and  by  tracing  their  ancestry  the  true 
secret  of  the  route  to  greatness,  can  be  seen,  though 
not  in  wealth.  Wealth  is  not  greatness;  in  fact  it 
is  seldom  an  integral  part  of  it.  So  with  Mr.  Shultz: 
his  greatness  consisted  in  a  superior  citizenship,  and 
its  essential  qualities  are  largely  traceable  to  his  an- 
cestry. 

Mr.  Shultz  was  educated  in  Kentucky,  and  em- 
barked in  business  while  yet  a  young  man.  June  7, 
1853,  he  was  married,  at  Maysville,  to  Miss  Lizzie 
Mcllvain,  daughter  of  William  Mcllvain,  who  was 
30  years  a  banker  in  that  city.  Soon  after  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Shultz  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where  he 
was  for  about  three  years  engaged  in  a  commission 
business.  From  there  he  emigrated  to  Missouri, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  up  to  the  time  of 
his  coming  to  Warren  County,  in  1861.  Here  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Lenox  Township  and  occupied 
it  two  or  three  years,  when  he  removed  to  Mon- 
mouth. Here  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  drug 
firm  of  Brewer  &  McGrew,  and  later  on  bought  the 
interest  of  Mr.  McGrew  and  changed  the  firm  to 
Brewer  &  Shultz,  which  continued  for  a  few  years. 
He  then  purchased  Mr.  Brewer's  interest  and  es- 
tablished his  two  sons  in  the  store,  under  the  firm 
name  of  W.  M.  Shultz  &  Co..  Subsequently  one  of 
the  sons,  C.  Shultz,  became  the  owner.  He  was  one 
of  the  projectors  of  the  Monmouth  Opera  House, 
pressed  the  enterprise  to  completion  and  subse- 
quentlj  became  its  sole  owner.  It  is  a  magnificent 
structure,  and  a  fitting  monument  to  his  public- 
spiritedness  and  enterprise  while  a  citizen  of  the 
county.  In  all  his  undertakings  he  was  successful 
and  died  the  possessor  of  a  handsome  competency. 

Of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shultz 's  four  children,  William 
M.  is  a  r/romising  young  physician  at  Buena  Vista, 
Col.;  Crit  is  the  sole  successor  to  the  drug  business 
of  W.  M.  Shultz  &  Co.,  and  manager  and  one-fourth 
owner  of  the  Opera  House ;  Lottie  and  Lewis  are 
the  names  of  the  younger  members  of  the  household. 

Mr.  Shultz  was  an  ardent  Democrat  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  Order,  and,  though  identified 
with  no  particular  Church^  was  a  liberal  giver  to  all. 


i 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


The  day  succeeding  his  death,  a  local  paper  con- 
tained the  following  handsome  tribute  to  his  memory  : 
"  Mr.  Shultz  was  an  open,  generous,  enterpris- 
ing and  public-spirited  man,  always  ready  with  his 
purse  and  influence  to  further  ^very  enterprise  for 
the  growth  and  advancement  of  Monmouth.  As  a 
neighbor  and  friend  he  was  possessed  of  that  gen- 
uine Kentucky  hospitality  and  frankness  that  made 
his  home  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  attractive  in 
the  city,  and  none  were  more  earnest  in  entertaining 
friends  and  company  than  he.  To  those  with  whom 
he  was  intimate,  he  was  a  fast  and  abiding  friend, 
tried  and  true,  and  with  them  was  most  deservedly 
popular.  The  death  of  no  citizen  could  be  more 
universally  regretted." 


',  ames  Kelsay,  formerly  a  resident  of  Swan 
Township,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1805. 
He  came  to  Illinois  when  he  was  a  young 
man  and  located  in  the  southern  portion 
of  Sangamon  County  which,  by  a  later  divi- 
sion, was  set  off  to  Christian  County.  He  oc- 
cupied his  time  in  farming,  and,  in  1834,  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  Vandervere,  who  was  born  in  Indi- 
ana in  1 8 [5.  They  continued  to  reside  in  the 
county  in  which  they  were  married  until  the  fall  of 
the  year  succeeding  In  that  season  they  removed  to 
Warren  County.  They  passed  the  first  year  in  Hoyd 
Township  and  then  fixed  their  residence  in  Swan 
Township.  They  bought  land  there  and  the  hus- 
band erected  a  log  house.  He  lost  no  time  in  mak- 
ing the  improvements  customary  in  a  prairie  country 
and  the  work  was  far  advanced  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  That  event  occurred  in  August,  1844.  His 
widow  was  his  survivor  28  years,  her  demise  occur- 
ring Aug.  28,  1872.  Their  children  numbered  six 
and  there  are  five  still  living.  Mary  J.  is  the  wife  of 
Israel  Jared  and  they  are  living  in  Point  Pleasant 
Township.  Margaret  A.  is  married  to  James  Jared 
and  they  live  in  Swan  Township.  John  A.  is  a  citi- 
zen of  the  township.  William  resides  in  the  State  of 
Missouri.  Samuel  B.  lives  in  the  township  where  his 
father  and  mother  resided. 

Mrs.  Kelsay  was  married  in  1847   to  John   Blue. 


They  had  three  children.  Cynthia  is  married  to 
Benjamin  Kidder  and  they  also  reside  in  Swan 
Township.  Absalom  V.  is  a  citizen  of  Shenandoah, 
Iowa.  Bailey  R.  lives  in  Nebraska.  The  parents 
were  both  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


illiam  Spencer  Almond,  now  deceased, 
was  formerly  a  resident  in  the  township  of 
Point  Pleasant.  He  was  born  Oct.  n, 
i8n,in  Louisa  Co.,  Va.  His  parents  re- 
moved in  his  youth  to  Kentucky  and  were 
pioneers  of  Warren  County,  that  State.  Wyatt 
Almond,  his  father,  was  a  man  of  superior  abilities 
and  education  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  followed 
the  profession  of  teacher  in  Kentucky  and  was  a 
resident  of  that  State  after  his  removal  there  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  The  name  of  the  lady  who 
became  his  wife  was  Susannah  Ware -previous  to  her 
marriage  to  him.  After  his  death  she  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  married  Thomas  Gunter,  and  finally  died 
in  Swan  Township,  this  county.  Five  of  her  chil- 
dren are  her  survivors.  A  daughter,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Watkins,  resides  in  Shenandoah,  Iowa.  Thomas 
lives  in  Point  Pleasant  Township.  William  S.  was 
the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Mrs.  Emma  Wade  lives 
in  this  county.  Mrs.  Susan  Collier  resides  in  Ar- 
kansas. Z;icliariah  D.  is  a  citizen  of  Union  Mills, 
Mahaska  Co.,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Almond,  of  this  sketch,  was  brought  up  in  the 
county  in  which  he  was  born.  He  was  married  in 
Kentucky,  to  Miss  Nancy  Sprudling,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  that  State,  and  died  there  in  1852.  She  left 
six  children  :  William  Allen  lives  in  Union  Mills, 
Iowa.  Martha  J.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Johnson,  of 
Point  Pleasant  Township.  Thomas  J.  is  a  farmer  in 
the  same.  James  W.  was  a  soldier  in  the  83d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  killed  at  Fort  Donelson.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Almond  was  married 
to  Sarah  A.  Hawkins.  Mrs.  Hawkins  was  born  in 
Warren  Co.,  Ky.,  March  3,  1818.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Meyers)  Haw- 
kins. Mr.  H.  was  an  Englishman  by  birth  and  his 
wife  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  They  both  died  in 
Edmonson  Co.,  Ky.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


: 


Almond  took  place  about  the  year  1854.  She,  by  a 
former  marriage,  to  Mitchell  Spradliag,  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Mary  F.,wife  of  George  Evving,  a  resident  of 
Mills  Co.,  Iowa.  James  K.  lives  in  Kansas.  Re- 
becca, wife  of  L.  W.  Simmons,  and  lives  in  Califor- 
nia. Angeline,  wife  of  Weldon  Worrell,  and  a 
resident  of  Mills  Co.,  Iowa. 

The  family  removed  to  Illinois  in  1852.  They 
traveled  with  ox-teams  and  brought  with  them  all 
their  household  belongings,  and  they  lived  in  the 
gipsey  fashion  while  on  the  road.  Mr.  Almond  made 
a  location  in  the  township  of  Swan,  whete  he  bought 
50  acres  of  land  on  section  34,  on  which  he  lived 
four  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  sold  'the  prop- 
erty there  and  removed  to  Point  Pleasant  Township, 
where  he  bought  160  acres  of  wild  land,  on  section 
34.  This  was  the  homestead  until  the  death  of  the 
father,  which  occurred  May  12,  1884.  'All  the  prop- 
erty was  under  improvement,  and  the  proprietor  had 
increased  his  acreage  until  he  was  the  owner  of  320 
acres  in  that  township  and  another  considerable  tract 
in  Iowa.  Mr.  Almond  had  built  farm  structures  of  a 
character  suited  to  the  farm.  He  was  a  quiet  man 
"and  good  neighbor,  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  in  political  sentiment  a  Democrat. 

Of  the  second  marriage  which  lias  been  mentioned 
there  were  three  children,  of  whom  two  are  living. 
They  are  named  Andrew  S.  and  Jesse  E.  The  lat- 
ter was  born  April  30,  1859.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  and  was  married  to 
Lydia  J.  Larkins,  June  r3,  1880.  Mrs.  Almond  was 
born  in  Warren  County,  Jan.  22,  1860,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Smith)  Larkins. 
Wernie  C.  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Almond.  Their  first  child  was  named  Ora 
Dell,  and  she  died  whin  less  than  nine  months  old. 
Mr.  Isaac  N.  Almond,  the  youngest  son  Joy  the 
former  marriage,  was  in  his  second  year  when  his 
mother  died,  and  he  was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his 
father.  He  was  trained  and  educated  in  the  manner 
common  to  the  sons  of  farmers,  and  the  first  import- 
ant event  of  his  life  was  his  marriage  to  Mary  E. 
Waters,  which  took  place  April  23,  1876.  She  was 
born  in  Ohio,  Aug.  5,  1855.  Her  death  occurred 
March  16,  1881.  In  September,  1882,  Mr.  Almond 
was  again  married  to  Etta  C.  Prather.  She  is  a 
native  of  Abingdon,  Knox  Co.,  111.  Two  children 
were  born  of.  the  first  marriage.  Their  names  are 


Elvin  Walter  and  Eva  J.     George  C.  is  the  name  of 
the  only  child  of  the  second  marriage. 


f  arnes  Smith,  an  agriculturist  prosecuting 
£•  his  vocation  on  section  16,  Berwick  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  near 
Xenia,  Sept.  15,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  died 
about  1850,  in  Ohio,  and  whose  father,  Joseph 
Smith,  died  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  about  1841,  the 
year  in  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  first  saw  the 
light  of  day. 

James  Smith,  at  the  date  of  his  father's  death,  was 
but  nine  years  of  age,  and  accompanied  his  grand- 
father on  his  mother's  side,  by  the  name  of  Broad- 
stone,  to  this  State.  His  grandfather  came  from 
Wales  to  this  country,  and  to  this  State  in  1850,  and  . 
located  in  Crawford  County  and  there  died.  Some 
three  years  later,  in  the  spring  of  1856,  James,  the 
subject,  came  here  and  located  near  Monmouth. 

He  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  joining  Co.  ' 
C,  83d  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Capt.  L.  B.  Cutler, 
of  Monmouth,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  in 
that  city.  His  regiment  was  ordered  to  Fort  Henry, 
Ky.,  where  it  remained  for  some  25  days,  and  was 
then  ordered  to  Fort  Donelson,  some  12  miles  dis- 
tant. He  participated  in  the  fight  of  Fort  Donelson, 
Feb.  3,  1863,  and  after  that  battle  he  was  stationed 
at  the  fort  until  June,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  receiving  his  final  discharge 
and  pay  at  Chicago,  July  5,  1865,  whereupon  he 
immediately  started  upon  the  train  for  his  home  in 
Monmouth  Township,  Warren  County. 

Mr.  Smith,  of  this  notice,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Abbie  S.  Pike,  March  25,  1879.  She  was  born 
June  5,  1850,  in  Stoughton,  Mass.  Her  father 
Augustus  H.  Pike,  was  a  native  of  Maine,  and  died 
while  in  the  Union  army,  in  i86r,  some  six  months 
after  he  had  enlisted.  He  married  Miss  Mary  T. 
Southworth,  of  the  literary  family  of  Southworths, 
who  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1823,  and  died  in 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  in  1855.  Mrs.  Smith  was  a  resident 
of  Galesburg,  Knox  Co.,  111.,  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage, where  her  western  relatives  live.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pike  three  children  were  born, — Abbie  S., 


" EVERGREEN  LAWM!' RESIDENCE  OF  SCHUYLER  PALMER,  SEC. 15  SPRING  SROYE  . 


VIEW     OF      BUILDINGS     FRONT    NORTH    . 


A  " 


MAPLE  GROVE,  RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  H.FRANTz,SEc.22,SpRiHB  GROVE. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


259 


Jan.  5,  1850;  Mary  A.,  Feb.  10,  1852;  and  Ozro, 
who  died  when  two  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  of  this  notice  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren,— Wallace  R.,  born  Dec.  31,  1880;  Winihrop 
G.,  Dec.  29,  1882;  and  Glen  D.,  March  12,  1885. 
Mr.  Smith  moved  on  the  place  where  he  now  resides 
in  March,  1884.  This  place  he  had  purchased  the 
year  previous.  He  is  there  actively  engaged  in  the 
vocation  of  an  agriculturist,  meeting  with  success. 
In  'politics,  he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party. 


|:Chuyler  Palmer,  a  resident  on   section  15 
of  Spring  Grove  Township,  is  a  pioneer  of 
Warren    County   of   1845.     He  is  one  of 
the  leading  farmers  of  the  township  and  has 
reached    prominence   through    the    extensive 
business   relations   he  has  established  in  the 
county.    He  was  born  Nov.  24,  1831,  in  the  province 
of  Ontario,  Canada,  and  is  the  son  of  Wilkinson  and 
Nancy  (Hurd)  Palmer.     His  parents  were  born  in 
the  same  portion  of  the  country  as  himself.     The 
father  was  born  of  parents  of  New  York  origin  and 
those  of  the  mother  were  originally  from  the  State 
of  Vermont.     The  ancestors  of  the  latter  were  orig- 
inally from  Connecticut  and  later  from  New  Jersey, 
and  later  still  from   New  York.     The  father  of  Mr. 
Palmer  removed  with  his  wife  and  children  to  White- 
side  Co.,  111.,  in  1842.     Here  they  made  their  home 
in  the  vicinity  of  Prophetstown  until  the  year  named 
as  that  in  which  their  removal  to  Warren  County  was 
effected.     On  coming  to  this    county    they    located 
in  Hale  Township,  where  the  father  rented  land  un- 
til 1851,  when  a  tract  of  80  acres  of  land  was  pur- 
chased.    It    was    wholly    unbroken    and    the    first 
move  made  was  to  build  a  house  for   the  accommo- 
dation of  the  family.     It  was  made  of  logs  and  was 
occupied  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  constructed 
three  or  four  years.     The  family  then   took  posses- 
sion of  a  new  frame  house  which  the  father  built  on 
the  homestead.    Prosperity  attended  him  in  his  busi- 
ness relations,  and  he   was  soon   enabled  to  make 
other  purchases  until  he  became  the  owner  of  200 
acres  of  land,  a   portion  of  which  was  located  in 
Henderson  County.     His    death  occurred    in  July, 


1878,  and  that  of  his  wife  some  years  previous. 
Eight  of  their  n  children  are  now  living.  Sarah  is 
the  wife  of  Jeremiah  Young.  They  are  residents  of 
Ida  Co.,  Iowa.  Ira  A.  lives  in  Ringgold  Co.,  Iowa 
Minard  resides  in  the  same  State,  in  the  county  of 
Harrison.  George  W.  is  a  farmer  in  Hale  Town- 
ship. Manada  A.  is  married  to  B.  C.  Darrah,  of 
Henderson  Co.,  Iowa.  Eliza  lives  in  Pottawatomie 
County,  in  that  State.  William  is  a  resident  of  Otoe 
Co.,  Neb. 

Until  he  became  himself  the  head  of  a  family  by 
marriage,  Mr.  Palmer  was  a  member  of  the  house- 
hold of  his  father  and  mother.  His  marriage  to 
Lucy  A.  Mills  took  place  Dec.  25,  1856.  She  was 
born  in  Henderson  County  and  is  the  daughter  of 
William  H.  and  Lucretia  (Morris)  Mills,  who  were 
early  settlers  in  the  county  where  their  daughter  was 
born.  William  H.  Mills,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Palmer, 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  but  when  five  years  of 
age  his  parents  removed  to  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  lo- 
cating near  Lawrenceburg,  where  he  became  a  farmer,  ' 
William  H.  there  grew  to  manhood,  and,  in  1836, 
married  Lucretia  Morris.  Three  years  later  he  moved 
to  Henderson  Co.,  111.,  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  ~ 
Greenville  Township,  where  they  now  reside.  Here  I 
Mrs.  Palmer  was  reared,  and  received  her  education 
in  the  neighboring  district  school.  She  was  born  in  a  ^ 
log  cabin  two  miles  west  of  where  her  parents  now 
reside.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of  Eastern  Penn- 
sylvania, and  is  of  Scotch  parentage.  Her  mother's 
parents  were  Amos  and  Johanna  Morris.  William 
H.  Mills'  parents,  the  paternal  grandparents  of  Mrs. 
Palmer,  were  Cyrus  and  Nancy  Mills. 

About  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Palmer  bought 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  i  of  Spring  Grove 
Township,  which  is  now  the  site  of  that  part  of 
Alexis  that  is  in  Warren  County.  It  had  never 
been  cultivated  in  any  sense,  being  still  in  its  orig- 
inal condition  of  wild  prairie  land.  He  built  a 
house  on  the  north  line  of  the  county  and  made  the 
first  improvement  on  the  place  in  the  spring  of  1856. 
This  was  previous  to  his  marriage.  He  bought  the 
farm  in  the  fall  preceding.  He  made  the  usual  im- 
provements, and  that  place  was  his  home  and  field 
of  operation  until  his  removal  to  the  farm  on  which 
he  has  lived  since  the  spring  of  1867.  At  that  lime 
he  sold  the  place  of  which  he  was  the  first  owner 
and  has  since  occupied  the  property  on  sections  10 
and  15.  There  was  already  a  good  house  on  the 


- 


JL 

I 


260 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1 


- 


southwest  of  the  section  first  named  and  this  was 
the  family  abode  until  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
in  which  they  took  possession  of  it,  when  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  They  moved  to  another  house 
which  had  been  erected  on  the  farm,  which  they 
occupied  until  1871,  when  Mr.  Palmer  built  the 
frame  house  in  which  they  now  live  and  which  is 
situated  on  section  15.  He  has  also  increased  the 
value  and  appearance  of  his  estate  by  building  other 
suitable  and  excellent  farm  structures,  which  are 
without  doubt  the  most  substantial  in  Spring  Grove 
Township,  and  among  the  finest  in  Warren  County. 
We  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  present  a  view  of  these 
on  page  258.  He  is  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  land, 
and,  in  addition  to  the  common  business  of  farming, 
is  engaged  in  raising  Durham  cattle  of  extra  grade. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  have  1 1  children.  Mary  E. 
is  the  oldest.  Alice  J.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Gal- 
laugher,  who  is  a  resident  of  Ringgold  Co.,  Iowa. 
Lillian  married  Fred  L.  Gilmore,  who  lives  on  sec- 
tion 9,  Spring  Grove  Township.  A  sketch  of  the 
parents  of  Mr.  Gilmore  may  be  found  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  Effie  A.  is  married  to  Robert 
Armstrong,  of  Spring  Grove  Township.  The  younger 
and  unmarried  children  are  named  Henry  W.,  Myron 
G.,  Mattie,  Lura,  Eva,  Kate  and  George  W. 

Mr.  Palmer  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views, 
and  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  for  17 
years.  Mrs.  Palmer  became  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church  at  the  age  of  13  years,  and  in  1869  Mr. 
Palmer  also  became  a  member  of  the  same  Church. 
Three  of  their  eldest  daughters  are  connected  with 
the  Baptist  Church,  while  the  next  three  younger 
are  members  of  the  Church  of  God. 


!  ohn  Wingate,  a  well-known  and  highly  re- 
spected farmer  of  Greenbush  Township,  who 
is  actively  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his 
excellent  farm,  was  born  Feb.  i,  1815,  in 
Maine,  and  is  the  son  of  Edmund  Wingate,  a 
native  of  that  State.  His  father  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Rebecca  Whitney,  also  a  native  of 
Maine,  and  they  had  four  children, — Hannah, 
Daniel,  John  and  Lydia.  John  Wingate,  subject  of 
this  biographical  notice,  came  to  this  State  in  the 
fall  of  1838.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Annis  Dibble, 


March  5,  1844.  She  was  born  in  Chenango  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  March  i,  1820.  Her  father,  John  Dibble,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  1819  he  married 
Martha  Brown,  who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1801. 
Of  her  parents'  union  five  children,  •  Annis,  Eliza- 
beth, Erastus  P.,  Laura  A.  and  Thomas,  were  born. 
Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wingate  of  this  notice, 
five  children  have  been  born,  namely:  John  J. 
(deceased),  Ann  Eliza  (deceased),  Arthur  L.*  Ella 
and  Eva. 

Mr.  Wingate,  with  his  wife  and  children,  are  pleas- 
antly situated  on  their  fine  farm  of  250  acres,  all  of 
which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  held  the  office-,  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Town- 
ship  Cerk,  Assessor  and  Treasurer  of  the  School 
Board  for  39  years.  In  politics  he  votes  with  the 
Democratic  party.  What  he  has  of  this  world's 
goods,  he  lias  accumulated  with  his  own  strong 
hands  and  the  active  co-operation  of  his  good  help- 
meet, and  is  passing  the  sunset  of  his  life  in  peace 
and  quiet  at  his  pleasant  home  on  section  20. 


illiam  T.  Boyd,  a  farmer  on  section  1 1,  in 
the  township  of  Point  Pleasant,  is  a  na- 
,  live  of  the  State  of  Indiana.  He  was  born 
9  in  Jefferson  Township  in  Greene  County, 
Oct.  7,  1845.  Thomas  H.  Boyd,  his  father^ 
was  born  in  Kentucky.  The  place  of  the  birth 
of  the  latter  was  Bath  County  and  the  occurrence 
was  dated  June  4,  1812.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Drury  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Hurd)  Boyd,  of  whom  a 
sketch  is  presented  elsewhere  in  this  work.  His  pa- 
rents removed  to  Greene  Co.,  Ind.,  when  he  was  13, 
and  there  be  passed  the  years  that  intervened  be- 
tween that  period  and  his  removal  to  Warren  Co.,  111. 
His  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  he  worked 
with  him  both  at  that  business  and  as  an  assistant 
in  the  clearing  of  the  farm.  April  3,  1838,  he  was 
married  to  Margaret  Jones.  She  was  born  in  New 
Berry  District,  in  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  Jan. 
17,  1818,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Benson  and  Pris- 
cilla  (O'Neil)  Jones.  The  families  of  her  parents 
were  both  of  the  same  State  in  which  the  daughter 
was  born.  In  1819  they  removed  to  Indiana  and 
were  early  settlers  in  Greene  County.  Their  home 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


261 


was  there  until  1847,  when  they  made  another  trans- 
fer of  their  interests  to  Illinois.  They  came  to  War- 
ren County  to  seek  a  place  for  a  permanent  home 
and  at  the  time  their  family  included  three  children. 
They  came  from  their  abode  in  the  Hoosier  State 
with  oxen  and  horse  teams  and  three  wagons.  They 
were  in  fair  circumstances  and  they'  brought  with 
them  their  household  belongings.  After  a  journey  of 
three  weeks  duration  they  halted  in  Henderson 
County,  where  they  remained  three  months.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  they  removed  to  Ellison, 
where  they  rented  land  and  resided  until  the 
year  which  has  been  mentioned  as  that  in  which 
they  removed  to  the  township  in  which  their  son  re- 
sides. The  senior  Boyd  bought  a  tract  of  unim- 
proved prairie  land  on  what  was  then  "  town  8,''  and 
now  bears  its  present  "  Pleasant  "  name.  The  father 
erected  a  small  frame  house  in  which  the  family 
could  find  shelter  until  he  should  be  able  to  build 
such  a  structure  as  their  necessities  demanded.  He 

'  at  once  proceeded  to  the  work  of  improving  the  place 
and  put  it  in  excellent  condition.  He  added  to  and 
rebuilt  the  house  and  erected  a  frame  barn.  The 

~  place  was  well    supplied    with   trees   of   the    varie- 

;  ties  common   to  the  locality   and  was   all   enclosed. 

I  Mr.  Boyd  lived  to  see  his  township  fully  developed. 

•  His  demise  occurred  on  his  farm,  March  i,  1877. 
His  widow  is  still  his  survivor  and  is  the  occupant  of 
the  homestead.  Drury  B.,  John  J.,  William  T.  and 
Gary  are  the  names  of  their  sons.  Priscilla,  the 
only  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Woodward  and 
they  are  residing  on  the  homestead  with  their  mother. 
When  his  parents  came  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Boyd,  of 
this  sketch,  was  an  infant  of  18  months.  Conse- 
quently, he  is  to  all  purposes  a  native  citizen  of  the 
township  of  which  he  is  now  a  resident  and  in  which 
he  has  been  a  continuous  inhabitant  ever  since.  He 
was  trained  in  the  profession  of  a  farmer  and  was  a 
pupil  in  the  common  schools  during  the  early  years 
in  which  he  was  busy  in  obtaining  his  education. 
Later,  he  was  a  student  at  Cherry  Grove  Seminary  at 
Abingdon,  where  he  attended  three  terms.  At  the 
age  of  19  he  engaged  in  teaching  and  filled  his  first 
term  of  school  in  District  No.  6,  in  the  same  town- 
ship where  he  was  brought  up.  He  also  taught  one 
term  in  addition  and  that  was  the  extent  of  his  oper- 
ations as  a  pedagogue.  He  has  passed  the  remainder  i 
of  his  life  of  activity  in  the  pursuit  of  a  farmer. 
Oct.  i,  1868,  he  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Susan 


F.  Dean.  She  was  born  in  Lewistown,  Fulton  Co., 
111.,  Sept.  i,  1849,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Susan  (Cummings)  Dean.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Kentucky  and  her  mother  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land. They  were  pioneers  of  Fulton  County  and  are 
now  living  in  Warren  County. 

Mr.  Boyd  located  on  the  farm  on  which  he  is  now 
residing  at  the  time  of  his  marriage.  It  is  situated 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  section  which  has 
been  mentioned.  One  child — Jennie  May,  has  been 
born  to  the  household.  Mrs.  Boyd  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  was  Supervisor  for  three  terms. 


— fr- 


^ 


.  ehu  Bailey  came  to  Illinois  in  1855.  In 
the  same  year  he  located  in  Warren  Coun- 
ty,  and  has  therefore  lived  within  the  same 
municipality  30  years.  He  was  born  in  York 
Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  14,  1823.  Charles  Bailey,  his 
father,  was  also  a  native  citizen  of  the  Key- 
stone State.  The  family  name  of  the  mother  of  Mr. 
Bailey  was  Davis.  He  was  deprived  of  her  care 
when  he  was  about  four  years  of  age  and  from  that 
time  was  the  charge  of  an  older  sister.  She  was  the 
manager  of  the  domestic  affairs  of  the  household  un- 
til she  was  married,  which  event  transpired  about 
four  years  after  the  removal  of  their  mother  by  death 
He  lived  with  his  sister  until  he  was  14,  when  he 
undertook  the  solution  of  the  problem  of  self-main- 
tenance. He  learned  the  trades  of  cooper  and 
plasterer,  which  he  followed  winters  and  summers 
alternately  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  for  some  years. 
He  was  there  married  to  Frances  Swiler,  Dec.  25, 
1846.  She  was  born  in  the  same  county  Feb.  22, 
1827.  They  lived  there  until  1850,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Ohio  and  were  residents  in  Hancock 
County  until  the  year  in  which  they  came  to  Illinois. 
While  there,  Mr.  Bailey  was  engaged  in  the  business 
of  plasterer  and  he  also  operated  as  a  farmer.  In 
the  fall  of  1855  he  set  out  with  his  family  for  an 
overland  trip  to  the  West,  journeying  in  the  common 
manner.  They  passed  2 1  days  on  the  road  between 
Ohio  and  Warren  County.  Soon  after  his  arrival, 
Mr.  Bailey  bought  160  acres  of  land  on  section  n 
in  the  same  township  in  which  he  is  now  a  property 


>6z 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


holder.  It  had  been  previously  occupied,  and  there 
was  a  log  house  for  the  accommodation  of  the  family 
and  20  acres  of  the  land  had  been  broken.  Mr. 
Bailey  continued  the  purchase  of  land  until  he  was 
at  one  time  the  owner  of  more  than  400  acres.  The 
buildings  and  stock  on  the  place  are  of  excellent 
type. 

In  political  faith  Mr.  Bailey  is  a  Republican.  In 
former  days  he  was  a  Whig,  and  passed  through  the 
phases  of  the  changes  between  that  party  and  the 
one  to  which  he  at  present  belongs.  He  has  been 
Assessor  and  Collector  of  Spring  Grove  Township. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Church  of  God. 
and  he  is  an  Elder  in  the  local  organization. 

The  record  of  the  children  of  the  family  is  as  fol- 
lows: Ira,  the  oldest  son,  is  a  farmer  in  Nemaha 
Co.,  Kan.  Agnes  is  the  wife  of  William  Postlewait, 
of  Spring  Grove  Township.  Jacob  and  Lincoln  re- 
side in  the  same  township  and  are  married.  Harry 
lives  at  home  with  his  parents. 

j. -  <:>•  - _ 


j  ruman  Eldridg,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Warren  County,  and  a  gentleman  possess- 
ing more  than  ordinary  ability  as  a  busi- 
ness man,  with  a  large  amount  of  practical 
knowledge  obtained  by  actual  experience, 
who  at  present  resides  at  Roseville,  is  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  having  been  born  in  Hancock, 
Berkshire  Co.,  that  State,  April  24,  1808.  The  pa- 
rents of  Mr.  Eldridg,  Thomas  and  Rachel  (Hall) 
Eldridg,  were  natives  of  Massachusetts.  Thomas 
Eldridg,  Sr.,  together  with  his  wife,  the  grandparents, 
moved  from  Rhode  Island  to  Massachusetts  at  an 
early  day.  They  made  their  way  thither  on  horse- 
back by  means  of  blazed  trees  which  were  marked  to 
indicate  the  road.  Thomas,  Sr.,  followed  the  voca- 
tion of  a  farmer,  and,  with  his  wife,  continued  to  re- 
side there  until  their  death.  Thomas  Eldridg,  Jr., 
the  son  of  Thomas,  Sr.,  and  wife,  lived  in  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  until  about  1845,  when  they  moved  and 
located  in  Rensselaer  County,  he  following  the  oc- 
cupation of  a  farmer  in  that  county  until  his  death. 
His  wife  also  died  in  that  county.  They  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  grew  t<?  attain  the  age  of  manhood 


and  womanhood.  Their  names  were  Heman,  James 
H.,  Thomas  B.,  Truman,  Norman  A.,  Nathaniel  A., 
Thyerressa  G.,  Elvira  S.  and  Mary.  Three  of  them, 
Truman,  Norman  and  Nathaniel  are  yet  living. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  biographical  notice  was  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  of  his  father's  family.  He  remained  at  home 
until  21  years  old,  alternating  his  labors  on  the 
farm  with  attendance  at  the  common  schools.  After 
leaving  the  parental  roof-tree  he  worked  out,  laying 
stone  walls  and  taking  such  jobs  as  he  could  pro- 
cure to  obtain  a  livelihood.  At  20  years  of  age,  be- 
fore leaving  the  old  homstead,  he  commenced  teach- 
ing school  during  winters,  and  was  occupied  in  that 
vocation  for  five  seasons.  He  then  engaged  in  part- 
nership with  a  gentleman  in  a  country  store,  his 
partner  being  Erastus  Brown,  at  North  Stephentown, 
Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  which  partnership  existed 
for  three  years,  when  Mr.  Eldridg  sold  his  interest 
and,  in  1836,  came  to  this  State  and  county.  On  ar- 
rival here  he  ''  took  up  "  240  acres  of  land  near  Hat 
Grove,  on  which  he  remained  for  about  three  months. 
He  then  returned  to  South  Williamstown,  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
which  he  followed  for  about  two  years,  until  the  first 
of  September,  1838.  He  then  returned  to  this  county 
determined  to  make  it  his  permanent  abiding  place, 
and  during  the  winter  of  1838  stopped  at  Swan 
Creek.  He  went  into  the  woods,  cut  down  his  tim- 
ber and  hewed  and  framed  the  same,  preparatory  to 
the  erection  of  a  residence.  He  then  hauled  it  four 
miles  to  his  prairie  farm  and  the  2d  day  of  April, 
1839,  raised  the  then  palace  residence  of  Warren 
County.  It  was  24x24  feet  in  dimensions  and  one 
and  a  half  stories  in  height,  and  was  at  that  time  con- 
sidered a  most  magnificent  residence  for  the  then 
undeveloped  portion  of  Warren  County.  Mr.  Eld- 
ridg at  once  engaged  actively  and  energetically  upon 
the  task  of  improving  his  farm,  determined  to  make 
it  his  permanent  abiding  place  for  all  time  to  come, 
and  improve  and  beautify  it  until  it  became  one  of 
the  most  pleasant  homes,  as  it  has,  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  When  Mr.  Eldridg  came  here  in  1839 
the  country  was  new  and  undeveloped,  at  one  point 
of  the  compass  his  nearest  neighbor  being  three 
miles  and  the  other  12  miles.  He  nevertheless  had 
great  faith  in  the  future  development  of  the  country 
and  resolved  to  "  stick  it  out,"  which  he  did,  and  by 
so  doing  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  competency, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


,67 


In  this,  the  sunset  of  his  life,  while  his  hair  is 
streaked  with  silver  threads  of  years  past  and  gone, 
he  looks  back  to  those  pioneer  days  with  no  small 
degree  of  pleasure. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Eldridg  to  Miss  Alma  Jones, 
occurred  Jan.  12,  1839.  She  was  a  native  of  Rens- 
selaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  having  been  born  in  that  State, 
April  2,  1808,  the  same  year  as  her  husband  ;  and  be 
it  said  to  her  credit  that  during  the  trials  of  the  past 
and  the  privations  incident  to  the  early  settlement  of 
a  new  country,  she  bore  her  part  with  that  womanly 
fortitude  of  which  she  is  characteristic.  Of  their 
union  one  child  was  born, — Irene  E.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Edwin  R.  Smith,  of  Monmouth.  He  died 
in  1867,  leaving  one  daughter, — Edna  B.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eldridg  adopted  Flora  A.  Jones,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Dr.  H.  E.  Aylsworth,  and  by  him  she 
had  three  children, — Murray,  Mabel  and  Iran.  Dr. 
Aylsworth  died  in  1865. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridg  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  as  are  likewise  both  of  their  daughters.  Mr. 
Eldridg  was  the  the  first  Postmaster  in  the  village 
of  Roseville,  which  was  originally  called  Hat  Grove. 
In  politics  he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  held 
offices  within  the  gift  of  the  citizens  of  his  township. 
He  has  been  the  owner  since  he  came  to  this  county 
of  three  quarter-sections  of  land,  a  portion  of  which 
he  has  sold,  and  a  portion  has  been  incorporated 
within  the  limits  of  the  village  of  Roseville. 


i  illiam  P.  Sykes,  deceased,  formerly  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  residing  on  section 
9,  Monmouth  Township,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Oct.  n,  1805. 
Mr.  Sykes  was  the  son  of  Henry  Sykes,  a 
\^  native  of  England,  who  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  company  with  two  brothers  some  years 
previous  to  his  marriage.  He  was  accidentally  killed 
by  falling  from  the  top  of  a  house  in  Philadelphia, 
which  accident  occurred  when  William  P.  was  but  a 
small  child.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice 
died  in  Philadelphia,  Aug.  29,  1835. 
The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 


this  biographical  notice,  was  the  youngest  in  order  of 
birth  of  his  parents'  five  children.  After  the  death  of 
his  father,  which,  as  stated,  occurred  when  he  was 
quite  young,  William  P.  lived  with  his  mother,  attend- 
ing the  common  schools  and  assisting  in  her  mainten- 
ance, until  his  marriage.  In  his  early  years  he  had 
learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker,  at  which  he 
worked,  obtaining  remuneration  sufficient  to  enable 
him  to  procure  the  necessities  of  life  and  support  his 
mother,  and  amass  a  property  worth  $3,000.  At  his 
death  he  had  property  valued  at  $40,0.00 

He  was  married  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  to  Jane 
Ramble,  daughter  of  a  respected  and  wealthy  miller 
of  Lancaster  County.  Some  15  months  after  his 
marriage  and  after  one  child  had  been  born  to  them, 
Mrs.  Sykes  died,  the  date  thereof  being  1828,  her 
child  having  preceded  her  to  the  land  of  the  here- 
after. 

Mr.  Sykes  had  learned  his  trade  with  a  Mr.  Eagle 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  about  1825  engaged  in 
the  business  of  undertaker,  which  he  followed  for 
some  years,  meeting  with  success.  Eight  years  after 
the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Sykes  was  again  mar- 
ried in  Salisbury  Township,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  the.< 
date  in  which  he  formed  a  union  with  Miss  Anna  C. 
Linville  being  Dec.  29,  1836.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Arthur  and  Elizabeth  (Haines)  Linville,  who  re-, 
sided  in  Lancaster  County  the  major  portion  of  their 
lives,  and  where  her  father  was  engaged  in  the  voca- 
tion of  farming.  Her  father  was  appointed  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  Lancaster  County  by  Gov.  Rittner. 
He  died  in  this  county  Nov.  29,  1857, aged  65  years; 
his  wife  dying  in  Logan  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  |n,  1846, 
aged  50  years.  Mrs.  Sykes'  brother,  Jacob  H.  Lin- 
ville, of  Philadelphia,  is  one  of  the  celebrated  civil 
engineers  of  the  present  day,  having  assisted  to  con- 
struct the  St.  Louis  and  Brooklyn  bridges.  He  is 
now  President  of  the  Keystone  Bridge  Company. 

Mrs.  Sykes,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  25,  1819.  She  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
was  brought  up  under  the  influence  of  the  doctrines 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  denomination 
her  parents  belong.  Mrs.  S.  was  the  eldest  child 
but  one  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  n  children. 
About  one  year  after  the  birth  of  their  first  child, 
William  A.,  who  was  born  Oct.  16,  1837,  and  died  in 
Warren  County  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  16  years,  they 
came  West,  settling  upon  a  farni  of  160  acres, 


»68 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


had  formerly  belonged  to  General  Harding.  On  this 
place,  Mr.  Sykes  at  once  went  to  work  with  a  view 
to  making  it  an  abiding  place  for  himself  and  family 
for  all  time  to  come.  He  added  to  his  landed  pos- 
sessions but  disposed  subsequently  of  his  additional 
purchases  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  owner 
of  160  acres  of  good  farm  land.  Mrs.  Sykes,  since 
the  death  of  her  husband,  has  increased  her  acreage 
in  the  county  by  purchasing  87  acres  on  section  17, 
the  same  township,  which  is  also  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  she  is  also  the  owner  of  240  acres 
of  well  improved  land  in  Nebraska.  The  homestead 
farm  on  which  she  resides  is  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation  and  has  a  good  residence,  to- 
gether with  substantial  outbuildings  upon  it. 

Mr.  S., while  living,  was  honored  with  all  the  minor 
offices  within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  his  township, 
and  politically,  was  a  supporter  of  the  principles  ad- 
vocated by  the  Republican  party.  He  was  a  well- 
respected  and  honored  citizen  of  Warren  County, 
'and  like  his  wife,  who  then  as  she  is  still,  was  an 
active  member  in  support  of  the  Presbyterian 
•Church.  His  death  occurred  Dec.  13,  1875.  A 
>second  child  was  born  of  their  union — Charles  L., 
the  date  of  his  birth  being  Jan.  17,  1855.  His 
demise  occurred  Dec.  16,  1871. 

•  Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sykes  and  a  view  of 
their  homestead  are  shown  on  other  pages  of  this 
work. 


of  Bengtson,  deceased,  of  the  township  of 
Spring  Grove,  was  a  native  of  Sweden,  and 
was  born  in  Christianstadt,  Dec.  5,  1823. 
He  was  reared  a  farmer  and  was  well  educated 
"|(j  in  the  common  schools  of  the  province  where 
lie  was  born.  The  town  was  several  miles 
distant  from  the  farm  on  which  he  was  born  and 
brought  up,  and  when  he  was  17  he  succeeded  to 
the  entire  charge  of  the  homestead  estate.  Soon 
after  entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  position,  he 
opened  a  store  and  supplied  the  adjoining  commun- 
ity with  groceries.  He  continued  this  line  of  traffic 
as  long  as  he  remained  in  the  land  of  his  birth. 

In  1853  he  left  his   native  land  to  come  to   the 
American  Continent.     He  sailed  thence  and  after  a 


voyage  of  seven  weeks  he  landed  at  the  port  of  New 
York.  He  made  no  tarry  there  but  came  directly  to 
Illinois.  He  made  a  stay  of  a  few  months  in  Knox 
County  and  came  thence  to  Monmouth.  He  con- 
tinued in  that  place  until  1856,  when  he  bought  i  60 
acres  of  land  on  section  1 1  in  Spring  Grove  Town- 
ship. It  was  in  a  wholly  unimproved  condition,  and 
he  at  on«  e  built  a  shanty  for  a  shelter  and  proceeded 
to  the  work  of  putting  the  land  in  a  satisfactory  con- 
dition. He  was  at  the  time  a  single  man,  and  as 
long  as  he  remained  such  he  discharged  the  duties 
of  his  domestic  establishment  after  a  pattern  of  his 
own.  He  was  married  May  3,  1857,  to  Anna  Rem, 
daughter  of  Nils  and  Caroline  Rem.  She  is  a  native 
of  the  eastern  part  of  Sweden,  where  she  was  born 
in  183.7.  She  came  to  this  country  in  1855.  Im- 
mediately after  their  union  in  marriage  they  com- 
menced their  house-keeping  in  the  board  house 
which  had  been  the  home  of  the  husband  during  the 
days  of  his  bachelorhood,  and  which  they  occupied 
eight  years.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Bengtson  had  bought 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  14  in  the  same 
township,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  named 
he  moved  his  family  there.  He  improved  all  the 
land  he  had  at  first  purchased  and  fenced  it.  He 
erected  a  good  frame  house  on  the  land  he  bought 
secondarily,  and  that  was  his  home  until  his  death, 
which  transpired  July  18,  1885.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  in  the  township  and  accu- 
mulated territory  until  he  was  the  owner  of  515  acres 
of  land,  which  was  all  situated  in  the  same  township 
where  he  at  first  became  a  land-holder.  He  was 
from  first  to  last  engaged  in  mixed  farming.  Polit- 
ically, he  was  a  radical  Republican,  ai.d  after  be- 
coming a  citizen  of  this  State  he  was  fearless  in  the 
advocacy  of  his  principles  and  always  acted  con- 
sistently with  his  convictions. 

To  him  and  his'  surviving  wife  six  children  were 
born,  four  of  whom  lived  to  realize  the  condition  of 
the  fatherless.  Minnie  is  married  to  Nels  A.  Hol- 
mer.  Her  husband  is  a  native  of  Christianstadt, 
Sweden,  and  was  born  March  13,  1862.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  his  native  country  until  he  had 
reached  manhood,  and  in  1880  he  came  to  America, 
He  set  out  from  home  Marcli  10,  and  celebrated  his 
birthday  on  the  North  Sea.  After  landing  at  New 
York  he  came  immediately  to  Warren  County.  He 
was  married  Aug.  22,  1884.  Their  children  are 
Anna  and  Alma.  They  reside  with  the  widowed 


• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


269 


: 


mother  on  the  Bengtson  homestead.  Edward,  Carrie 
and  Harry  are  the  names  of  the  remaining  children 
who  are  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  Holmer. 


:  srael  Jared,  of  Point  Pleasant  Township,  is 
one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Warren 
County.     He  is  the  owner  of  a  consider- 
able tract  of  land  in  the  township  in  which  he 
is  a  resident,  and  also  of  a  considerable   acre- 
age in  Swan  Township.     His   residence  is  on 
section  23. 

Mr.  Jared  was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Va.,  Aug.  5, 
1829.  His  father,  John  Jared,  was  born  in  the  same 
county,  in  1795.  The  latter  grew  to  the  age  and 
ambitions  of  manhood  in  the  county  where  he  was 
born,  and  where  he  was  married,  to  Elizabeth  Bandy. 
She  was  born  in  the  same  county,  in  1800,  and  was 
therefore  but  14  when  she  became  a  wife  in  1814. 
They  remained  in  the  "old  Dominion"  until  1830, 
when  they  emigrated  to  Kentucky.  They  resided  in 
Breckenridge  County,  in  that  State,  until  1835,  when 
they  came  to  Morgan  Co.,  111.  They  passed  a  year 
there  and  at  the  end  of  a  twelvemonth  they  came  to 
Warren  County,  landing  May  6,  1836.  They  settled 
on  a  tract  of  land  in  Swan  Township,  which  was 
designated  "  patent  "  land.  It  was  situated  on  sec- 
tion 5,  and  they  also  purchased  a  piece  of  timber  on 
section  8.  On  the  former  a  log  house  was  built, 
which  had  clapboards  for  a  roof  and  a  puncheon 
floor.  The  chimney  was  built  outside  and  was  con- 
structed of  earth  and  sticks  of  wood.  The  death  of 
John  Jared  occurred  in  the  pioneer  home,  in  May, 
1844.  His  widow  was  the  occupant  of  the  place 
until  her  death,  April  i,  1879.  Of  their  family  of  13 
children  nine  are  still  living.  Ruth  is  married  to 
John  Simmons  and  they  are  located  in  Nodaway  Co., 
Mo.;  Joseph  resides  in  Hamilton,  same  State;  John 
lives  in  Allen  Co.,  Kan. ;  Thomas  is  located  in  Rose- 
ville,  111.;  Mr.  Jared,  of  this  sketch,  is  next  in  order 
of  birth;  Benjamin  F.,  who  was  Second  Lieutenant 
in  the  late  war,  lives  in  Wayne  Co.,  Iowa;  James  is 
a  farmer  in  Swan  Township;  Elizabeth  married  A. 
L.  Bair,  of  Allen  Co.,  Kan.;  and  Miriam  L.  is  the 
wife  of  Caleb  Bair,  of  Roseville,  111.  The  children 


of  John  Jared  who  are  deceased,  were:  William, 
who  died  in  1873,  in  his  6gth  year,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren; George,  who  died  in  his  i2th  year;  Polly  Ann, 
wife  of  James  C.  Emerick,  who  died  in  1868,  in  her 
4oth  year,  leaving  six  children  ;  and  Agnes,  wife  of 
Thomas  Bair,  who  died  Aug.  8,  1871,  in  her  341!) 
year,  leaving  four  children. 

Mr.  Jared  was  a  child  in  his  mother's  arms  and 
was  only  six  months  old  when  the  removal  to  Ken- 
tucky was  made.  He  was  but  six  years  of  age  when 
the  family  came  to  Warren  County,  and  was  15  when 
his  father  died.  He  has  consequently  been  a  resi-  i 
dent  of  Warren  County  since  1836.  He  remained 
in  the  family  of  his  mother  until  he  went  to  Califor- 
nia, in  1852.  On  the  i6th  of  April  of  that  year  he 
set  out  for  the  land  of  gold  and  crossed  the  plains 
with  an  ox  team,  carrying  a  load  of  provisions  and 
camping  on  the  route.  The  company  comprised  ; 
Joseph  Jared,  D.  K.  Michael,  Win.  Rogers,  the  sub-  ! 
ject  of  this  sketch  and  B.  F.  Jared.  Wm.  Rogers  died 
on  the  plains,  from  cholera,  and  was  buried  there.- 
Cholera  made  its  appearance  among  them  and  many 
of  the  company  lost  their  lives.  After  four  months 
of  travel  the  remainder  of  the  party  arrived  at  Placer 
ville,  which  then  rejoiced  in  the  significant  name  of 
Hangtown.  Mr.  Jared  remained  there  six  years  and 
passed  the  first  four  years  in  mining  and  the  next 
two  in  the  business  of  a  farmer.  In  1858  he  returned 
to  the  East,  via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  thence  ; 
to  New  York  and  then  home. 

He  resumed  farming  as  soon  as  he  was  fairly  at 
home  in  Warren  County,  locating  >on  land  he  had  j 
bought  before  leaving  for  California.  After  a  resi-  j 
dence  on  it  of  about  16  years,  he  sold  out  and  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  which  he  has  since  occupied  in 
the  township  of  Point  Pleasant.  He  bought  the 
property  in  1862,  and  at  that  time  it  consisted  of 
wild  prairie  and  timber.  The  farm  is  all  improved, 
and  is  well  supplied  with  good  buildings.  He  is  the 
owner  of  470  acres  in  the  township  where  he  resides 
and  of  115  acres  in  Swan  Township,  of  which  he  has 
retained  the  ownership  since  it  became  his  property. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  J.  Kelsey  took  place  Dec. 
15,  1859.  The  sketch  of  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Jared 
is  given  in  full  on  another  page,  and  the  credit  of  its  j 
appearance  in  this  work  is  due  to  Mr.  Jared,  who 
has  presented  the  items  relating  to  the  family  of  his 
wife.  The  latter  was  born  in  Sangamon  Co.,  111., 
Oct.  i,  1835.  Their  five  children  are  named  Leenora 


170 


,  Y  i  — 

WARREN  COUNTY. 


A.,  Allen  E.,  George  B.,  Israel  K.  and  Roy  L.  James 
Albert  died  in  his  second  year,  Leon  H.  died  in 
childhood,  and  Lilborn  E.  died  in  his  fourth  year. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  Universalist  So- 
ciety at  Swan  Creek,  and  Mr.  Jared  is  a  Democrat  in 
his  political  sentiments. 


awrence  H.  Gilmore  is  a.  resident  on  sec- 
tion 34,  Spring  Grove  Township,   and  has 
been    a   citizen   of  Warren    County    since 
1833.     In   that  year  his  parents,  Col.   Robert 
and   Maria   (Pilgrim)   Gilmore  (see   sketch  of 
Col.  Robert  Gilmore  in  biography  of  J.  T.  Gil- 
more),  removed  from  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Warren 
•Co.,  111.     The  son  was  born   in   the  former  county 
April  n,  1830,  and  was  but  three  years  of  age  when 
the  family  of  which  he  was  a  small  member  located 
.  in  the  township  where  he  is  now  a  part  of  the  busi- 

(ness  element. 
Mr.  Gilmcre  had  only  the  advantages  of  the  pio- 
neer home  and  log  school-house,  and  attained  to  I  he 
age  of  independent  manhood  in  Warren  County.  He 
was  born  in  a  log  house,  schooled  in  a  log  house  and 
lived  in  a  log  house  until  he  built  his  present  resi- 
dence in  1854.  His  initial  business  enterprise  on  his 
own  responsibility  was  the  securing  of  a  pre-emption 
claim  in  Spring  Grove  Township  in  1851.  It  is  the 
same  on  which  he  is  now  situated,  on  section  34.  He 
had  little  available  means,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
borrow  the  balance  of  the  purchase  money  beyond 
the  amount  of  his  small  savings.  In  1854  he  built  a 
small  frame  house  on  his  property  and  at  the  same 
time  commenced  the  work  of  improvement.  He  was 
until  that  year  a  member  of  the  family  of  his  father. 
From  the  little  beginning  made  by  Mr.  Gilmore  in 
1854  his  possessions  have  swelled  until  his  real  es- 
tate comprises  more  than  1,000  acres  of  land,  all  in 
advanced  agricultural  condition,  840  acres  of  which 
is  in  Spring  Grove  Township  and  160  acres  in  Lenox 
Township.  The  acreage  is  divided  into  several 
farms,  which  are  managed  by  himself  and  his  sons. 
In  1857  Mr.  Gilmore  commenced  to  raise  stock  and 
since  that  date  has  operated  in  all  the  avenues  of 


mixed  farming.  He  raises  grain  and  stock,  the  lat- 
ter including  horses,  hogs  and  cattle. 

Politically,  Mr.  Gilmore  adheres  to  the  faith  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  served  his  township  as  Super- 
visor for  1 1  or  r  2  years,  and  it  is  said  of  him  that  he 
made  a  very  excellent  officer  and  did  much  to  pro- 
mote the  welfare  of  his  township. 

Nov.  9,  1854,  he  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Sarah 
A.  Forwood,  who  was  born  July  19,  1831,  in  Harvard 
Co.,  Md.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  William  W.  For- 
wood. (See  sketch  of  him  in  the  biography  of  his  son, 
Benjamin  F.,  on  another  page.)  The  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilmore,  six  in  number,  are  named 
Clarence  M.,  Frederick  L.,  Frank  E.,  George  F., 
Rosa  L.  and  Sarah  B.  They  all  reside  at  home  ex- 
cept Clarence  M.,  and  Frederick  L.,  the  second  son, 
who  is  married  to  Lillian,  daughter  of  Schuyler 
Palmer,  of  Spring  Grove  Township.  Her  parents 
were  pioneers  of  this  county  and  are  represented  by 
a  sketch  in  another  part  of  this  volume.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  at  Mon- 
mouth  in  1856,  his  wife  having  been  a  member 
since  1852.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  Trustee 
of  the  congregation  and  for  the  last  five  years  has 
held  the  responsible  position  of  Elder.  He  has  ever 
been  ready  to  advance  the  cause  of  religion  and 
morality  in  his  section  of  the  country.  Three  of  his 
children  are  also  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 


i? 

"jasper  M.  Dull,  farmer,  residing  upon  sec- 
tion 8,  Hale  Township,  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in  Mifflin 
Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  4,  1822.  When  Mr.  Dull  was 
five  years  old  and  after  his  father's  death,  his 
mother  moved  to  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
Casper  M.  resided  until  1851,  being  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  His  years  prior  to  attaining  his 
majority  were  passed  on  the  farm  and  in  attend- 
ance at  the  common  schools.  In  185  i  Mr.  Dull  came 
to  this  county  and  joined  with  the  farmers  of  Hale 
Township  in  their  efforts  to  establish  a  permanent 
home  for  themselves  and  family.  He  became  a 
citizen  of  that  township  by  the  purchase  of  160  acres 
of  land  and  by  moving  his  family  upon  the  same. 


to  -jit 
' 


•§• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


He  at  once  engaged  actively  upon  its  cultivation 
and  improvement,  and  has  there  resided  until  the 
present  time,  having  developed  his  land  until  the 
major  portion  thereof  is  in  an  advanced  State  of 
cultivation. 

June  5,  1861,  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  Stevenson,  who 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  State  in  which 
she  was  married,  having  been  born  there  Dec.  25, 
1832.  Of  their  marriage,  two  children,  a  son  and 
a  daughter,  have  been  born, — Florence  J.  and 
Calvin  M.,  who  reside  at  home.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Dull  is  independent. 

The  parents  of  Casper  M.  Dull  were  Benjamin 
and  Nancy  (Junkin)  Dull,  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State.  They  married  and  settled  in  that  State, 
where  his  father  died,  his  mother  afterwards  remov- 
ing to  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  from  which  State  she  came 
to  this  county  with  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and 
here  died,  at  the  age  of  74,  in  February,  1876.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Major  John  and  Catharine 
(Kirkpatrick)  Stevenson.  The  Major  was  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  went 
with  his  parents  to  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  up  and 
was  married  about  1809  or  1810.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  their  native  State  and  immediately  afterwards 
moved  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  a  farmer  and  resided 
until  his  death.  He  had  12  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Dull  was  the  youngest. 


in 


Charles  Torrance,  one  of  the  leading  and 
well   known    farmers  of  the  township  of 
Point   Pleasant,  came  to  Warren  County 
1868,  and  settled  in  that  township.     He  is 
the  owner  of  320  acres  of  excellent  farm  land 
and  is  closely  identified  with  the  development 
of  the  agricultural  resources  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Torrance  was  born  in  the  town  of  Jay,  Essex 
Co..  N.  Y.,  Nov.  17,  1834.  Riley  Torrance,  his 
father,  was  a  native  of  Bennington,  Vt.,  and  was 
born  May  13,  1801,  only  13  years  after  the  admis- 
sion of  that  State  to  the  Union.  John  Torrance,  the 
father  of  the  latter,  removed  from  Bennington,  Vt., 
to  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1808,  and  was  one  of  the 


earliest  of  the  white  settlers  there.  He  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  timber  land,  upon  which  he  cleared 
a  farm.  He  was  a  resident  there  when  the  War  of 
1812  was  declared,  and  lie  enlisted  in  the  service  to 
protect  what  had  cost  the  colonists  so  much  to  se- 
cure. He  remained  on  the  Essex  County  farm  until 
his  death.  The  name  of  the  lady  he  married  was 
Ruth  Hurd.  They  had  nine  children,  eight  of  the 
number  living  to  become  the  heads  of  families. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Torrance  of  this  sketch  was  but 
seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  the 
northern  portion  of  the  Empire  State,  and  he  was 
reared  there  on  the  farm  of  his  father.  He  married 
Lydia  Foulton,  who  was  born  at  Plattsburg,  Clinton 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  5,  1804,  a  place  where  some  of  the 
stirring  scenes  of  the  War  of  1812  were  enacted. 
Her  father  had  died  previous  to  that  war.  Her 
mother  was  the  only  woman  that  refused  to  leave 
the  place  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Plattsburg. 
She  said  she  was  needed  there  and  would  remain 
and  render  all  the  assistance  in  her  power.  And 
she  carried  out  her  resolution. 

At  the  time  of  hjs  marriage,  Mr.  Torrance  settled 
on  a  portion  of  the  land  which  his  father  had  pur- 
chased in  the  town  of  Jay  and  continued  its  occu- 
pant until  r865.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  Illinois, 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  and  they  passed  the  re-  • 
mainder  of  their  lives  in  the  household  of  their  son 
Charles.  They  were  not  long  separated  in  their 
deaths,  as  that  of  the  mother  occurred  Oct.  27,  1873, 
and  the  father  died  May  28,  1874,  following  the  wife 
of  his  youth  to  the  grave  seven  months  after  she 
had  been  placed  within  that  retreat  of  peace  and 
rest.  They  were  the  parents  of  16  children,  and  of 
that  number  13  grew  to  mature  years,  nine  of  whom 
are  still  living. 

While  in  his  early  youth,  Mr.  Torrance  of  this 
sketch  attended  the  common  schools  in  the  winter 
and  operated  as  the  assistant  of  his  father  in  the 
summer.  He  remained  in  Essex  County  until  1858, 
when  he  turned  toward  the  setting  sun  to  seek  a 
place  where  there  was  a  reasonable  prospect  of  win- 
ning the  smiles  of  the  fickle  goddess,  fortune.  He 
came  to  Warren  County  and  obtained  a  position  as 
a  farm  hand.  In  the  spring  of  1859,  accompanied 
by  a  party  who  p«sessed  similar  intentions,  he  set 
out  for  what  was  just  then  the  land  of  promise — 
Pike's  Peak.  The  company  made  their  way  across 
the  plains  with  ox  teams.  They  found,  before  they  - 


f  * 


174 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


arrived  at  their  destination,  that  the  stories  that  had 
lured  them  away  from  their  homes  were  rather 
mythical,  and  as  they  received  positive  proof  of  the 
futility  of  the  hopes  that  incited  them,  they  turned 
their  faces  again  toward  the  land  of  certainties. 
They  arrived  in  Henderson  County  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year.  Mr.  Torrance  rented  land  there  and 
continued  to  operate  it  in  that  manner  until  1868, 
when  he  came  to-  the  township  of  Point  Pleasant. 
He  bought  land  on  section  17  and  made  a  perma- 
nent location  thereon'.  He  has  since  been  eminently 
successful  and  his  farm  is  justly  ranked,  in  'propor- 
tion to  its  value,  as  one  of  the  most  desirable  and 
best  managed  in  the  township.  We  present  a  view 
of  his  residence  with  its  pleasant  surroundings  on 
page  272. 

Mr.  Torrance  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his  polit- 
ical relations,  and  has  always  been  consistent  in  his 
actions.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaret  Hindman, 
May  1 8,  1871.  She  was  born  in  Green  Co!,  Ind., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Lucinda  (Hughen) 
Hindman.  Four  daughters  are  now  included  in  the 
household.  Their  respective  names  are  Bertha, 
Carrie,  Laura  and  Hallie. 


his  demise,  which  his  widow  is  controlling  at  the 
present  time.  She  has  erected  a  fine  residence  and 
all  other  necessary  outbuildings  on  her  farm,  and  to- 
day it  presents  the  appearance  of  thrift  and  energy . 
Mrs.  Teare  and  family  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 


|ji  obert  Teare,  deceased,  was  born  on  the 
Isle  of  Man,  Feb.  3,  1828,  and  there  lived 
until  about  25  years  of  age,  when  he  emi- 
grated to  Australia  for  the  purpose  of  engag- 
ing in  mining,  and  there  remained  about  five 
years.  He  came  to  America,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1860  came  to  Warren  County 'and  located 
in  Lenox  Township,  where  he  died  Feb.  20,  1866. 

His  marriage  to  Martha  Killey,  who  was  also  a 
native  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  having  been  born  there 
March  5,  1840,  was  celebrated  in  their  native  coun- 
try on  the  ist  of  March,  1860.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Catherine  (Quayle)  Killey,  and  of 
her  union  with  Mr.  Teare  were  born  three  children, 
— John  K.,  Kate  A.  and  Lizzie  R.;  all  reside  at 
home.  Mr.  Teare  was  the  possessor  and  owner  of 
240  acres  of  excellent  improved  land  at  the  time  of 


y,ercules  Honey,  a  well  to-do  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  21,  Hale  Township,  and 
clerk  of  that  township,  was  born  in  this 
county,  and  in  the  township  in  which  he  now 
resides,  Feb.  10,  1845.  He  received  a  com- 
monTschool  education,  which  he  supplemented 
by  a  course  of  study  at  a  commercial  college  at  Day- 
ton, Ohio.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county, 
with  tlie  exception  of  three  years,  spent  at  Dayton,, 
and  has  devoted  his  time  exclusively  to  the  vocation 
of  an  agriculturist.  He  is  at  present  the  owner  of| 
90  acres  of  land,  80  of  which  is  under  an  advanced! 
state  of  cultivation.  On  his  farm  he  has  erected  a 
good  set  of  buildings  and  his  place  presents  an  at- 
tractive appearance  to  the  passers-by.  A  view  o:_ 
his  residence  and  farm  buildinge  is  given  on  page 
272. 

Hercules  Roney  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Mumma,  Feb.  n,  1869,  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  She  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  that  State,  Aug.  2, 
1847,  and  has  borne  her  husband  one  child, — Mary 
E.  Mrs.  Roney  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph  B.  and 
Elizabeth  (Solenberger)  Mumma,  who  reside  at 
Dayton. 

Mr.  Roney  has  held  the  offices  of  Commissioner  of 
Highways  and  Township  Clerk,  of  which  latter  posi- 
tion he  is  the  present  incumbent.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and,  in 
politics,  Mr.  Roney  votes  with  the  Republican  party 
and  endorses  the  principles  advocated  by  it. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Roney  of  this  sketch,  Hamil- 
ton and  Elizabeth  (McReynolds)  Roney,  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  respectively.  The  father 
was  an  early  settler  of  this  county,  coming  here  at 
the  early  day  of  1836.  His  first  marriage  took  place 
five  years  previous  to  his  emigration  to  this  county, 
his  wife's  maiden  name  being  Miss  Margaret  Mackey, 


r 


• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


by  whom  lie  had- five  children.  She  died  in  1841, 
and  in  1842  he  married  Elizabeth  McReynolds,  at 
her  home  near  Dayton,  Ohio.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  McReynolds.  Hamilton  Roney,  in  early 
life;  was  a  blacksmith,  and  carried  on  that  business 
in  Monmouth  for  about  five  years.  There  his  first 
wife  died,  and  he  continued  to  reside  there  a  short 
time  after  his  second  marriage,  when  he  removed  to 
the  farm.  As  a  farmer  he  was  eminently  successful 
and  became  the  owner  of  700  acres  of  land,  some  of 
which  was  the  finest  farm  land  in  the  township. 
This  is  now  divided  among  his  sons  and  daughters, 
to  whom,  at  his  death,  he  left  a  comfortable  com- 
petency. He  followed  the  vocation  of  an  agricultur- 
ist until  1863,  when  he  went  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
there,  on  the  3d  day  of  March,  1884,  departed  this 
life.  His  wife  survives  him  and  resides  in  Dayton, 
Ohio. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Hercules  Roney  had  a  family 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  R.  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth. 


;'ulius  T.  Lathrop,  a  retired  farmer,  resid- 
[£-  ing  in  Roseville,  Warren  County,  was  born 
in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,in  the  year  1818. 
He  is  a  son  of  Colby  and  Polly  (Terry)  La- 
throp, natives  respectively  of  New  York  and 
New  Hampshire.  Coming  to  Ohio  in  an  early  ' 
day,  he,  the  father  of  our  subject,  purchased  land 
there  and  remained  until  his  demise,  which  occurred 
Marcli  12,  1857,  his  wife  dying  in  1874  in  Michigan. 
Julius  T.  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  attended 
the  district  schools  and  remained  under  the  influ- 
ence of  his  parents  until  he  was  25  years  of  age.  In 
1846,  after  leaving  home,  he  engaged  in  carpentering 
in  a  ship-yard  in  the  Buckeye  State,  but  not  follow- 
ing that  trade  long,  he  emigrated  West  the  same  year, 
and  settled  in  Greenbush  Township,  this  county  and 
State.  Here  he  invested  some  money  in  the  purchase 
of  i  20  acres  of  prairie  land,  which  he  engaged  la- 
boriously in  cultivating,  and  remained  there  for 
about  24  years,  when  he  removed  to  Roseville  vil- 
lage and  bought  a  lot,  on  which  he  erected  a  build- 


ing  and  has  since  lived  therein,  engaging  in  carpen- 
tering and  wagon  making  a  part  of  the  time. 

Feb.  22,  1843,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Almira 
Light,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  they  have  one 
child  living, — Sarah  Sheppard,  who  resides  in  Iowa. 
Mrs.  Lathrop  died  in  1874,  and  Mr.  Lathrop  took 
for  his  second  wife  a  Mrs.  Vurlinder  T.  Byarlay,  a 
native  of  Indiana  and  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Su- 
sanna (Turnbull)  Grain,  natives  of  Indiana  and  Ken- 
tucky respectively.  They  lived  in  Indiana  until 
their  death,  the  father's  occurring  April,  1844,  and 
the  mother  in  March  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Lathrop 
is  the  proprietor  of  a  fine  farm  in  Kansas,  consisting 
of  1 20  acres.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  his 
village,  and  politically  is  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 


ohn  B.  Graham,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers 
in  Warren  County  and  a  gentleman  who 
has  witnessed  the  wonderful  developments 
the  county  has  made  during  the  last  50  years, 
and  who  has  shared  the  privations  incident  to 
its  early  settlement,  resides  on  section  3,  Hale 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan. 
31,  1817,  and  continued  to  reside  in  his  native  State 
until  the  fall  of  1835. 

During  the  year  last  named,  Mr.  Graham  came  to 
this  county  and  located  in  Hale  Township,  where 
he  has  since  lived.  At  that  time,  the  hand  of  civ- 
ilization had  hardly  turned  a  furrow  and  the  land 
was  in  its  original,  natural  condition.  Having  a 
firm  determination  in  the  future  development  of  the 
county,  he  "  stuck  to  it,"  and  to-day  lives  to  witness 
the  fulfillment  of  a  prediction  made  by  him  50  years 
ago,  namely,  that  Warren  County  would  in  time  to 
come  be  one  of  the  garden  spots  of  the  great  com- 
monwealth of  Illinois.  In  r85o,  he  made  a  trip 
across  the  plains  to  the  land  of  gold  and  spent  12 
months  in  California  and  Oregon.  The  trip  was  not 
made  for  gain,  but  for  health  and  pleasure,  and  after 
returning  he  located  in  Hale  Township,  where  he 
has  continued  to  reside  until  the  present  time,  a 
period  of  almost  50  years  from  the  time  he  first  set' 


i 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


tied  here.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  340  acres  of  land 
located  on  section  3,  Hale  Township,  the  major  por- 
tion of  which  is  under  advanced  cultivation;  and 
there,  in  the  sunset  of  his  life,  he  lives,  enjoying  the 
comforts  which  a  life  of  labor,  pluck  and  persever- 
ance enabled  him  to  procure. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Graham  took  place  in  Hale 
Township,  March  24,  1842,  at  which  time  Miss 
Mary  T.  Rogers  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
the" State  of  Missouri,  Monroe  County,  Oct.  4,  1823, 
and  has  borne  her  husband  1 1  children, — Elizabeth 
L.,  born  Dec.  17,  1842;  William  F.,  Oct  31,  1844; 
Phebe  I.,  Feb.  8,  1847  ;  Andrew  R.,  March  it,  1849; 
Mary  L.,  Feb.  4,  1852;  Aleri  R.  and  John  A.,  twins 
Aujj.  24,  1854;  Emma  A.,  June  i  r,  1858  ;  Frank  E., 
June  3,  1861;  Nannie  M.,  Jan  24,  1864;  and  Eva 
J.,  Jan.  1,1867.  William  and  Andrew  are  deceased, 
Elizabeth  L.  is  the  widow  of  John  Balmer,  and  re- 
sides in  Hale  Township  with  her  parents;  Phebe  is 
the  wife  of  David  Armstrong,  a  farmer  living  in  Ne- 
braska ;  Mary  L.  married  T.  B.  McCulley,  and  they 
reside  in  Nebraska;  John  A.  is  a  farmer  of  Hale 
Township ;  Aleri  R.  is  a  physician  residing  at  Little 
York ;  Emma  A.  became  the  wife  of  George  W.  Hill, 
who  lives  in  Nebraska ;  Frank  is  a  farmer  in  Hale 
Township;  Nannie  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  W. 
Dawson,  who  follows  the  vocation  of  farming  in 
Nebraska ;  Eva  J.  lives  at  home. 

Mr.  Graham  has  been  Supervisor  of  Hale  Town- 
ship one  year,  and  has  held  other  offices  within  the 
gift  of  the.  people  of  his  township.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  his  political  affiliations,  and  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 


lohn  W.  Reynolds,  one  of  the  progressive 
^  and  well  known  farmers  of  Warren  County, 
and  a  resident  of  section  10  of  Hale  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  North  Carolina,  Aug.- 14, 
1818.  He  went  with  his  parents  to  Jackson 
Co.,  Ind.,  when  but  12  years  of  age,  and  there 
resided  until  October,  1836,  when  he  came  to  War- 
ren County  and  settled  in  Hale  Township.  He  has 
since  made  the  latter  place  his  permanent  home,  and 
is  the  proprietpr  of  150  acres  of  excellent  tillable 


land.  Upon  the  same  he  has  erected  a  fine  set  of 
buildings,  and  altogether  the  farm  presents  the  ap- 
pearance of  thrift  and  energy. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  united  in  marriage  in  Hale 
Township,  Sept.  i,  1846,  the  lady  chosen  to  become 
his  wife  being  Miss  Jane  Campbell,  who  was  born  in 
in  Carroll  Co.,  Ohio,  June  23,  1826.  Of  this  union 
ten  children  were  born, — George  W.,  Josiah  B., 
Martha  A.,  William  Y.,  John  W.,  Mary  J.,  Sarah  E., 
Richie  C.,  James  W.  and  Thomas  M.  George  W. 
and  Martha  A.  are  deceased ;  Josiah,  William  and 
John  reside  in  Warren  County  and  are  married ; 
Mary  J.  is  the  wife  of  F.  P.  Kilgore  and  resides  in 
Kirkwood ;  Sarah  E.,  James  and  Thomas  reside  at 
home ;  Richie  resides  in  Spring  Grove  Township. 

Mr.  Reynolds  has  served  his  township  as  School 
Director,  and. both  himself  and  «ife  are  members  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Politically,  he  is 
a  Republican. 


P.  Emans,  who  is  accredited  with  being 
the  oldest  merchant  of  Roseville,  having 
been  constantly  in  business  here  since 
1858,  and  one  of  the  prominent  business  men 
of  Warren  County,  came  to  this  State  from 
Ohio  in  1855.  He  is  a  n.nive  of  the  Buckeye 
State  and  was  born  in  1832.  He  was  left  an  orphan 
when  quite  young  and  went  to  live  with  an  uncle, 
who  gave  him  good  educational  advantages.  He 
sent  him  to  the  common  district  schools  for  a  time 
and  later  to  a  select  school.  He  then  engaged  as  a 
clerk  for  his  uncle  and  remained  with  him  in  that 
capacity  until  he  was  23  years  of  age.  During  the 
meantime  he  studied  book-keeping  at  Bacon's  Com- 
mercial College  at  Cincinnati.  His  health  failing,  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  the  desk  and  engage  in  some 
other  calling.  For  a  time  he  was  interested  in  the 
livery  business  at  Camden,  Preble  Co.,  Ohio.  Here 
he  remained  for  five  years.  He  came  to  Illinois  in 
May,  1855,  bringing  his  livery  stock,  and  located  at 
Fairview,  Fulton  County.  He  remained  here  but  a 
short  time  when  he  sold  and  came  to  Warren 
County  and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business 
at  Roseville.  Here  he  has  remained  and 


t'i 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


*79 


one  of  the  most  widely  known  merchants  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  county.  From  1870  until 
1 88 1,  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  and 
also,  in  company  with  William  A.  Pratt,  in  the 
grain  business,  in  which  latter  business  he  still  con- 
tinues. He  is  interested  in  Roseville  village  prop- 
erty and  owns  several  houses  which  he  rents.  He 
does  a  large  business  in  his  store  and  employs  two 
clerks  and  a  boy. 

Mr.  Emans,  in  1863,  was  married  to  Miss  Anna 
Ostrander,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  came 
to  Ohio  when  young.  Her  mother  is  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  now  makes 
her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Emans.  Mrs. 
Ostrander  has  three  sons,  one  a  dealer  in  lumber  and 
hardware  at  Swan  Creek,  and  two  others  are  in 
Washington  Territory  engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Emans  have  two  children  living, — James  H. 
and  Jessie.  Mr.  Emans  is  a  Republican  and  at  pres- 
ent is  serving  as  Treasurer  of  the  village. 


.ames  A.  Evans,  deceased,  who  was  one  of 
Warren  County's  well  known  and  success- 
ful farmers,  and  a  resident  on  section  29, 
Lenox  Township,  was  born  in  Virginia,  March 
i,  1821,  and  passed  his  early  life  in  the  Buck- 
eye State  and  Indiana.  He  afterward  came  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Henderson  County,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  removal  to  Warren  County,  about 
the  year  1851.  Locating  in  Lenox  Township,  he 
entered  land  on  section  29,  where  he  resided  and 
labored  until  death.  He  was  the  owner  at  the  time 
of  his  demise,  which  occurred  April  3,  1875,  of  240 
acres  of  some  of  the  best  equipped  and  cultivated 
land  in  his  township,  having  fine  substantial  build- 
ings and  all  other  necessary  appurtenances  upon 
it;  but  his  widow  is  now  the  possessor  of  only  80 
acres. 

Mr.  James  A.  Evans  was  married  in  Henderson 
County,  March  7,  1844,  to  Miss  Lucy  C.,  daughter 
of  Washington  and  Elizabeth  (McChesney)  Fort, 
who  was  born  in  Kentucky  May  10,  1827.  Mr,  and 
Mrs.  Evans  had  become  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
six  of  whom  survive,  viz. :  Emeline,  who  became 


the  wife  of  David  Darr,  and  they  are  both  now  de- 
ceased ;  Washington,  deceased ;  John  A.,  who  is 
married  and  lives  in  Lenox  Township,  this  county ; 
Samuel,  deceased;  Stephen  D.,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  Kansas  ;  Mary  E. ;  Ida  J.,  now  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Davis  and  living  in  Gladstone,  Henderson 
Co.,  111.;  James  A.,  who  resides  in  Kansas;  and 
Jesse  C.  is  at  home. 

Mrs.  Evans  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
as  was  her  husband.  She  is  now  carrying  on  the 
farm  with  the  assistance  of  her  sons.  A  portrait  of 
her  late  husband  is  shown  on  another  page. 


illiam  V.  Moore,  Sr.  There  is  growing 
class  of  well-to-do  farmers,  who  have  la- 
bored hard  and  diligently  for  years,  and 
now  have  wisely  concluded  to  spend  the 
autumn  years  of  their  lives  in  comparative 
ease  and  retirement.  Among  this  number  is 
William  V.  Moore,  Sr.,  who  is  living  in  the  village  of 
Roseville.  New  Jersey  is  his  native  State,  and  May 
t  r,  1825,  the  date  of  his  birth.  Abraham  H.  Moore, 
his  father,  also  of  New  Jersey  (Hunterdon  County), 
met  and  married  Grace  Van  Dome,  in  1813.  They 
came  west  to  Ohio  in  1839,  and  purchased  a  100- 
acre  farm  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits  there 
until  1851,  when  they  made  another  move  westward, 
coming  to  Illinois  and  settling  in  Fulton  County. 
Here,  about  three  miles  east  of  Prairie  City,  they 
purchased  160  acres  of  land.  In  1864  Mr.  Moore 
sold  this  and  bought  a  farm  near  Bushnell,  McDon- 
ough  County.  Here  he  lived  until  a  few  years  be- 
fore his  death,  when,  in  1871,  he  moved  into  the  city 
of  Bushnell,  where  he  died  in  1879,  in  his  88th  year. 
Mrs.  Moore  survived  her  husband  and  died  in  Bush- 
nell, Dec.  18,  1885,  aged  90  years  and  four  months. 
William  B.  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
26  years  old,  assisting  them,  on  the  farm  and  in  re- 
turn was  given  an  opportunity  to  receive  a  good 
common-school  education.  After  leaving  home  he 
worked  out  for  one  summer,  when  his  ambition  led 
led  him  to  try  farming  on  his  own  hook.  He  then 
rented  a  farm  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  which  he  kept  for 
two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  in  1854,  he  came 


-§• 


2  Bo 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


West  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Fulton  County  on  a 
rented  farm.  Here  he  remained  for  two  years 
longer,  when  he  found  a  desirable  quarter-section  of 
land  on  section  3,  Point  Pleasant  Township,  in  this 
county,  which  he  was  able  to  purchase.  He  subse- 
quently got  15  acres  of  land  in  Ellison  Township, 
and  in  1873  secured  80  acres  additional  in  the  same 
township.  He  continued  to  follow  agricultural  life 
with  satisfactory  results  until  1876,  when  he  retired 
from  his  farm,  moving  to  the  village  of  Roseville. 
Here  he  purchased  two  and  a  half  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  are  a  good  residence  and  barn,  and  the 
family  are  living  comfortably.  He  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  substantial  men  of  Warren  County. 
Politically,  he  has  been  a  Republican. 

In  1851,  before  coming  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Moore  was 
married  to  Miss  Temperance  Curtis,  who  is  a  native 
of  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Charlotte  Curtis.  The  latter  were  natives  of  Mary- 
land, but  came  to  Ohio  before  their  marriage.  There 
they  lived  until  their  death,  which  occurred  in  1853 
and  1854  respectively. 

Mr.  Moore's  brother,  Isaac,  who  was  a  member  of 
Co.  H,  7th  111.  Cavalry,  was  killed  while  his  regiment 
was  in  Missouri,  April  2,  1862.  Mrs.  Van  Dyke 
(his  sister)  died  at  her  residence  in  Bushnell,  III.,  one 
week  after  the  death  of  her  mother. 


^aston  Morris,  deceased.  One  of  the  prom- 
inent and  well-to-do  pioneers  of  Lenox 
Township  of  30  years  ago  was  Easton 
Morris,  who  located  on  section  15.  He  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Southern  Illinois,  May 
26,  1833,  and  enjoyed  but  limited  advantages 
for  an  education,  as  the  days  of  his  boyhood  in  Illi- 
nois afforded  very  meager  opportunities  for  securing 
any  advanced  education.  He  met  a  violent  death 
while  on  a  visit  to  Kansas,  being  killed  ir.  Missouri 
by  lightning  on  the  8th  day  of  Sept.  1866. 

Mr.  Morris  was  married  in  Lenox  Township,  fan. 
25>  l85S)  to  Rebecca  A,  Butler.  She,  like  her  hus- 
band, was  also  born  in  Illinois,  in  Warren  County, 
Feb.  28,  1834.  She  is  the  mother  of  three  children, 
— Eva  A.,  Ewing  V.  and  Myron  H-  Eva  is  de- 


ceased. Mrs.  Morris  owns  95  acres  of  excellent  til- 
lable land  on  section  15,  in  Lenox  Township,  and  is 
an  excellent  business  lady.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  Ewing  V.  is  married  and  lives  in 
Galesburg,  where  he  practices  medicine.  The  other 
sop,  Myron  H.,  assists  his  mother  in  carrying  on  the 
home  farm. 


eonard  Hall,  a  successful  and  energetic 
farmer,  owning  234  acres  of  land  located 
on  section  31,  Greenbush  Township,  where 
he  resides,  and  also  50  acres  of  land  in  Iowa, 
was  born  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  23, 
1819.  He  came  West  and  located  at  Mon- 
mouth,  and  worked  at  that  place  from  September, 
1845,  until  the  date  of  his  marriage,  March  25,  1852. 
At  this  time,  Miss  Susan  B.  McMahill  became  his 
wife.  She  was  born  in  Sangamon  County,  this  State, 
and  bore  her  husband  six  children,  namely :  Will- 
iam L.,  born  July  5,  1853;  Wyatt,  Julys,  l&55- 
Warren,  Feb.  8,  1857;  Mary  M.,  April  17,  1861  ; 
Albert  P.,  Jan.  19,  1867;  Aleta,  March  14,  1872. 
Wm.  L.  married  a  Miss  Mollie  Dilly,  and  is  now  a 
successful  farmer  in  Jewell  Co.,  Kan.  Wyatt  mar- 
ried Ann  McFetridge.  They  have  two  children. 
Wyatt  is  also  a  farmer.  Mary  M.  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Wetzvel,  a  resident  of  this  township. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Hall,  Stephen  Hall,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut,  and  married  Miss  Cynthia  Leon- 
ard. They  had  eight  children, — Lester,  Sarah  Ann, 
Polly,  Leonard,  Theophilus,  Coridon.  Benjamin, 
Philomen,  four  of  wnom  are  deceased,  namely: 
Sarah,  Polly,  Benjamin  and  Philomen.  Mrs.  Hall's 
father,  Mr.  McMahill,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in 
1806,  and  died  in  1881.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Snapp  in  1827,  She  was  born  in  1806  in  Kentucky, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  12  children,  viz.: 
George  S.,  Susan  B.,  Sarah  S.  Nancy  J.,  Elizabeth, 
John,  Maria  A.,  Kentucky  A.,  William  H.  H.,  Pink- 
ney  M.,  Mary  and  Lucinda.  Four  of  these  children 
are  dead. 

Mr.  Hall,  of  whom  we  write,  has  235  acres  of  good 
farm  land,  located  on  section  31,  Greenbush  Town- 
ship, under  an.  advanced,  state  of  cultivation,  and 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


181 


also  50  acres  of  land  in  Iowa.  On  his  place  he  has 
a  good  residence  and  barn,  the  latter  being  34  x  40 
feet  in  dimensions.  In  addition  to  his  farm  duties, 
he  is  breeding  Short-horn  cattle  and  handles  English 
drafi  horses.  He  has  served  as  Road  Commissioner 
for  some  12  years,  and  also  School  Director  of  his 
township.  In  religion,  he  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Cnurch.  Politically,  he  votes  with  the 
Republican  party. 


r 


4 


W.  Coghill,  engaged  as  an  agriculturist  on 
section  28,  Roseville  Township,  is  a  pros- 
perous and  spirited  citizen  of  Warren 
County,  and  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he  was 
born  Aug.  17,  1830.  His  parents  were  Benja- 
min C.  and  Millecenl  (Ellett)  Coghill,  also  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  The  father  came  to  Illinois  in 
•1836,  and  settled  in  Warren  County,  where  he  pur- 
-chased  land  and  built  a  grist  and  saw  mill  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  county,  which  is  known  as  Cog- 
hill's  Mill.  It  is  now  located  in  Henderson  County, 
but  when  it  was  built,  that  district  was  then  a  part 
of  Warren  County.  He  died  in  1880,  in  Virginia. 
He  was  an  apponent  of  the  system  of  slavery  as  it 
then  existed  in  the  Southern  States,  and  was  a  slave- 
owner at  the  time  he  lived  in  Viiginia.  When  he 
made  up  his  mind  to  go  to  the  free  State  of  Illinois, 
the  question  arose  in  his  mind  what  to  do  with  his 
slaves.  He  gave  the  matter  serious  thought  and 
made  it  the  subject  of  earnest  prayer.  The  tempta- 
tion to  sell  them  and  get  the  money  was  strong — 
the  conflict  between  the  devil  and  the  man  was  bitter 
and  fierce,  but,  upheld  by  Divine  strength  in  the 
hour  of  weakness,  the  right,  as  he  understood  it,  pre- 
vailed. They  were  set  free,  good  homes  procured 
foi  the  older  ones  and  the  young  sent  to  Liberia.  The 
Coghills  are  of  English  descent,  the  first  member  of 
the  family,  James  Coghill,  coming  to  this  country  in 
1664. 

J.  W.  attended  the  common  district  schools  dur- 
ing his  earlier  boyhood,  finishing  his  education  at  the 
Galesburg  College,  at  Galesburg.  He  was  27  years 
of  age  before  he  left  home.  He  was  a  partner 
with  his  father  in  the  milling  business  from  the  time 


he  became  of  age  until  he  left  home.  On  the  nth 
of  August,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Tucker. 
She  was  a  native  of  Warren  County,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Abigail  (Long)  Tucker,  who  were 
among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  county.  Among 
the  early  labors  of  Mr.  Coghill  was  teaching  school 
in  Warren  and  Henderson  Counties.  We  soon  find 
him  comfortably  located  on  a  farm  of  140  acres  in 
Henderson  County.  Here  he  lived  for  about  12 
years,  when  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Washington  Co., 
111.,  and  purchased  a  farm.  He  remained  there  but 
four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1874  he  returned  to  War- 
ren County  and  found  a  desirable  location  on  an  80- 
acre  farm  on  section  20,  in  Roseville  Township. 
Here  he  has  since  lived  and  is  engaged  in  mixed 
farming.  Politically,  Mr.  C.  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
served  the  community  as  Highway  Commissioner 
and  School  Director  and  takes  a  general  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  the  township.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Of  the  seven 
children  born  to  them,  Benjamin  C.  died  in  his  lyth 
year  and  a  daughter  in  infancy.  Carrie  and  James 
are  attending  school  at  Upper  Alton,  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 


-E*- 


tavid  M.  Hallam,  one  of  Warren  County's 
wide-awake  and  energetic  citizens  as  well 
as  successful  farmers  and  stock-raisers,  re- 
siding on  section  26,  Monmouth  Township, 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been  born  in  Sabina, 
Clinton  County,  that  State,  Sept.  3,  1837. 
The  father  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands 
at  the  head  of  this  biographical  notice,  Samuel  Hal- 
lam,  was  the  son  of  a  Pennsylvania  farmer  of  Eng- 
lish parentage  and  extraction,  the  family  having 
their  origin  in  the  United  States  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  and  which  consisted  of  but  one  branch 
which  came  from  England.  The  members  of  that 
branch  generally  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
The  grandparents  died  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio 
respectively.  Samuel,  father  of  David  M.,  was  one 
of  a  family  of  four  children  by  his  father's  first  mar- 
riage, by  his  second  marriage  his  father  having  the 
same  number  of  children.  Samuel  Hallam  was  born 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  lived  during  the 
early  portion  of  his  life.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county  and  his 
years,  prior  to  the  age  of  majority,  were  passed  on 
the  farm.  He  left  the  parental  roof-tree  when  about 
2 1  years  of  age  and  went  to  Clinton  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  made  a  settlement.  At  that  time  Clinton  County 
was  very  sparsely  settled,  and  there  he  endured  the 
trials  and  hardships  of  a  pioneer  life.  It  was  in  that 
county  that  -he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Mills.  She  was  the  daughter  of  a  Clin- 
ton County  farmer  who  had  come  to  that  county  and 
State  from  Kentucky.  After  marriage,  Samuel  pur- 
chased 80  acres  of  land,  the  same  being  in  heavy 
timber  and  located  in  that  part  of  the  State.  He 
went  to  work  vigorously  and  energetically  upon 
the  task  of  clearing  and  improving  his  land,  and 
after  he  had  placed  the  same  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation,  he  sold  it  and  made  another 
purchase  of  160  acres,  also  uncultivated.  He  im- 
proved that  place  and  by  subsequent  purchases  in- 
creased the  same  to  320  acres,  all  of  which  was 
placed  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  when 
he  disposed  of  it  by  sale  and  in  the  spring  of  1850 
came,  to  this  State  and  located  on  an  8°-acre  farm 
in  this  county  (a  portion  of  which  is  at  present 
within  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Monmouth),  which 
he  rented  for  one  year.  When  Samuel  Hallam 
started  West  with  his  family,  he  intended  to  go  to 
Iowa,  but  on  reaching  Burlington,  that  State,  the 
condition  of  the  country,  and  the  action  of  a  portion 
of  the  citizens  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  were 
such  as  to  create  a  desire  on  the  part  of  his  wife  and 
children  to  return  to  Ohio,  and  thither  they  started  ; 
but  on  reaching  Monmouth  and  finding  a  different 
country,  together  with  a  change  in  the  appearance 
and  actions  of  the  people,  they  rented  the  farm  before 
referred  to  and  engaged  in  farming.  The  residence 
into  which  they  moved  had  been  occupied  by  a  man 
who  had  committed  suicide  by  cutting  his  throat 
with  a  razor  a  few  days  before  their  arrival  there. 

In  the  spring  of  1851,  Samuel  Hallam  purchased 
240  acres  of  land  in  Monmouth  Township,  on  which 
he  moved  with  his  family,  and  where  he  resided 
more  or  less  until  his  death.  His  first  wife,  who 
was  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  died  in 
December,  1864,  and  he  was  again  married,  to  Mrs. 
Mary  McKay,  of  Monmouth,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children, — Harvey  W.,  Anna  S.  and  Maude  F.  Af- 


ter his  second  marriage  he  moved  to  Monmouth 
city,  in  1873,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  July,  1879,  while  he  was 
in  his  7pth  year.  His  wife  still  survives  and  is  re- 
siding in  Monmouth. 

David  M.  Hallam,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  1 1  children 
by  the  first  wife  of  his  father.  He  was  about  13 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  this  county, 
and  his  education  was  acquired  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  the  college  at  Monmouth,  which  was 
then  under  the  presidency  of  David  A.  Wallace. 
When  a  young  man  of  18  years,  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, and  for  18  winters  he  followed  that  profession, 
working  on  the  farm  during  the  summer  season,  his 
teaching  being  principally  in  this  and  Knox  Counties. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hallam  took  place  March 
12,  1861,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents,  to 
Miss  Mary  C.  Murphy.  She  was  born  in  Warren 
County,  March  12,  1842,  and  was  the  daughter  of  a 
farmer  who  died  when  she  was  a  small  child,  his 
name  being  John  H.  Murphy.  Her  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Eliza  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Virginia 
and  was  first  married  in  this  State.  Her  second 
marriage  was  to  Samuel  T.  Shelton,  with  whom 
she  is  at  present  residing  at  Cameron,  this  county. 
Mrs.  Hallam,  wife  of  David  M.,  attained  the  age  of. 
maturity  under  the  fostering  care  of  her  mother  and 
step-father,  with  whom  she  resided  until  her  mar- 
riage. She  obtained  a  good  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  graduated  at  Abingdon  College, 
Knox  County,  and  for  a  short  time  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage was  engaged  in  teaching.  She  has  borne  her 
husband  seven  children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased. 
Orline  E.  is  living  in  Chicago.  He  was  for  two  years 
engaged  in  the  Grand  Opera  House  at  that  place, 
and  also  one  year  at  McVicker's,  and  at  present  is 
engaged  in  the  support  of  McWade,  whose  reputation 
throughout  the  country  is  so  well  established  that  it 
requires  no  comment  here.  Samuel  S.  resides  at 
home  and  is  engaged  in  the  study  of  law,  prepara- 
tory to  the  practice  of  that  profession;  Clinnie  M. 
resides  at  home,  as  likewise  do  Frank  M.,  Minnie 
M.  and  George  M.  Charles  M.  is  deceased. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hallam,  he  resided  al- 
ternately in  this  and  Knox  Counties  until  1873, 
when  he  abandoned  the  profession  of  teaching  and 
settled  on  his  farm  of  183  acres  in  Monmouth  Town- 
ship and  engaged  in  the  vocation  of  farming.  His 


*"«<•«.  5 


m 


RESIDENCE  or  THOMAS  A.  We  A  KIEV.  SEC.  13.  LENOX  TOWN  SH  IP. 


' 


RESIDENCE  OF   JAMES  CAMPBELL, 


ALETOWNSHI  P. 


'• 


."  RE5.0F  HON.H  .  M.  LEWIS,  SEC..  19.  BERWICK   TOWNSHI  P. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


285 


place  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  in  his  vo- 
cation as  a  farmer  Mr.  Hallam  is  meeting  with  that 
success  which  energy  and  perseverance,  coupled 
with  good  judgment,  are  sure  to  bring.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  of  which 
denomination  Mr.  Hallam  is  Deacon.  He  was  for 
20  years  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  but 
recently  resigned  that  position. 

Politically,  he  is  a  strong  supporter  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Prohibition  party. 


on.    Henry   M.    Lewis,  one   of  the  land- 
holders of  Berwick  Township  and  a  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  Warren  County,  resid- 
ing  upon  section   19,  Berwick  Township,  was 
born  in  Basking  Ridge,  N.  J.,Feb.  21,  1824,  the 
son  of  Eliphalet  C.  Lewis,  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
having  been  born  in  that  State  May  n,  1799.     He 
><  came  to  Illinois  in   1837  and  two  years  later  came 
to  this  county  from  Sangamon  County,  and  located 
in  Berwick  Township,  where  he  purchased  a  patent 
title  to  the  northeast  quarterof  section  20.     He  im- 
mediately went  to  work  to  improve  his  land,  and  at 
the  same  time  economized  and  added  to  his  original 
purchase  until  he  became  the  owner  of  750  acres  in 
the  county. 

He  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Mills,  Nov.  21, 
1823.  She  was  also  born  in  New  Jersey,  the  date  of 
her  birth  being  July  23,  1806.  She  bore  her  hus- 
band five  children,  namely:  Henry  M.,  Feb.  21, 
1824;  Phebe  A.,  July  9,  1826;  Mary  A.,  in  July, 
1838;  Susan  E.,  in  October,  1841,  and  Thomas  P.  in 
1843,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living.  The  father  died  in 
1868,  aged  69  years,  and  his  widow  still  survives  and 
is  living  in  this  county,  aged  79  years,  and  is  enjoy- 
ing good  health. 

Henry  M.  Lewis,  of  whom  we  write,  formed  a 
matrimonial  alliance,  Oct.  18,  1849,  w'tn  Miss  Jane 
Carr,  the  Rev.  Young  officiating.  She  was  born 
Jan.  22,  1827,  in  Perry  Co.,  Ind.,  and  came  with  her 
parents,  Absalom  and  Sarah  Carr,  to  this  State,  in 
1840.  Mr.  Carr  was  born  in  1801,  in  Breckinridge 
Co.,  Ky.,and  married  Miss  Sarah  Claycomb  in  1824. 
She  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  also,  and  was  born 


there  in  1802.  Her  demise  occurred  in  1868,  in  this 
county,  and  that  of  her  husband  July  4,  1879.  Of 
their  union  nine  children  were  born,  namely :  Eli, 
Jane,  James,  Lucy,  Lewis,  Thomas,  Hannah,  Malinda 
and  William  H.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  have  had  born 
to  them  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  survive,  viz.: 
Norvel,  born  July  12,  1850;  Mary,  Nov.  29,  1852; 
Jedediah,  Nov.  13,  1854;  Henry,  Dec.  6,  1856; 
Emery,  March  31,  r858;  Sarah,  March  9,  1862; 
Phebe  L.,  Aug.  13,  1864;  Effie  J.,  March  23,  1867; 
Edwin  C.,  Oct.  14,  1873.  Henry  is  deceased,  his 
death  occurring  March  14,  1857.  Norvel  is  married 
and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Nebraska.  He  has  one 
child.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  John  W.  Miller,  of  this 
county,  and  the  mother  of  five  children.  Emery 
married  Miss  Nettie  Mann  and  resides  in  this 
county.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Geo.  B.  Richmond  and 
lives  near  Sedalia,  Mo. 

Mr.  Lewis  is  the  owner  895  acres  of  land  in  Ber- 
wick Township,  in  pasture  and  under  cultivation,  and 
on  his  farm  has  a  fine  residence,  together  with  good  ' 
barns  and  necessary  outbuildings,  which  are  shown 
in  the  view  on  page  284.  In  addition  to  carrying  on 
general  farming  he  is  also  engaged  in  dealing  in  " 
stock.  He  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs 
of  his  township  and  the  county  as  well.  He  has 
been  Supervisor  of  his  township  for  13  years,  and 
was  elected  to  represent  the  counties  of  Warren  and 
McDonough  in  the  State  Legislature  during  its  3rst 
session.  He  was  a  member  of  the  committees  on 
Agriculture,  Militia  and  Labor,  and  a  busy  member 
too,  and  represented  those  who  gave  him  their  suf- 
frages in  an  able  manner,  and  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  satisfaction  to  his  constituency.  He  has 
also  held  various  minor  offices  within  the  gift  of  the 
people.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat. 


-JM 


Toseph  L.  Young,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 12,  Lenox  Township,  and  of  which  he 
is  Township  Clerk,  is  a   son  of  John   and 
Elizabeth  (Bishop)  Young,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Maryland  respectively.    After  their 
marriage   the  parents  settled   in  Ohio,  where 
the  father  died,  Sept.  2,  [851.     In   1865  the  mother 


286 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


came  to  this  county  with  her  children.  The  chil- 
dren by  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Young  were  seven  in 
number,  named  Hannah,  John  L.,  Jacob,  George, 
Abraham  N.,  Joseph  L.  and  Elizabeth  A. 

In  writing  the  biography  of  Joseph  L.  Young,  we 
record  his  birth  as  May  29,  1840,  and  the  place  of 
his  nativity  Crawford  County  Ohio.  His  education 
was  not  neglected  in  his  early  years,  and  on  attain- 
ing the  age  of  manhood  he  was  for  eight  y-iars  occu- 
pied in  teaching  school  in  Ohio,  and  continued  to 
reside  in  his  native  State  until  1865,  when  he  ac- 
companied his  mother  and  the  remaining  children  of 
the  family  to  this  county,  locating  with  them  in 
Lenox  Township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is 
the  owner  of  30  acres  of  tillable  land  and  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  considerable  public  prominence  in  his 
township.  In  his  agricultural  pursuits  he  is  meet- 
ing with  fair  success,  and  his  accumulations  have 
been  acquired  solely  through  his  own  push  and  en- 
ergy. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Young  took  place  in  Mon- 
mouth,  Dec.  32,  1868,  at  which  time  the  accomplish- 
.  ed  daughter  of  John  Wonderly,  Miss  Mary  E.  Won- 
,derly,  became  his  wife.  Her  father's  sketch  is 
given  in  another  part  of  this  ALBUM.  She  was  born 
in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  26,  1845,  and  has 
borne  her  husband  one  child,  Bessie  M.  Mr.  Young 
has  held  the  office  of  Township  Clerk  for  six  years, 
and  is  still  the  incumbent  of  that  position.  He  also 
held  the  office  of  Township  Collector  four  years, 
Justice  of  the  Peace  three  years,  and  School  Trus- 
tee three  years,  and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat. 


0 

Charles  O.  Bradshaw,  publisher  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Kirkwuod  Leader,  was  born 
in  Sheffield,  Bureau  Co.,  this  State,  Dec.  30, 
1856.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Bradshaw  of  this 
notice,  J.  F.  and  Mary  M.  Bradshaw,  are  at 
present  residing  in  Kirkwood.  His  father  is 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  that  Slate 
March  8,  1832,  and  at  present  is  engaged  in  the  fur- 
niture business  at  the  place  mentioned.  The  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Smith,  and  she  was  born  in  Ful- 
ton County,  this  State,  May  20,  1836. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  biographical  notice,  came  to  Kirkwood  with  his 
parents  in  the  fall  of  1865.  Here  he  received  a 
common-school  education,  at  the  completion  of 
which  he  decided  to  make  journalism  his  lifes  pur- 
suit. After  several  years  experience  as  a  local  re- 
porter and  correspondent,  on  Jan.  ist,  1882,  he 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  Kirkwood  Leader, 
which  had  been  established  a  few  months  previous. 
He  took  editorial  charge  of  the  paper,  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1885,  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  same.  The 
paper  is  at  present  an  eight  column  folio,  independ- 
ent in  politics,  and  is  issued  at  the  small  subscription 
price  of  $1.50  a  year.  From  being  a  dubious  venture 
at  the  start  it  has  come  to  be  considered  one  of  the 
permanent  institutions  of  the  county.  A  good  job 
printing  office  is  run  in  connection  with  the  paper, 
and  Mr.  Bradshaw  is  meeting  with  that  success  which 
strict  attention  to  business,  push,  tact  and  energy 
are  sure  to  bring. 


ames  A.  McClannahan  is  one  of  the  lead- 
£  ing  physicians  of  the  county,  and  resides 
at  the  village  of  Kirkwood.  In  1854,  when 
the  fertile  prairies  of  Warren  County  were  but 
partly  settled,  Mr.  Thomas  McClannahan  with 
his  young  wife  and  small  family  came  from 
Ohio  and  located  upon  80  acres  of  land  in  Hale 
Township.  Here  he  has  since  lived,  but  increased 
his  acreage  to  240  acres  and  has  grown  to  be  one  of 
the  prominent  citizens  of  the  county  and  for  many 
years  has  served  the  people  as  County  Surveyor. 
He  oversees  his  farm  and  during  the  winter  teaches 
school.  Before  leaving  Ohio  he  met  and  married 
Miss  Jane  Martin,  who  like  himself  was  a  native  of 
the  Buckeye  State.  Before  they  decided  to  leave 
Ohio,  theireldest  son,  James  M.,  was  born  to  them, 
the  date  of  his  birth  being  March  26,  1850.  Besides 
this  son  they  had  born  to  them  seven  other  children. 
Dr.  McClannahan  received  a  good  English  edu- 
cation, attending  both  the  common  schools  and  the 
Academy  at  Monmouth.  Until  he  reached  his  ma- 
jority he  remained  on  the  home  farm,  assistingin  its 
cultivation  during  the  time  not  spent  at  school.  In 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1 87  i  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
J.  P.  Clannahan,  of  Norwood,  Mercer  County,  Illi- 
nois, and  for  three  years  closely  applied  himself  to 
the  study  of  his  profession.  He  attended  the  Chi- 
cago Medical  College  and  from  it  graduated  in  1874, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine.  He  first  located  at  Berwick, 
this  county,  where  he  practiced  with  satisfactory 
success  for  four  years,  when  he  came  to  Kirkwood. 
Here  he  has  built  up  a  fine  and  lucrative  practice 
and  has  a  residence,  with  an  office  connected,  and 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  representative  men  of  the 
village. 

Dr.  McClannahan  and  Miss  Anna  McClung  were 
married  Sept.  20,  1875.  Miss  McClung  was  born 
in  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Nancy 
McClung,  of  that  State.  Two  children,  both  boys, 
have  been  born  to  them, — Ralph,  born  Oct.  22,  1876, 
and  Harold,  born  Sept.  25,  1872.  The  Doctor  is  a 
Republican,  and,  with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Health  and  has  held  most  of  the  city  offices. 


B.  Boyd,  a  farmer  on  section  2,  Point 
Pleasant  Township,  is  the  oldest  son  of 
Thomas  H.  and  Margaret  (Jones)  Boyd, 
who  were  pioneers  of  the  township  and 
county  where  their  children  are  now  identified 
with  the  business  community.  He  was  born 
in  Greene  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  12,  1839,  and  was  in  the 
seventh  year  of  his  age  when  the  household  came  to 
Warren  County.  He  has  resided  here  ever  since 
and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  township. 
He  was  also  reared  to  the  calling  of  a  farmer,  which 
he  has  pursued  since  the  commencement  of  his  act- 
ive life. 

He  resided  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage  to 
Harriet  Conklin.  which  took  place  Sept.  19,  1861. 
Mrs.  Boyd  was  born  in  Clatmont  Co.,  Ohio.  After 
their  marriage,  they  located  on  the  farm  on  which 
they  have  since  lived.  It  is  situated  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  2. 
The  children  of  the  household  are  named  Elgie  B. 


and  William  L.  The  parents  are  connected  in  mem- 
bership with  the  Methodist  Church.  Politically, 
Mr.  Boyd  is  a  Democrat. 


Stem,  a  retired  fanner  and  one  of  Illi- 
nois' early  pioneers,  is  a  resident  of  Rose- 
ville  Village,  this  county,  having  been 
bom  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  13,  1829.  His 
parents  were  Frederick  and  Sarah  (Harris)  Stem, 
natives  respectively  of  Westmoreland  and  Fay- 
ette  Counties,  Pa.  In  1851  they  came  to  the  State  of 
Illinois,  and  located  on  section  28,  this  county,  where 
they  purchased  a  i6o-acre  tract  of  land  and  im- 
mediately began  to  cultivate  and  improve  the  same. 
Their  efforts  were  fully  rewarded,  and  they  had  the 
gratification  of  seeing  their  land  developed  to  that 
high  state  of  excellence  which  deservedly  caused  it 
to  take  rank  among  the  most  valuable  in  Warren 
County.  They  became  the  parents  of  13  children, 
and  died  amidst  the  comforts  of  their  peaceful  home- 
stead. 

David  Stem,  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at 
the  head  of  this  biographical  notice,  remained  the 
companion  of  his  parents  until  he  reached  his  25th 
year,  in  the  meantime  assisting  in  the  duties  of  the 
farm  and  alternated  his  labors  thereon  by  attend- 
ance at  the  district  schools  in  the  acquirement  of  an 
English  education.  He  engaged  in  farming  for  him- 
self in  the  year  1854,  purchased  a  tract  of  80  acres  of 
land  and  began  actively  and  energetically  in  the  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  the  same,  making  his 
home  there  for  20  years  and  interesting  himself  in 
general  farming.  He  then  purchased,  at  different 
times,  land  in  the  village  of  Roseville  until  he  now 
is  the  owner  of  17  lots,  containing  14  acres  at  the 
present  time  being  a  resident  on  the  same. 

Aug.  16,  1854,  was  the  date  of  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant events  in  the  life  of  Mr.  David  Stem,  it  be- 
ing his  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Adkinson.  She  is  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  who  came  with  her  parents  to 
Illinois  when  she  was  a  babe  and  settled  in  Warren 
County  Her  parents  were  Pleasant  and  Fanny  Ad- 
kinson, and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  here, 
drawing  the  first  stick  of  timber  in  what  is  now 


a  88 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


called  Monmouth.  Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stem  four  children  have  been  born,  only  two  of  whom 
are  living — Ida  and  Fatten.  The  former  married 
William  Johnson,  a  resident  of  Ppint  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, and  a  farmer.  One  daughter — Marilla,  blesses 
their  home. 

Mr.  Stem  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Roseville  village  and  he  is  considered  one 
of  the  solid  and  substantial  men  of  Warren  County. 
Politically,  he  affiiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 


I 


:  W.  McCurdy,  a  well  known  and  prosper- 
ous agriculturist,  residing  on  section  20, 
Roseville  Township,  was  born  near  Ma- 
comb,  McDonough  Co.,  this  State,  Oct.  12, 
1842,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Hannah 
(Herring)  McCurdy,  natives  of  the  Keystone 
I  State.  On  the  i6th  of  July,  in  the  year  1839,  Mr. 
i  James  McCurdy,  the  father  of  the  gentleman  of  this 
7  narrative,  was  united  in  marriage  with  his  present 
wife,  the  mother  of  R.  W.  McCurdy.  In  1839,  they 
I  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  McDonough  County, 
remaining  in  the  same  until  1847,  an<^  then  moved 
to  Ellison  Township,  Warren  County,  and  about 
four  years  later  again  removed,  this  time  going  to 
Fulton  County.  At  the  latter  place  the  father  made 
a  purchase  of  80  acres  of  land,  and  afterward  added 
to  his  original  acreage  by  a  purchase  of  a  160  acre 
tract.  Not  being  perfectly  satisfied,  he  thought  he 
would  try  another  change,  and  we  next  find  him  lo- 
cated in  Roseville  Township,  Warren  County,  where 
he  came  in  1865.  He  purchased  r2O  acres  of  land 
located  on  section  20,  and  entered  energetically  and 
vigorously  upon  the  task  of  its  improvement,  and 
made  this  his  home  for  ten  years,  when  he  moved 
into  Roseville  village  and  retired  from  the  active 
labors  of  life. 

R.  W.  McCurdy  remained  at  home  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  23  years,  in  the  meantime  receiving 
the  advantages  afforded  by  the  district  schools  and 
in  his  leisure  moments  assisting  his  parents  in  the 
duties  of  the  farm.  After  leaving  home  he  rented  a 
farm  for  two  years,  it  being  located  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  from  Roseville  village.  In  1867,  he  made  a 


purchase  of  an  8o-acre  tract  in  Tompkins  Township, 
and  upon  this  he  worked  hard  and  arduously  for 
seven  years,  putting  the  same  in  an  advanced  state 
of  cultivation,  when  he  sold  it,  and  purchased  the 
property  where  he  now  resides,  being  120  acres.  He 
is  engaged  in  the  stock  business  quite  extensively 
and  is  meeting  with  success  in  his  chosen  vocation. 
Besides  his  present  homestead  he  is  the  proprietor  of 
80  acres  of  land  in  Ellison  Township. 

Miss  Lydia  Pusey,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
daughter  of  William  and  Ann  (Watson)  Pusey,  was 
the  lady  chosen  by  Mr.  R.  W.  McCurdy  to  be  his 
companion  through  life.  Their  married  life  has  been 
replete  with  domestic  happiness  and  they  are  now 
the  ptoud  parents  of  six  children,  namely :  Louella 
J.,  William  B.,  Charles  W.,  Melvin  J.,  Robert  R.  and 
Ralph  E.  Mrs.  McCurdy 's  parents  were  natives  of 
Delaware  and  Maryland  respectively,  and  in  1850 
the  father,  Mr.  Pussy,  came  to  Cuba,  Fulton  County, 
this  State,  the  mother  having  died  in  Clear  Spring, 
Maryland,  Feb.  6,  1849. 

Politically,  Mr.  McCurdy  is  a  Democrat,  and  with 
his  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 
Socially,  Mr.  McCurdy  is  a  member  of  the  Select 
Knights  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  is  regarded  as  a 
liberal,  representative  gentleman  of  Warren  County, 
always  willing  to  help  build  and  improve  schools, 
churches,  etc.,  and  lends  a  helping  hand  to  all 
worthy  objects. 


homas  A.  Weakley,  a  successful  farmer  of 
Lenox  Township,  residing  upon  section  13, 
comes  of  old  Pennsylvania  "  stock,"  his 
parents,  James  and  Priscilla  (Foulk)  Weakley, 
having  been  natives  of  that  State.  The  elder 
Weakley  died  in  his  native  State.  His  widow, 
the  mother  of  Mr.  Weakley  of  this  notice,  came  to 
Warren  County  to  live  with  her  son,  Thomas,  and 
died  in  Lenox  Township  in  1861.  The  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  at  the  beginning  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
Nov.  n,  1826.  He  received  a  good  education  in  his 
native  State,  the  rudimentary  portion  thereof  being 
attained  at  the  common  schools,  which  was  supple- 
mented by  an  attendance  at  the  seminary  at  Kennet 


f  V 


'• 


*     f 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


291 


Square,  in  Chester  County,  that  State.  In  fact  the 
early  life  of  Mr.  Weakley,  prior  to  his  attaining  his 
majority,  was  passed  alternately  upon  the  farm  and 
in  attendance  at  school.  He  was  also  engaged  in 
early  manhood  in  the  dry-goods  business,  which  he 
followed  for  about  four  years  in  Cumberland  County. 
Hoping  to  better  his  financial  condition  in  life,  at 
least  to  procure  a  home  for  himself  and  family,  in 
1854  he  came  to  this  county,  at  first  locating  in  Mon- 
mouth  Township.  He  lived  there  for  12  years,  fol- 
lowing the  occupation  of  an  agriculturist,  when  he 
removed  to  Lenox  Township,  where  he  has  resided 
until  the  present  writing.  He  owns  1 25  acres  in  that 
township,  every  acre  of  which  is  good  tillable  land, 
and  in  his  chosen  vocation  in  life,  is  meeting  with 
that  success  which  energy  and  perseverance  insure. 
A  view  of  his  home  place  is  shown  on  page  284. 

Mr.  Weakley  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lovinia  Kaufman,  Sept.  19,  1850.  Mrs.  W.  was 
born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  18,  1822,  and 
[  was  of  highly  respected  and  well-to-do  parents  of 
that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weakley  have  become 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. The  living  are:  Spangler  K.,  Anna  J., 
Harriet  G.,  Willis  F.  and  Emma  L.  The  deceased 
are  Jane  M.  and  Priscilla  F.  Anna  J.  is  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Wonderly,  a  resident  of  Henderson  County, 
this  State.  Harriet  G.  married  Addison  Nesbitt  and 
resides  in  Lenox  Township.  The  remaining  chil- 
dren reside  at  home.  In  politics  Mr.  Weakley  is 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  Mrs.  Weakley 
and  their  two  eldest  daughters  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


'.  ohn  H.  Murdock,  a  retired  farmer  residing 
at  Berwick,  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  Pa., 
in  1814.     He  is  a  son  of  John   Murdock, 
who  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Hufty,  and 
by    her   had    nine    children, — Sarah,     Mary, 
Jane,   James,    Hofty,  Eliza,   John  H.,    Daniel 
and  William, 

John  H.  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss 
Frances  Milligan,  Nov.  31,  1837.  She  was  born 
Sept.  15,  1815,  in  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  and  has  borne 


her  husband  n  children, — Margaret  A.,  Sept.  3, 
1838;  Jonas,  July  22,  1840;  Daniel,  Aug.  21,  1842; 
John,  May  1 1, 1844  ;  Mary  J.,  Jan.  29,  1846  ;  George, 
June  26,  1848;  Permelia,  Dec.  26,  1850;  Hiram, 
March  21,  1853;  Allen,  June  26,  1855  ;  Armina  B., 
June  3,  1858;  Joseph  E.,  Feb.  2,  1863.  Six  of  the 
children  named  are  yet  living.  Mrs.  Murdock's 
father  was  born  in  1776,  by  name  John  Milligan, 
and  died  in  1846. 

Mr.  Murdock  has  an  acre  of  ground  within  the 
corporate  limits  of  the  village  of  Berwick,  upon  which 
is  a  good  dwelling,  where  he  resides  retired  from  the 
active  labors  of  life.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  as  are  likewise  all  his  children 
except  one.  Mr.  Murdock,  although  a  gentleman 
not  seeking  office,  has  held  some  of  the  minor  offices 
of  his  township,  among  which  are  Road  Commis- 
sioner and  School  Director. 


ames  T.  Gilmore,  who  was  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  Warren  County,  and 
one  of  the  very  few  yet  living  who  came  as 
early  as  1833,  is  the  third  son  of  Col.  Robert 
and  Maria  (Pilgrim)  Gilmore.  He  is  in  every 
sense  a  pioneer  of  the  county,  arriving  here 
June  13,  1833,  and  here  he  was  reared  and  was  edu- 
cated and  has  since  lived.  He  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  Ohio,  June  5,  1823.  His  father  was  born 
in  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  2,  1783,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  county.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
a  tanner,  serving  an  apprenticeship  after  he  was  21 
years  of  age.  After  acquiring  an  understanding  of 
his  business,  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  there  embarked 
in  the  tannery  business  extensively,  especially  for 
that  period.  He  located  at  Cross  Creek,  in  Jefferson 
County,  and  carried  on  the  business  until  the  out- 
break of  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain.  He 
then  enlisted  and  was  made  a  Colonel  of  a  regiment. 
He  served  under  Harrison  and  was  one  of  his  staff 
officers.  He  was  in  the  military  service  as  long  as 
there  was  any  need  of  his  assistance,  and  after  the 
close  of  the  contest  he  returned  to  his  business.  He 
was  also  the  owner  of  a  farm,  which  he  put  into  the 
management  of  a  renter.  In  1833,  he  sold  all  his 
interests  in  the  Buckeye  State  and  started  for  IHU 


29* 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


npis.  His  family  then  consisted  of  himself,  his  wife 
and  nine  children.  They  traveled  on  the  rivers, 
which  at  that  period  were  the  principal  means  of  I 
transfer  to  the  West.  One  member  of  the  family 
was  stricken  with  the  cholera,  which  was  prevalent  I 
in  that  year,  but  the  attack  did  not  prove  fatal. 
They  landed  at  Oquawka  on  the  i3th  of  June,  a 
day  made  memorable  by  the  trial  of  the  Indians  who 
murdered  William  Martin  the  previous  year.  The 
eldest  son  of  the  family,  Ephraim,  started  for  Warren 
County  on  foot,  and  obtained  a  team,  which  con- 
sisted of  three  yokes  of  oxen  and  a  wagon,  and  with 
its  aid  the  family  and  household  belongings  were 
transported  to  Warren  County.  The  father  took  a 
claim  on  section  25  of  township  12,  range  2,  or  what 
is  now  Spring  Grove  Township.  He  held  his  claim 
until  the  land  came  into  market,  when  he  made  the 
customary  effort  to  "  prove  up;"  but  failing  to  do  so 
and  to  secure  a  clear  title,  he  sold  his  right,  and 
later  bought  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  24,  in 
the  same  township.  While  on -the  first  claim  he 
built  a  log  house  of  a  good  type,  then  called  a  double 
-house.  It  was  covered  with  split  clapboards  and 
had  a  puncheon  floor.  The  chimney  was  built  on 
the  outside  of  the  dwelling  and  was  made  of  dirt 
and  sticks.  After  buying  the  second  place,  he  built 
a  similar  structure  upon  that,  and  made  shingles  for 
the  roof  and  puncheon  for  the  floor.  He  fenced  and 
otherwise  improved  more  than  half  the  land  of  the 
claim  and  built  a  stable  and  a  corn-crib.  He  was  a 
resident  on  that  place  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
July  9,  1857.  He  was  twice  married.  His  fir^t 
wife  was  Elizabeth  Collins,  who  became  the  mother 
of  six  children,  as  follows:  Ephraim,  John,  Ara- 
bella, Ann,  Joseph  ('.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Gilmore  died  about  the  year  1821  or  1822. 
Col.  Gilmore 's  second  wife  was  Maria  Pilgrim,  and 
the  record  of  their  children  is  as  follows  :  The  eld- 
est two  died  in  infancy,  James  T.  (our  subject),  then 
Thomas,  Elizabeth  C.,  Lawrence  H.,  Rachel,  George 
W.,  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Robert,  making  16  chil- 
dren born  to  Col.  Gilmore.  His  second  wife  was 
born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  in  her  child- 
hood. She  died  Aug.  20,  1840.  Ephraim  was  for 
many  years  a  resident  of  Mercer  County,  and  was 
the  first  County  Clerk  of  that  county,  and  also 
County  Surveyor  for  eight  or  ten  years.  He  after- 
wards started  into  the  banking  business.  In  7883  he 
went  to  Paoli,  Kan.  John  died  in  Ohio;  Arabella 


married  Theodore  Jennings  and  they  live  in  Ford 
Co  ,  111.  ;  Ann  is  the  wife  of  John  Ritchie,  of  Har- 
rison Co,  Ohio;  Joseph  G.  lives  in  Aledo,  Mercer 
County ;  James  T.  and  Thomas  are  the  next  in 
order  of  birth  ;  Elizabeth  C.  married  Sidney  Lafferty, 
of  Mercer  County;  Lawrence  H. ;  Rachel  is  the 
wife  of  John  Armstrong,  of  the  same  township  of 
which  her  parents  were  pioneers ;  B.  Franklin  resides 
in  Hopkins,  Mo. ;  Robert  died  in  Kansas 

Mr.  Giluure  of  this  sketch  was  ten  years  old 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  he 
grew  to  the  estate  of  manhood  in  Warren  County. 
He  was  reared  under  all  the  influences  of  the 
pioneer  period  and  was  a  pupil  in  the  pioneer  log 
school-house.  At  the  age  of  25  he  commenced  his 
life  as  an  independent  man  of  business,  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives.  It  had 
been  improved  to  some  extent  and  included  a  double 
log  house,  a  stable  and  30  acres  of  broken  farming 
land.  There  were  410  acres  that  had  pot  been  un- 
der the  plow,  and  the  new  proprietor  made  all 
possible  haste  to  render  his  property  a  profitable  in- 
vestment. He  erected  a  good  class  of  buildings, 
which  are  a  credit  and  an  ornament  to  the  farm,  and 
of  which  a  view  is  given  in  these  pages.  Mr.  Gilmore 
is  the  owner  of  330  acres  in  Warren  County  and  160 
acres  in  Mercer  County.  The  entire  amount  of 
land  is  in  cultivation. 

Oct.  26,  1848,  his  marriage  to  Mary  C.  Lair  was 
was  celebrated.  She  was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Ky., 
Oct.  29,  1827.  She  was  the  daughter  of  William 
and  Sarah  (Wallace)  Lair.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  Warren  Co.,  Ky.,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  white  child  born  in  that  county.  The  date  of 
his  birth  was  April  3.  1796.  His  parents  were  con- 
sequently among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Ken- 
tucky. His  wife,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Gilmore,  was 
also  a.  native  of  Warren  Co.,  Ky.  She  was  born 
May  8,  1808,  and  is  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage.  Her 
husband  was  of  German  descent.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  1826,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1832,  and 
settled  on  a  tract  of  land  now  embraced  in  Kelly 
Township,  this  county,  where  they  improved  a  farm 
and  lived  respected  and  honored  members  of  society. 
They  had  born  to  them  a  family  of  73  children,  six 
of  whom  are  yet  living.  Mr.  Lair  died  April  7,  1873. 
Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  his  religious 
connections  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
His  wjdo\v  survive?  him,  and  resides  with  he.r  son 


I 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


*93 


. 


William  M.,  on  the  old  homestead  on  section  30, 
Kelly  Township,  and  is  also  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Christian  Church. 

Of  the  five  children  of  whom  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gil- 
more  became  the  parents,  three  are  now  living: 
Anna  is  married  to  John  M.  I rey,  of  Spring  Grove 
Township;  Ella  is  the  wife  of  Oliver  Stoner :  they 
reside  in  Mercer  County;  George  W.  (married  to 
Mary  A.  McKelvey)  is  assisting  his  father  in  work- 
ing the  home  farm.  The  mother  died  March  3, 
•(Sir.  Mirch  23,  1882,  Mr.  Gilmore  was  married 
to  Susan,  widow  of  George  Leonard.  She  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  there  married  to  her  first 
husband  Feb.  21,  1850.  In  1855,  they  came  to 
Spring  Grove  Township,  where,  in  March,  1861,  Mr. 
Leonard  died.  She  had  eight  children  by  her  first 
husband,  six  of  whom  are  still  living.  Silas  is  a 
resident  of  this  township;  Bertie  resides  in  Alexis; 
Stewart  is  a  citizen  of  Monmouth  ;  Ida  ;  Alice  lives 
in  Stephenson  Co.,  I).  T. ;  Mary  is  the  youngest. 

Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  Democrat  in  political  persuasion, 
and  both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  He  is  looked  upon  by  his  many  friends 
as  being  one  of  the  best  men  who  ever  honored  War- 
ren County  with  their  presence. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Gilmore  is  exhibited  on  page 
290. 


1=1  .-i 


=*- 


-*= 


foseph  Martin,  ex-President  of  the  First 
I?-  National  Bank  at  Monmouth,  a  gentleman 
of  more  than  ordinary  business  ability,  re- 
tired from  the  active  labors  of  life  on  u  compe- 
tency acquired  by  individual  effort  and  good 
judgment,  coupled  with  economy  and  perse- 
verance, resides  on  section  28,  Monmouth  Township, 
near  the  limits  of  the  city  of  that  name.  He  was 
born  in  '.he  North  of  Ireland,  Aug.  15,  1816,  and  is 
of  Scotch-Irish  extraction  His  father,  William  Mar- 
tin, was  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  resided 
there  until  his  death,  engaged  in  the  vocation  of 
farming.  His  death  occurred  about  1845.  His  wife, 
Mary  Forbes,  was  born  in  the  North  of  Ireland  and 
was  likewise  of  Scotch- Irish  extraction,  and  also  died 
in  her  native  country. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 


next  to  the  youngest  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of 
six  children,  ard  he  and  a  brother,  James,  (who  is  re- 
siding in  Page  County,  Iowa,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  cattle  raising)  are  the  only  survivors. 
Joseph  Martin  resided  with  his  parents  on  his  native 
Isle  until  he  reached  the  age  of  19  years,  when  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  lane  Groves,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Jane  Groves.  Soon  after 
they  were  weded,  they  crossed  the  briny  waters  and 
located  in  the  United  States,  the  date  thereof  being 
1834.  His  first  location  was  in  New  Castle,  Law- 
ranee  Co.,  Pa.,  where  after  residing  for  a  short  time, 
he  moved  to  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  purchased 
land  and  for  12  years  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
Leaving  Pennsylvania  he  came  to  Galena,  this  State, 
and  in  the  neighborhood  of  that  place  purchased  200 
acres  of  land,  whLh  had  been  partly  worked  for  lead. 
He  re-opened  the  mines  and  succeeded  in  striki.ig 
an  exceedingly  rich  vein,  which  yielded  him  about 
$25,000.  He  continued  to  operate  his  mines  in  that 
vicinity  for  about  nine  years,  until  r86o,  when,  in  the 
fall,  he  came  to  this  county  and  purchased  160  acres 
of  partly  improved  land,  in  Tompkins  Township, 
where  he  operated  only  a  short  time;  then  rented 
his  land  and  moved  to  Monmouth  with  a  view  to 
educating  his  children.  He  afterward  sold  his  farm 
in  Tompkins  township  and  purchased  other  property 
and  cleared  $8,000.  His  success  as  a  speculator  has 
been  more  than  ordinary.  In  the  fall  of  1863,  he 
with  others,  established  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Monmouth,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  which  was 
later  increased  to  $75,000.  The  institution  at  times 
represented  a  capital  of  $500,000,  and  was  doing  a 
good  and  increasing  business  until  its  recent  failure. 
Mr.  Martin  was  a  stock  holder  for  about  20  years, 
and  was  elected  President  of  the  institution  some- 
time previous  to  its  failure,  but  no  word  of  censure 
has  ever  been  heard  against  Mr.  Martin  on  account 
of  the  disaster  to  the  bank,  it  being  too  well  known 
by  every  depositor  and  by  the  citizens  of  Warren 
County,  who  was  the  cause  of  its  failure.  Mr.  Mar- 
tin has  been  actively  engaged  in  many  financial  op- 
erations, and  at  present  is  the  proprietor  of  a  200 
acre  farm  in  Page  Co.,  Iowa,  which  is  under  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  cultivation.  He  owns  22  acres  on 
which  he  at  present  resides,  and  also  a  large  brick 
store-house,  of  which  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  occupy  the 
second  story. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Martin  died    in    Monmouth 


*94 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


in  1871.  He  was  again  married  in  that  city  to  Mrs. 
Jennie  Patton,  nee  Lee,  widow  of  Rev.  Samuel  Pat- 
ton,  of  Detroit,  and  daughter  of  Judge  Thomas  and 
Nancy  (Wilson)  Lee,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio  respectively,  of  American  parentage  and  Scotch 
descent.  She  was  born  in  Cadiz,  Ohio,  Oct.  5, 1830. 
Her  father  was  formerly  a  farmer  by  occupation,  but 
later  in  life  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  tanner,  and 
still  later  was  connected  with  politics,  being  almost 
continuously  the  incumbent  of  an  official  position 
thereafter  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Cadiz, 
Ohio,  in  1853,  during  his  57th  year.  Her  mother 
died  Sept.  20,  1885,  at  the  venerable  age  of  87  years. 
Mrs.  Martin  has  borne  her  husband  one  child, — Nan- 
nie L.,  born  June  12,  1872.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  Martin  by  his  first  union, — William  W., 
is  married  and  lives  in  Salem,  Oregon,  the  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  being  Belle  Myers  ;  James  is  also 
married  and  is  likewise  a  resident  of  Salem,  Oregon; 
the  other  five  children  are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Martin  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Monmouth,  to  the  building  of  which  Mr. 
;  Martin  contributed  $2,000.  He  is  present  trustee 
and  member  of  the  session. 

In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Republican  parly,  having  always  opposed 
the  institution  of  slavery,  and  during  the  late  Civil 
War  was  a  strong  and  unswerving  Union  man. 


-•• 


ienjamin  P.  Matteson,  a  farmer  residing 
on  section  30,  Floyd  Township,  was  born 
in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  10,  1836,  and 
came  to  this  State  in  1838  with  his  parents. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Matteson  (Myron  Matte- 
son)  was  born  in  New  York,  in  1810,  and 
died  in  1849,  in  this  county,  whither  he  removed 
and  settled  in  Floyd  Township.  He  married  Maria 
Davis,  in  1830.  She  was  born  in  1808,  in  Oneida 
County,  New  York,  and  is  still  living.  Of  their  union 
six  children  were  born, — Geraldine,  Juliet,  Benja- 
min P.,  Christian,  Joann  and  Myron  D. 

Benjamin  P.  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Mur- 
dock,  Oct.  2,  1858.  She  was  born  Sept.  3, 
1838,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Murdock,  born 


Feb.  9,  1807,  in  Greene  County,  Pa.,  and  who 
came  to  this  State  in  1851,  and  located  in  this 
county.  He  married  Miss  Fannie  Milligan,  Nov.  14, 
1830.  She  was  born  Oct.  15,  1810,  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  bore  her  husband  n  children,  four  of  whom 
are  deceased.  The  names  of  the  children  are:  Mar- 
garet, Jonas,  Mary,  Daniel,  John,  George,  Millie, 
Hiram,  Allen,  Armenia  and  Edgar. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matteson  of  this  notice  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children, — Mabel,  born  Dec.  26,  1862, 
and  Dora,  March  31,  1864.  The  former  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  William  McClannahan,  a  prominent  physician 
of  West  Jersey,  Stark  Co.,  111.  They  have  one  son. 
Miss  Dora  still  resides  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Matteson  is  the  proprietor  of  80  acres  of  well 
improved  land,  located  on  section  30,  Floyd  Town- 
ship. He  has  a  fine  residence  on  his  place,  22  x  35 
feet  in  dimensions,  with  a  barn,  32x36  feet.  His 
cattle  are  of  a  high  grade  and  his  place  presents  an 
appearance  to  the  passer-by  indicative  of  that  energy 
which  its  proprietor  possesses.  Mr.  Matteson  is  a 
member  of  the  Anti-Horse-Thief  Society.  In  relig- 
ion, he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  denomination  he  is  a  Deacon.  In 
politics,  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
during  the  late  war  was  a  strong  Union  man. 


'ohn  D.  G-rigg,  proprietor  of   130  acres   of 
agricultural  land  under  an  advanced  state 
of  cultivation,  located  on  section  32,  Swan 
Township,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and   was 
there  born  May   26,   1841.     He  came  to  this 
State    in   1864  with   his  parents,  and  for  six 
years  resided  with  them  in  McDonough  County. 

The  father  of  John  D.,  Joseph  W.  Grigg,  was  born 
in  1802,  in  Virginia,  his  parents  moving  to  Kentucky 
when  he  was  but  a  lad.  He  there  grew  to  manhood, 
receiving  such  education  as  was  to  be  acquired  in 
the  district  school,  and  married  Miss  Delila  Mc- 
Cullough.  Sept.  5,  1822.  She  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia in  1806,  and  died  in  this  State  in  1877.  Joseph 
W.,  the  father,  is  still  living  with  his  son  (John  D., 
subject  of  this  notice),  at  the  venerable  age  of  83 
years. 

John   D.   Grigg  was   united   in  marriage,  Sept  10, 


RESIDENCE  OF  JAMES  .  TGI  LMO  R  E  ,  S  EC. 23,  SPRING  GROVE  TOWNSHIP 


RESIDENCE  OF  A.J.SissoN,  SEC. 28, SWAN  TOWNSHIP. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


«97 


1874,  with  Miss  Anna  B.  Cline.  This  estimable 
lady,  who  by  her  well  cultivated  intellect,  consistent 
course  in  life  as  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church 
and  amiable  qualities  in  general,  had  won  the  es- 
teem of  all  who  knew  her,  died  July  *6,  1875,  in  the 
24th  year  of  her  age  (having  been  born  Jan.  3,  1852), 
leaving  an  only  child, — Joseph  H.,  born  June  n, 
1875, — who  followed  the  mother  to  the  eternal  home 
on  the  25th  of  August  of  the  same  year  (1875). 

Mr.  Grigg  formed  a  second  matrimonial  alliance, 
Oct.  30,  1877,  with  Miss  Florence  C.  Shoop.  She 
was  born  Nov.  4,  1855,  and  is  the  daughter  of  W.  W. 
Shoop,  a  native  of  Maryland,  who  at  present  resides 
in  McDonough  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grigg  have 
three  children,  namely  :  Iva  L.,  born  Aug.  19,  1878; 
Mina  L.,  Dec.  6,  1880;  Flora  P.,  Oct.  31,  1884. 
Mr.  Grigg  has  two  brothers  and  two  sisters  living, — 
James  W.  and  R.  C.,  Susan  and  America,  and  two 
sisters,  Sally  and  Minerva,  deceased.  Mrs.  Grigg 
has  four  sisters  and  five  brothers,  namely:  Lydia 
A.,  William  H.,  Alva,  Emma  Catharine,  Freddie, 
George  E.  and  Maggie  M.,  and  Mary  E.  and  John 
W.,  deceased. 

Mr.  Grigg  is  pleasantly  situated  on  his  home  farm 
of  130  acres  on  section  32,  Swan  Township,  all  of 
which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 
He  is  breeding  high  grades  of  Short-horn  cattle,  and 
handles  the  Poland  China  hogs.  He  has  a  pair  of 
mares  on  his  place  weighing  1,500  pounds  each. 

In  politics  Mr.  Grigg  votes  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  reared  under  the  influences  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  although  not  a  member  of 
that  denomination,  in  his  religious  principles  he  is 
inclined  towards  their  doctrines. 


. 


J.  Sisson,  an  energetic  representa- 
tive of  the  agricultural  class  of  Warren 
County,  residing  upon  section  28,  Swan 
Township,  was  born  Sept.  5,  1828,  in  Rens- 
selaerville,  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  Sissen,  a  native  of  Rock  Island,  but 
who  became  a  resident  of  New  York  State  when  one 
year  old. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Sisson  married   Miss  Floretta 
Frisbie  in  1812.     She  was  born  in   1790  and  he  in 


1789.  They  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1837  and  lo- 
cated in  Swan  Township,  Warren  County,  where  the 
husband,  and  father  of  this  notice,  died  June  12, 
1851.  The  wife  and  mother  survived  him  until 
June,  1882,  when  she  passed  to  the  land  of  the  here- 
after. Of  their  union  ten  children  were  born, 
namely:  Asahel  B.,  Cyrus,  Emeline,  Rufus,  Ann, 
Augustine  W.,  Marcus  F.,  Andrew  J.,  Mary  E.  and 
Martin  V.  His  father  was  a  pioneer  settler  in  this 
county,  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  one  of  the  re- 
spected and  honored  citizens  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resided  and  died. 

Andrew  J.  Sisson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Nancy  Jane  McMahill,  Jan.  19,  1854.  Of  their 
union  there  was  no  issue,  but  they  have  raised  to 
manhood  and  womanhood,  two  children, — Nellie  M. 
Brooks,  who,  when  she  came  under  their  care,  was 
three  years  old.  She  was  born  in  1859,  received  a 
good  education  at  the  hands  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sis- 
son,  and  resided  with  them  until  her  marriage  to 
Joseph  Thorn,  in  January,  1885.  They  reside  on  a 
farm  in  Swan  Township.  The  name  of  their  other 
adopted  child  is  William  H.  Canfield,  born  Feb.  8, 
1858,  who  also  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
hands  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sisson,  and  became  the 
head  of  family,  May  5,  1881,  by  marriage  with  Miss 
Alice  Watson.  At  present  he  is  a  farmer  in  Seward 
Co.,  Neb. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Sisson,  Mr.  William  McMahill, 
was  born  in  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1806.  He  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  his  ancestors  settling  in  Vir- 
ginia and  from  there  moved  to  Kentucky.  Mr.  Mc- 
Mahill emigrated  to  Illinois,  in  1829;  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Snapp  in  1828.  His  wife  was  born  in 
1806,  in  Nicholas  Co.,  Ky.,and  died  Aug.  31,  1877. 
Their  union  was  blessed  with  the  birth  of  12  chil- 
dren, whom  they  named  George,  Susan,  Sarah, 
Nancy  Jane,  Elizabeth,  John,  Ann  Maria,  Kentucky 
America,  William  H.,  Pinckney,  Mary  E.,  and  Lu- 
cinda,  four  of  whom  are  deceased,  namely  :  Elizabeth, 
Mary,  Lucinda  and  Ky  America. 

Mr.  Sisson,  of  whom  we  write,  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated with  his  family  on  his  fine  farm  of  250  acres, 
on  section  28,  Swan  Township,  and  has  the  entire 
place  improved.  In  1884,  he  erected  a  fine  residence 
on  his  farm,  33  X36  feet  in  dimensions  and  two  story 
with  basement.  His  house  is  one  of  the  best,  if  not 
the  best,  in  Swan  Township,  and  its  inside  appear- 
ance is  almost  as  fine  as  its  outside,  it  being  fur- 


- 


398 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


nished  in  the  best  possible  manner,  with  all  necessary 
apparatus  for  lightening  the  labors  of  the  female 
portion  of  the  household.  He  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Mr.  Sisson 
being  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  In 
politics,  he  is  independent.  A  view  of  his  home- 
stead appears  in  this  volume. 


eorge  Gossett,  retired  farmer,  enjoying  the 
sunset  of  his  life  in  ease  and  comfort  at 
Roseville,  was  born  in  Randolph  Co.,  N. 
C.,  March  31,  1807,  his  parents  being  William- 
son and  Rebecca  (Stalker)  Gossett,  natives  of 
North  Carolina  and  of  English  descent.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Gossett  came  to  Indiana  in  1815,  the 
father  purchased  land  in  that  State,  on  which  he  lo- 
cated and  was  laboriously  occupied  in  its  cultivation 
until  he  became  too  old  to  follow  the  active  labors  of 
life,  when  he  retired,  and  continued  to  reside  there 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1863. 

George  Gossett  received  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  until  he  was  19  years  old.  He  then 
worked  out  by  the  month  and  continued  to  labor  in 
that  manner  until  he  attained  the  age  of  23  years. 
At  that  age  in  life  he  rented  a  farm  on  shares,  but 
as  he  was  poor  he  was  unable  to  buy  a  team  and  he 
cultivated  his  land  by  working  for  others  and  receiv- 
ing compensation  therefor  by  their  loaning  him  a 
team.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  he  contin- 
ued to  cultivate  rented  land  for  two  years,  when,  by 
the  closest  economy  he  was  enable  to  buy  a  team. 

He  continued  to  save  his  earnings  until  1850, 
when  he  had  accumulated  sufficient  to  purchase  a 
farm  of  74  acres  in  Indiana,  whither  his  parents  had 
removed.  He  raised  two  crops  on  this  land,  then 
sold  it,  making  $600  by  the  sale. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Gossett  came  to  Pike  County,  this 
State,  where  he  cultivated  rented  land  for  one  year. 
In  February,  1854,  he  came  to  this  county,  where  he 
had  previously  purchased  152  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 4  Swan  Township,  and  subsequently  added  80 
acres  to  the  same,  making  in  all  232  acres.  He  lo- 


cated on  this  land  and  worked  the  same  for  13  years, 
and  then,  in  1867,  came  to  Roseville,  purchased  prop- 
erty and  erected  a  residence  thereon,  and  then  sold 
the  same  to  William  Moore.  He  then  built  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Chestnut  Streets,  where  he  has 
continued  to  reside  since  1876.  Mr.  Gossett  rents 
his  farm  and  at  present  is  living  a  retired  life,  en- 
joying the  accumulations  which  a  life  of  energetic 
effort  and  economy  have  brought  him. 

Mr.  Gossett  was  married  in  January,  1829,  to 
Miss  Vurlinder  T.  Turnbull,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  P.  (Tannihill)  Turn- 
bull,  natives  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  respectively, 
and  of  Scotch  descent.  The  issue  of  their  union  is 
six  children,  only  two  of  whom  survive, — Rebecca  R. 
Davis  and  William  T.  Gossett.  The  latter  is  the 
present  postmaster  at  Roseville.  In  politics  Mr. 
Gossett  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  have  been 
since  1839,  of  which  denomination,  Mr.  Gossett 
is  trustee  and  has  been  steward  and  class  leader.  • 
Mr.  and  Mr.  Gossett  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
1879,  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  having  passed 
50  years  of  wedded  life  together.  On  that  occasion  - 
they  received  many  valuable  presents  from  their  • 
host  of  relatives  and  friends. 

j 


athaniel  Kidder,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  28,  Swan  Township,  was  born 
in  this  county,  July  3t,  1845,  and  is  a  son 
of  Larnard  Kidder,  a  native  of  Mansfield, 
Conn.,  where  he  was  born  in  1806.  The  father 
came  to  Illinois  about  1837,  and  located  in  Swan 
Township,  where  he  died  Sept.  24,  1864.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Hoisington,  March 
32,  1837.  She  was  born  April  5,  1809,  in  Windsor, 
Vt.,  and  of  her  union  with  Mr.  Kidder,  seven  chil- 
dren were  born, — Almon,  Feb.  27, 1838;  William  O., 
Aug.  13,  1839;  Henry  H.,  May  25,  1841  ;  Benjamin 
H.,  April  7,  1843;  Nathaniel,  July  31,  1845;  Olive 
M.,  July  3,  1847,  and  Eliza  A.,  Aug.  5,  1849. 

The  grandparents  of  Mr.  Kidder,  of  this  notice, 
Abishi  and  Lucinda  (Hastings)  Hoisington,  on  his 
mother's  side.  His  grandfather  was  born  in  1769, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


•99 


• 


and  his  grandmother,  in  1771,  The  former  died 
March  16,  1859,  and  the  latter  Sept.  13,  1825,  and 
of  their  union  nine  children  were  born, — Betsey, 
Olive,  Sabrina,  Harriet,  Maria,  John,  Mary  Ann, 
Eleanor  D.,  and  William  W. 

Nathaniel  Kidder  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Miss  Mattie  Meredith,  Dec.  18,  1872.  She  was 
born  May  14,  1849,  and  has  borne  her  husband  two 
children, — Minnie  I.,  Dec.  3,  1873,  and  Harriet  G  , 
July  27,  1876.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Kidder  were 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Thompson)  Meredith.  Her 
father  was  born  Feb.  22,  1808,  and  is  still  living,  re- 
siding in  Nebraska.  Her  mother  was  born  Sept.  1 1 , 
1823,  and  bore  her  husband  eight  children,  namely: 
Sarah  E.,  born  May  22,  1847  ;  Mattie,  May  14, 
1849  ;  James  W.,  Feb.  18,  1851  ;  George  R.,  July  9, 
1853;  Lucius  M.,  Dec.  18,  1855;  Philinda,  Dec.  5, 
1857;  John  M.,  Sept.  9,  1859;  Bruce,  Feb.  21, 
1861. 

Mr.  Kidder  is  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  and 
land  owners  in  Swan  Township,  owing  156  acres. 
He  has  a  fine  residence  on  his  place,  two  stories  in 
height,  erected  in  1882.  The  first  residence  built 
on  this  site  was  23  years  ago. 

He  is  engaged,  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
land,  in  the  raising  of  high  grade  short-horn  cattle, 
•  and  in  his  vocation  as  an  agriculturist  is  one  of  the 
leading  representatives,  not  only  in  Swan  Township, 
but  in  Warren  County.  Mr.  Kidder  entered  the 
service  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  joining  Co.  C, 
i28th  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  May  7,  1864.  He  was  on  guard 
duty  at  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  and  there  remained 
five  and  a  half  months,  when,  Oct.  18,  1864,  he  was 
mustered  out  at  Springfield  and  honorably  dis- 
charged. 


I  lien  S.  Phillips,  one  of  the  large  land-own- 
ers of  Swan  Township,  is  an  energetic  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Warren  Co.,  residing  upon 
section  33,  who  was  born  in  Saratoga  Springs, 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  to,  1832.  He  is  the  son  of  Scuiber 
Phillips,  born  in  Greenbu&h,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  16, 
1802,  and  who  died  June  16,  1873.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sophronia  Davis,  Sept.  19,  1822,  in 
New  York.  She  was  born  Nov.  16,  1803,  in  Oris- 


kany  Falls,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  still  living  in 
that  State.  Their  children  were  six  in  number, — 
John  N.,  Allen  S.,  Cordelia  J.,  Melissa  D.,  Alonzo, 
James  H.,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy. 

Allen  S  Phillips,  subject  of  this  notice,  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  M.  McMahill,  Jan.  26, 
1868,  Rev.  M.  Sperlock,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  officiating.  Of  their  union,  six  children 
have  been  born,  one  of  whom  is  deceased:  Emma, 
born  March  14,  1870,  and  died  May  14,  1877  ;  Mary 
S.,  born  March  22,  1872;  Wilbur,  Nov.  29,  1875; 
Burtis,  Sept.  i,  1877;  Windle,  Nov.  21,  i88r;  and 
Guy  E.,  Aug.  n,  1884.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Phillips, 
William  McMahill,  was  born  Nov.  26,  1806,  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  June  7,  1881,  in  this  State.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Snappin  1828.  She  was 
born  Feb.  22,  1806,  and  died  Aug.  31,  1877.  Of 
their  union  12  children  were  born,  viz.:  George, 
Susan,  Sarah,  Nancy  Jane,  Elizabeth,  John,  Ann 
M.,  America  Ky.,  William  H.,  Pinkney,  Mary  E. 
and  Lucinda  A.  The  deceased-are  Elizabeth,  Amer- 
ica, Mary  and  Lucinda. 

Mr.  Phillips  with  his  family  are  pleasantly  situated 
on  their  large  farm  of  300  acres  on  section  33,  Swan  •<; 
Township,  and  has  all  his  land  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation.  He  has  a  fine  thoroughbred 
bull,  two  years  old,  and  14  head  of  high  grade  cattle  . 
on  his  place,  and  also  handles  the  Clydesdale  breed 
of  horses.  He  is  Highway  Commissioner  of  his 
township,  and,  in  politics,  votes  with  the  Greenback 
party.  His  worthy  wife  is  highly  esteemed  as  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  in 
social  circles  generally. 


rson  G.  Chapman,  Postmaster  at  Alexis,  is 
a  descendant  of  two  families  of  New  Eng- 
land  origin.  His  father  Orson  C.  Chap- 
man,  was  a  native  of  that  part  of  the  United 
States,  and  his  mother,  nee  Rebecca  Gilford, 
was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York.  They 
belonged  to  the  agricultural  class  and  reared  their 
son  to  the  same  calling. 

The  latter  was  born  Feb.  26,  1843,  in  OswegoCo., 
N.  Y.  He  was  a  pupil  in  the  common  schools  in 
his  boyhood  and  he  remained  in  Oswego  County 
until  1866,  when  he  came  to  Warren  County  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Spring  Grove  Township,  in  com- 


300 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


pany  with  his  brother,  Alexander  Chapman.  In  one 
year  thereafter  he  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  also 
became  interested  in  farming  in  Doniphan  County, 
remaining  two  years,  and  then  returned  to  Spring 
Grove,  where  he  again  resumed  farming,  which  oc- 
cupation he  continued  until  1870.  In  the  autumn 
of  that  year  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business, 
and  was  the  first  to  establish  an  enterprise  of  that 
character  at  Alexis. 

In  January,  1871,  he  received  the  appointment  of 
Postmaster,  and  has  managed  the  postal  affairs  of 
the  Government  at  that  place  without  intermission 
ever  since.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  closed  the  sale  of 
groceries,  and  has  since  conducted  the  sale  of  sta- 
tioners' goods  and  jewelry.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
political  sentiment. 

In  August,  1872,  he  was  married  to  Adeline  Gar- 
rett  They  have  two  children,  Wade  and  Ava.  Mrs. 
Chapman  was  born  in  Breckenridge,  Ky. 


|,arbard  M.  Hogan,  a  citizen  of  Kelly  Town- 
ship, residing  on  section  35,  came  to  War- 
ren County  with  his  parents  when  he 
was  nine  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Harri- 
son County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  Harmon 
and  Elizabeth  (Miles)  Hogan.  His  father  was 
born  Oct.  30,  1792,  in  Montgomery  County,  Va.  He 
married  Margaret  Elliott  in  1814,  and  soon  after  that 
event  he  located  in  Indiana.  He  lived  in  Dearborn 
County  three  years,  and  went  thence  to  Harrison 
County.  The  days  of  his  removal  to  Indiana  were 
the  days  of  the  pioneer  period,  and  in  both  the  coun- 
ties in  which  he  was  a  resident  he  was  among  the 
first  of  the  settlers.  In  the  latter  he  bought  a  tract 
of  land  covered  with  primeval  forest,  cleared  a  small 
space  and  built  a  log  house.  His  wife  died  I  here  in 
1820.  In  April,  1823,  he  married  Elizabeth  Miles. 
She  was  born  April  20,  1800,  in  Breckenridge  Co., 
Ky.  After  their  marriage  they  went  to  live  in  the 
native  county  of  the  wife,  where  they  were  residents 
until  the  year  in  which  they  came  to  Illinois.  They 
started  for  the  West  October  gih,  with  teams  of 
horses,  and  arrived  in  Warren  Cohnty  after  20  days 
of  travel  across  the  country,  M.  Hogan  bought  a 


tax  title  or.  section  35,  in  Township  12,  range  i 
which  was  his  field  of  operation  until  his  death, 
which  transpired  Sept.  19,  1864.  His  wife  survived 
him  until  Nov.  22,  1875.  He  was  the  father  of  12 
children.  William  C.  lives  in  the  township  of  Hen- 
derson, in  Knox  County.  Nancy  is  the  wife  of  Har- 
mon Brown,  of  the  same  township  in  which  her 
brother  lives.  These  two  were  the  children  of  the 
first  wife.  The  second  wife  became  the  mother  of 
ten  children,  three  of  whom  survive.  Mr.  Hogan 
of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of 
R.  A.  Sinclair,  of  Nebraska.  Jane  is  married  to  O. 
E.  Beswick,  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Hogan  has  lived  in  Kelly  Township  from  the 
time  of  the  removal  of  his  father  hither  to  the  fall  of 
1840,  when  he  went  to  Missouri,  remaining  in  that 
State  two  months.  The  business  in  which  he  had 
interested  himself  was  that  of  an  assistant  in  a  fac- 
tory for  the  manufacture  of  fanning-mills.  He  went 
thence  to  Madison,  Indiana,  and  was  similarly  occu- 
pied while  there.  He  remained  in  Indiana  until 
March,  1850.  He  then  came  back  to  Warren 
County  and  engaged  in  the  same  business  in  the 
township  of  Cold  Brook.  After  a  period  of  two  years 
passed  as  a  craftsman  there,  he  located  on  a  farm, 
on  which  he  passed  a  year.  After  that  he  was  occu- 
pied a  season  as  a  lightning-rod  agent,  and  then  op- 
erated as  a  collector.  Meanwhile,  in  company  with 
a  brother,  he  made  a  purchase  of  the  farm  which  he 
now  owns  and  occupies.  During  the  years  1853-4 
he  was  engaged  in  the  management  of  his  interests 
on  the  farm.  In  the  autumn  of  the  year  last  named 
he  went  to  Galesburg  and  was  an  assistant  in  build- 
ing the  first  brick  business  block  ever  erected  in  that 
place.  From  that  date  he  has  been  occupied  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  business  of  a  carpenter  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  time. 

He  was  married  Dec.  30,  1862,  to  Miss  Ida  A. 
Thompson.  They  have  nine  children.  Their  names 
are  Jennie  B.,  Emma,  Harmon  B.,  H.  Eva,  L.  Maud, 
Willie,  Orrin  E.,  Frank  M.  and  Ralph. 

In  political  connection  and  faith,  Mr.  Hogan  is  a 
Republican.  He  adheres  to  the  faith  of  the  Uni- 
versalists.  He  has  officiated  in  various  township 
official  positions,  among  which  are  Collector  of  Taxes, 
Treasurer  of  the  school  fund  and  Clerk.  July  7, 
1857,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Utah  postal 
station  by  President  Buchanan.  He  resigned  to  enter 
the  military  service  and  on  his  return  was  re-ap-. 


: 


L_ 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


•^r- ,  'v. '_  ^ ." . 


pointed  by  President  Lincoln.     He  held  the  office 
until  1878,  when  he  resigned. 

Mr.  Hogan  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  respond  to 
the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  troops,  and  he  en- 
listed in  April,  1861,  in  Company  E,  i;th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  for  three  months.  He  was  sworn  into  service 
and  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  a  soldier 
during  that  time.  In  1862  he  went  to  Ind.ana,  ac- 
companied by  his  wife,  and  while  there  that  part  of 
the  State  was  raided  by  Morgan  and  his  guerrillas. 
The  inhabitants  armed  for  defense  and  Mr.  Hogan 
joined  them.  He  was  captured  by  the  Third  Louis- 
iana Cavalry  and  after  a  brief  bondage  was  released, 
after  being  robbed  of  his  money  and  clothing.  He 
went  a  little  later  to  Vicksburg,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed in  a  bakery,  and  after  a  short  service  in  that 
capacity  he  obtained  a  pass  from  Gen.  John  A.  Lo- 
gan and  went  to  New  Orleans.  After  a  stay  in  the 
Crescent  City  of  five  weeks  he  returned  to  Warren 
County. 


eorge  W.  Fish,  engaged  in  agriculture  on 
section  4,  Berwick  Township,  was  born  in 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  28,  1820.  He  is 
son  of  William  A.  Fish,  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, in  which  State  he  was  born  April  i,  1788. 
Mr.  Fish,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
is  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  county,  coming 
herein  1836,  and  purchasing  71  acres  of  land  on 
section  4,  Berwick  Township.  Previous  to  his  com- 
ing to  thjs  State  and  county,  he  had  followed  his 
trade,  that  of  a  carpenter,  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 

On  arrival  in  this  county,  he  located  on  his  land 
and  there  resided  actively  engaged  in  its  cultivation 
until  his  death,  May  4,  1845.  He  was  an  industrious 
man,  kind-hearted  and  generous,  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  any  and  all  measures  that  were  calculated 
to  benefit  the  community  in  which  he  resided.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  S.  Allen,  Feb.  4,  1816. 
She  was  born  Sept.  25,  1798,  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  died  March  23,  1885.  Of  their  union  four  chil- 
dren were  born, — Helen,  June  22,  1820;  George, 
July  28,  1822;  Allen,  Jan.  21,  1828,  and  Albert, 
April  4,  1831.  Two  children  are  deceased. 

George  W.  Fish  came  to  this  State  with  his  pa- 


rents,  and  located  with  them  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Berwick  Township,  this  county.  He  has  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life,  and  at  present  is  en- 
gaged in  the  same  occupation  on  the  identical  land 
on  which  his  parents  first  located  when  they  came  to 
the  county.  Mr.  Fish  has  never  enjoyed  the  "  bless- 
ings "  of  double  blessedness,  but  has  a  most  amiable 
and  intelligent  housekeeper  in  the  person  of  his  sis- 
ter. She  was  born  in  1820;  was  never  married,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  was  also 
her  mother.  In  politics,  Mr.  Fish  votes  with  the 
Democratic  party. 


n.  Samuel  Wood,   deceased,   formerly    a 
resident  of  Monmouth,  was  born  at  Blue 
Hill,  Maine,   June    12,  1811,  and  died  at 
Monmauth,  Dec.  21,  1881.     His  parents,  Sam- 
uel and  Frances  (Coburn)  Wood,  were  natives   , 
I      respectively  of  the  States  of  Maine  and  Massa- 
chusetts, and  descendants  from  old   English  stock.   . 
They  reared  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  , 
the  subject  of  our  sketch   was   the  youngest.     The 
senior  Mr.  Wood  was  a  farmer  during  his  lifetime, 
but  the  subject  of  this   notice,  early  in  life,  learned 
the  carpenter's   trade  and  followed  it  for  about  20 
years.     He  received  his  education  at  the  Blue  Hill 
(Me.)  Academy,  and  in   1838  came  to    Monmouth, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.     He  was 
married  at  Monmouth,   Sept.    i,  1840,  by  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Wilson,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Hogue,  a  native 
of  Tennessee.     She  died  April  28,  1856.    Their  first 
born,  Almira  Jane,  died  Jan.  i,  1854,  aged  about  n 
years;      Clarinda,    now     Mrs.    William     Mitchell; 
Charles  P.,  who  died  Jan.  i,   1854,  aged  about  six 
years,  and  Alice,  who  died   Dec.  22,  1853,  when  lit- 
tle more   than   a  year  old.     On  Jan.   21,  1858,  Mr. 
Wood  was  again    married    at    Monmouth,    to    Miss 
Martha  E.  Mitchener,  of  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Rachel  Mitchener.     Her  father's 
family   came  over  with  William   Penn   to  America. 
Mrs.  Wood,  nee  Mitchener,  was  born  April  23,  1825. 
Her  parents  came   to    Monmouth    in    1854,    where 
her  father  died  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  82  years.     His 
widow  survived  him  about  six  years,  finally  passing 
away  in  the  85 th  year  of  her  age.     Of  the  two  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood,  the  eldest,  Lulu,  born 


3°4 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


July  3,  1860,  died  Aug.  u,  following,  and  Lena 
Leota  is,  at  this  writing,  November,  1885,  the  ac- 
complished companion  of  her  mother. 

Mr.  Wood  was  a  self-made  man,  and  during  his 
life  enjoyed  the  merited  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
neighbors.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
a  member  of  no  Church  or  secret  Order.  He  was 
three  times  elected  Mayor  of  Monmouth,  and  also 
held  the  office  of  Township  Assessor  for  several 
years.  For  many  years  before  his  death,  he  had 
been  engaged  in  no  particular  business,  and  on  his 
demise  he  left  his  family  a  handsome  competency. 
A  portrait  of  Mr.  Wood  will  be  found  on  another 
page  of  this  work. 


Charles  S.  Colver,  M.  D.,  has  been  a 
medical  practitioner  in  Warren  County 
since  1853.  He  was  educated  primarily 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  county  in  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born,  and  at  the  age  of  19  he 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  at  Middle- 
bury,  in  Logan  County,  under  the  instructions  of 
Dr.  Walker.  Later,  he  read  under  the  advice  of  Dr. 
Davenport,  of  Woodstock,  in  Union  County.  When 
he  was  thoroughly  grounded  in  the  course  of  his 
reading,  he  repaired  to  the  college  at  Cincinnati,  and 
at  a  later  date  he  attended  lectures  at  Starling  Medi- 
cal College  in  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  latter  institution  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
in  the  same  year  in  which  he  came  to  Warren 
County.  A  few  months  prior  to  finishing  his  studies 
at  Starling  he  operated  as  a  physician  in  Montgomery 
County,  and  he  went  thence  to  New  California,  in 
Union  County,  where  he  was  engaged  at  the  time  he 
completed  his  collegiate  course.  He  started  for  Illi- 
nois immediately  after  his  graduation.  He  brought 
his  family  with  him  as  far  as  Hennepin,  on  the  Illi- 
nois River,  whence  he  came  to  Little  York  with  a 
team  to  decide  for  himself  as  to  the  feasibility  of  the 
place  for  his  business.  He  also  made  examination  of 
other  localities  and  desided  on  Little  York  as  a  suit- 
able place  for  his  purpose.  He  brought  his  house- 
hold to  that  point  and  it  has  since  been  his  field  of 
operation.  Three  years  after  his  removal  hither  he 
bought  a  piece  of  wild  prairie  in  Mercer  County 
situated  eight  miles  from  Little  York  and  his  family 


removed  to  it.  The  doctor  continued  his  practice 
and  hired  laborers  to  effect  the  work  of  improvement 
on  his  land.  After  a  residence  there  of  about  a  de- 
cade he  sold  out  and  removed  to  the  farm  he  now 
occupies  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  20.  He 
has  rebuilt  the  house  which  was  on  the  place,  erected 
a  barn  and  otherwise  improved  the  farm. 

Hadassah  Hamilton  became  his  wife  in  1848.  She 
is  a  native  of  Greene  Co.,  Ohio.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Hadassah  (Gillispie)  Hamilton. 
Her  parents  were  of  Scotch-Irish  origin.  The  grand- 
parents came  to  this  country  about  1770  and  settled 
in  Pennsylvania.  They  moved  from  the  above  State 
in  1812,  and  settled  near  Xenia,  Ohio.  Mrs.  C.  was 
born  March  n,  1825,  she  being  the  oldest  of  four 
children  born  to  her  parents,  viz.:  Hadassah  T., 
Hannah  M.,  Mary  J.  and  James  G.  Two  are  de- 
ceased, Hannah  M.  and  Mary  J.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Colver  have  had  the  following  children:  Rosa,  their 
first-born,  died  when  about  18  months  old;  Robert 
O.,  married  Miss  Bessie  Watt,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  now  resides  in  Sedgwick  Co.,  Kan. ;  Mark 
S.  married  Jennie  Brownlee,  a  native  of  Warren 
County,  and  lives  in  Georgetown,  Col.,  and  have  one 
child — Pearlie;  Charles  B.  married  Mrs.  Libbie 
Smythe,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  they  have  one 
child — Hadassah,  named  after  its  grandmother. 
They  are  now  living  in  Edwards  Co,  Kan.;  Olive, 
born  July  25,  1853,  died  Sept.  14,  1885  ;  Abi  H.  and 
Merle  D.  are  the  youngest  children,  and  reside  at 
home.  The  vrtrious  members  of  the  family  of  Dr. 
Colver  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church.  Dr.  C.  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party. 


li  C.  Johnston,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
grower  on  section  36,  Ellison  Township, 
was  born  in  Daviess  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  20, 
1830.  The  family  traditions  give  the  following 
facts  concerning  the  remote  account  known  to 
any  of  the  family  at  present :  They  are  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  John  Johnston,  a  soldier  in  the  Innes- 
killen  Regiment,  in  the  army  of  William  the  Third  in 
the  battle  of  Boyne,  married  Jane  Potter  about  1692, 
and  settled  as  a  farmer  near  the  town  of  Straban, 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  The  names  of  two  of  their 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


children  were  Christopher  and  James.  Both  were 
born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  Christopher  came 
to  America  some  time  during  the  first  half  of  the 
i8th  century  and  settled  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.;  the 
other  brother,  James,  remained  in  Ireland  with  his 
parents,  who  lived  to  a  great  age.  He,  after  their  de- 
cease, when  about  50  years  old,  married  Rebecca 
Barnhill.  She  became  the  mother  of  five  children 
known  to  the  family,  namely  :  Christopher,  John, 
Edward,  Elizabeth  and  Jane.  The  former  was  a 
soldier  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  afterwards  went 
to  Kentucky  and  was  killed  by  the  Indians  at 
Estill's  defeat.  Jonn  went  to  Georgia  and  since 
that  eventful  time  has  not  been  heard  of.  Elizabeth 
married  William  Frame  and  lived  in  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
Jane  married  William  Barnhill,  who  resided  some 
time  in  Kentucky,  and  afterward  went  to  Lawrence 
Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  both  died.  Edward  was  born 
in  1776  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  was  about 
seven  years  old  when  he  came  to  America  with  his 
ffather  in  1783. 

His  father  died  about  1791,  and  after  his  death  and 
ithe  settlement  of  the  estate,  Edward  went  to  Pitts- 
'burg,  Pa ,  and  from  there  to  Kentucky.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  two  or  three  campaigns  against  the  Indians 
and  during  the  same,  marched  through  the  State  of 
Indiana  when  it  was  a  wild  wilderness,  full  of  game 
of  all  descriptions.  He,  Edward,  married  Jane 
Miller  and  in  1797  purchased  200  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  resided  until  i8oi,when  lie  removed  to 
Clark  Co.,  Ind.  In  1817,  he  left  that  county  and 
went  to  Lawrence  County,  same  State,  where  he  died 
in  May,  1834.  His  wife,  Jane  Miller,  was  born  in 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  1762,  and  died  in  Law- 
rence Co  ,  Ind.,  in  December,  1833.  Their  married 
life  lasted  tor  40  years,  and  during  the  time  they 
were  man  and  wife  they  passed  through  many  hard- 
ships and  privations,  common  to  pioneer  life.  Of  the 
children  born  to  Edward  Johnston,  Christopher,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  article,  died  at  Paducah, 
Ky.,  while  running  a  flat-boat  down  the  Mississippi 
River.  Christopher  married  Miss  Sarah  Dixon, 
daughter  Eli  and  Rebecca  Dixon.  She  was  born  in 
Ohio. 

Eli  C.  Johnston,  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands 
at  the  head  of  this  biography,  was  the  youngest  child 
of  his  parents'  family,  and  is  the  only  survivor. 
His  father  died  of  cholera  in  Kentucky,  as  stated, 
and  was  buried  at  Paducah,  same  State.  He  was  a 


pioneer  in  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind.,  and  by  occupation 
was  a  flat-boatman  on  the  Mississippi,  White  and 
Wabash  Rivers.  Mr.  Johnston,  of  this  notice,  was 
but  three  years  old  at  the  date  of  his  father's  demise, 
and  soon  thereafter  his  mother,  accompanied  by 
two  children,  went  to  Greene  Co  ,  Ind.,  where  they 
located  near  Worthington.  Mr.  Johnston  continued 
to  reside  with  his  mother  until  her  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  seven  years  old.  He  after- 
wards lived  with  and  was  reared  by  relatives,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  1860,  when  he  came  to  this 
State. 

Previous  to  coming  here,  Nov.  26,  1857,  in  Greene 
County,  his  native  State,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Amanda,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Charena  (Alford) 
Andrews,  natives  of  Tennessee.  Her  father  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  was  born  in  Lawrence  Co., 
Tenn.,  where  Mrs.  Johnston,  wife  of  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  was  born,  May  19,  1839.  She  was  four 
years  old  when  her  parents  moved  to  Greene  Co., 
Ind.,  where  they  resided  until  their  death,  that  of 
the  mother  occurring  in  May,  1860,  in  her  461)1  year, 
and  that  of  the  father  in  1864,  when  he  was  52 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Johnston  was  the  oldest  but  one 
of  her  parents' family,  which  consisted  of  three  sons 
and  three  daughters.  She  was  educated  at  Broom- 
field  College,  and  resided  with  her  parent,  following 
the  vocation  of  teaching  and  assisting  the  mother  in 
the  household  duties  until  her  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnston  have  become  the  parents 
of  five  children.  Edward  C.  married  Miss  Ora  Ad- 
kinson,  daughter  of  William  and  Lucinda  Adkinson, 
and  they  reside  in  Point  Pleasant  Township,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming;  William  D.  married  Ida 
Stem,  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Stem,  and  he  is 
also  a  farmer  of  Point  Pleasant  Township;  Blanche 
C.,  Minnie  and  Estella  reside  at  home. 

In  the  fall  of  ig6o  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnston  came 
to  this  State  and  were  for  a  few  months  residents  at 
Roseville.  Mr.  Johnston  then  rented  land  in  Point 
Pleasant  Township,  which  he  cultivated  for  two 
years.  In  1863  he  purchased  80  acres  of  partly  im- 
proved land,  the  same  being  on  section  36,  Ellison 
Township.  He  and  his  family  at  once  located  there- 
on, and  he  began  the  improvement  which  developed 
into  the  fine  farm  of  220  acres,  on  which  they  are 
now  residing.  By  energetic  labor  and  united  efforts 
on  the  part  of  his  wife  and  children,  and  economy, 
Mr.  J.  has  been  enabled  to  increase  his  landed  pos- 


266 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


sessions  in  the  county  until  he  is  at  present  the  pro- 
prietor 860  acres,  all  in,  a  body  and  all  of  -it  in  an 
advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  a  good  resi- 
dence on  his  land,  together  with  substantial  out- 
buildings, and  after  having  passed  through  the  trials 
of  the  past  he  is  now  enjoying  the  comforts  of  life. 
Since  the  fall  of  1860,  Mr.  Johnston  has  not  seen  the 
shining  light  of  day.  The  toils  of  life  and  exposure 
brought  on  a  cold,  which  was  followed  by  acute  in- 
flammation, and  resulted  in  totally  destroying  his 
sight,  and  he  is  now  deprived  of  that  greatest  of 
blessings  to  man.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  denom- 
ination Mr.  Johnston  is  an  Elder,  and  has  held  that 
position  for  the  past  two  years.  Mrs.  Johnston  is  a 
consistent  Christian,  a  kind  mother  and  a  loving  wife. 
The  care  she  bestows  on  her  blind  husband  needs 
no  mention  in  this  book,.neither  does  she  desire  the 
encomiums  of  friends  for  the  performance  of  a  loving 
duty  in  taking  care  of  him  to  whom,  28  years  ago,  she 
gave  her-heart  and  hand,  and  we  can  but  say,  "well 
done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant."  Politically, 
Mr.  J.  is  a  Democrat. 

•—A  •  *  'fOc- — 


ilfred  Hayes.  There  lives  on  section  19, 
of  Roseville  Township,  Alfred  Hayes,  who 
has  retired  from  the  active  labors  of  farm 
life,  in  which  occupation  he  was  successful. 
He  is  a  native  of  New  York  and  was  born  in 
Cortland  County,  March  23,  1820.  George 
and  Sally  (Roberts)  Hayes,  his  parents,  were  natives 
of  Connecticut,  and  were  farmers  by  occupation. 
They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  all  reaching 
a  mature  life,  Alfred  being  the  youngest.  The 
names  of  the  others  were:  Oliver,  Sally,  Samantha 
and  George  W.  The  three  sons  are  the  only  mem- 
bers of  the  family  living. 

Alfred  received  a  good  common-school  education 
and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  24 
years  of  age,  when  he  left  home  and  worked  out  by 
the  month  for  23  years.  He  came  to  Illinois,  in 
June,  1857,  and  stopped  in  Berwick  Township,  this 
county,  where  he  worked  until  1859.  He  then 
rented  a  farm  in  Berwick  Township,  consisting  of 
1 60  acres.  He  continued  to  rent  and  work  out  until 
1863,  when  he  purchased  the  171  acres  where  he 


is  now  living.  Here  he  made  all  of  the  improve- 
ments, erecting  a  fine  dwelling,  at  a  cost  of  $3,350, 
and  a  good  barn  costing  $1,200.  He  also  set  out 
trees  and  beautified  his  place  in  various  way,  and  is 
now  regarded  as  one  of  the  solid  and  substantial 
men  of  the  township.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republi- 
can. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  married  March  19,  1863,  to  Miss 
Melissa  Hall,  a  native  of  Maine  and  a  daughter  of 
Lewis  S.  Hall.  She  was  born  Feb.  13,  1836.  Her 
parents  came  West  in  1855,  and  her  mother  died 
here. 


.enry  C.  Giddings,  a  successful  farmer  of 
Warren  County,  residing  on  section  28, 
Floyd  Township,  was  born  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa., 
March  20,  1846,  and  came  to  this  State  with 
his  parents  in  February,  1855.  Moses  Gid- 
dings, father  of  Henry,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  N.  H.,  Nov.  19,  1801,  and  died  at  the  old  home- 
stead, where  Henry  now  resides,  May  7,  1881. 

The  father  of  Henry  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sophia  Stafford,  in  1830.  She  was  born  in 
1817,  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  May  n,  1876,  in 
Warren  County.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  consistent  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal 'Church.  Of  their  union  13 
children  were  born:  Jesse,  Sebastian  C.,  Hannah, 
Semantha,  Eben  W.,  Silas,  John  W.,  Marion,  Thomas, 
Henry  C.,  George  W.,  Harriet  A.  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy.  Jesse  and  Marion  are  now  also 
deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  formed  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Miss  Ophelia  E.  Wagner,  Nov.  15, 
1866.  She  was  born  Jan,  n,  1845,  in  New  York, 
her  parents  being  Henry  and  Esther  (Sherman), 
Wagoner.  Her  father  was  born  in  Herkimer  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  came  to  this  State  in  1851,  locating  in  this 
county,  where  he  died  June  19,  1881.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Esther  Sherman  in  1833,  who  was  born  Dec. 
29,  1812,  in  Vermont,  and  died  Jan.  20,  1873,  in  this 
county.  Of  their  union  seven  children  were  born, — 
Charles  W.,  Mary  S.,  Anna  R.,  James  S.,  Ophelia  E., 
Fannie  A.  and  J.  E. 

Mr.   and    Mrs.    Sherman    had    one    child — Cyrus 
Sherman,  born  Aug.  23,  1867,  and   which  died  in  in- 


•" 


Q. 

h 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


fancy.  Mr.  Giddings  is  the  owner  of  190  acres  of 
good  farm  land,  which  constitutes  one  of  the  model 
farms  of  Floyd  Township.  On  the  place  is  a  good 
residence  35  x  40  feet  in  dimensions  and  two  stories 
in  height,  and  also  a  good  barn  40  x  40  feet.  He 
has  a  fine  imported  Clydesdale,  eight  years  old, 
weighing  2,000  pounds,  named  King  Cole.  He  is 
also  engaged  in  breeding  thoroughbred  Herefords, 
and  high  grade  Short-horns,  having  in  head  of  the 
latter  on  hand. 

Mrs.  Giddings  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
In  politics,  Mr.  G.  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of 
the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party. 


i  illiam  R.  Rayburn,  one  of  Warren 
County's  most  prominent  well-to-do  and 
respected  farmers,  and  a  resident  of  sec- 
tion 36,  Ellison  Township,  was  born 
near  Mt.  Sterling,  Montgomery  Co.,  Ky., 
J  '  Oct.  18,  1822.  His  father,  George  Rayburn,  a 
farmer  and  native  of  the  same  State,  was  a  son  of  an 
old  Kentucky  family  who  settled  there  in  its  early 
history.  He  was  first  married  in  Montgomery 
County  to  Miss  White,  who  died  a  few  years  later 
without  issue.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  George 
Rayburn  went  into  Ripley  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  was 
again  married  to  Susan  Shafer,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  daughter  of  farmer  and  old  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  having  enlisted  when  only  16  years  of 
sge.  After  marriage,  Mr.  Rayburn  returned  to 
Montgomery  County,  settling  near  Mt.  Sterling 
(the  county  seat)  and  while  residing  there  the 
subject  of  our  memoir  was  born.  When  but  an  infant 
his  parents  again  returned  to  Ripley  Co.,  Ind.,  and 
located  upon  a  farm  where  William  R.  was  reared, 
educated  and  resided  until  his  marriage.  His  pa- 
rents died  there  some  years  after  his  marriage. 

The  date  of  the  marriage  of  William  R.  Rayburn 
with  Miss  Sarah  Roberts,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane 
(Salyers)  Roberts,  natives  of  Kentucky,  took  place 
Nov.  17,  1854,  in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ind.,  where  her  pa- 
rents had  moved  some  time  previous.  Her  parents 
were  very  early  settlers  in  Southern  Indiana.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  had  procured 

Government    land  at  an  early  date  in    that   State. 

, ,    '         '  *  .X 


They  both  died  there.  Mrs.  Rayburn  remained  at 
home  until  her  marriage,  receiving  the  advantages 
afforded  by  the  common  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R. 
are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are 
deceased.  The  living  are:  George  W,  Frank  S., 
John  R.  and  Charles  C.;  Ida  J.,  Willie  and  Eddie 
are  deceased. 

About  18  months  after  marriage,  Mr.  Rayburn  came 
to  Warren  County,  and  the  same  year,  April,  1855, 
purchased  a  tax  title  to  160  acres  of  unbroken  land, 
on  section  36,  of  Ellison  Township.  He  had  some 
friends  here  and  was  attracted  by  the  rich  prairies  of 
Illinois,  a  sight  of  them  convinced  him  that  they 
were1  superior  for  farming  purposes  to  the  tender 
land  of  Indina.  He  located  on  his  land,  engaged  in 
its  improvement,  and  by  laborious  toil  and  economy 
has  added  thereto  until  he  is  at  present  the  proprie- 
tor of  560  acres  in  Ellison  Township,  the  major 
portion  of  which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  culti- 
vation. His  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  township, 
and  his  residence,  barn  and  outbuildings  are  sub- 
stantial, as  the  view  of  the  same,  which  appears  in 
this  work,  fully  demonstrates.  Mr.  R.,  in  addition 
to  his  farm  duties  and  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  d 
votes  considerable  of  his  time  to  the  raising  of  stock,' 
and  feeds  a  large  number  of  cattle  and  hogs.  His 
wife  is  an  active  member  in  the  Baptist  Church. 
Politically,  Mr.  Rayburn  is  a  believer  in  and  a  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party. 
Although  a  gentleman  not  seeking  office  he  has  held 
the  position  of  Supervisor  of  his  township  for  two 
years. 


eorge  W.  Beckner,   a  successful   farmer, 
owning  240   acres  of  land  on  section  32, 
Swan  Township,  is   a  native  of  Bath  Co., 
Ky.,  where  he  was  born   Jan.  13,  1825.     The 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  A.  L.  Beck- 
ner, was  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,   having 
been  born  in  Fleming  County,  in  1805. 

The  father  moved  to  Lewis  Co.,  Mo.,  in  1851, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  and  where 
he  died,  in  September,  1854.  He  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Kinkaid  in  1822.  She  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
in  1806,  and  died  in  March,  1856,  and  was  laid  to 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


rest  in  Bond  Cemetery,  just  south  of  Greenbush,  this 
county.  She  was  of  Irish  ancestry  and  bore  her 
husband  1 1  children,  five  of  whom  survive, — George 
W.,  born  in  1825  ;  Mary  A.,  in  1827  ;  Joanna  M.,  in 
1831;  Peter  T,,  in  1845,  and  H.  C.,  in  1850. 

George  W.,  of  whom  this  notice  treats,  married 
Miss  Deborah  Van  Kirk,  March  7,  1848.  She  was 
born  Aug.  n,  1826,  the  issue  of  their  union  being  u 
children.  The  living  are:  Miranda,  born  May  16, 
1849;  Robert  P.,  May  7,  1852;  George,  Feb.  25, 
1865  ;  Susan  J.,  Aug.  31,  1867,  and  Hattie  G.,  Aug. 
17,  1869.  The  deceased  are  Mathias,  Abraham,  An- 
drew S.,  Kansadia,  Amelia  A.  and  Mary  C.,  all  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Miranda  is  the  wife  W.  H. 
King,  to  whom  she  was  married  Oct.  7,  1869.  They 
are  residents  of  Swan  Creek  village,  and  have  six 
children — George  T.,  Iba,  William,  Albert,  John  and 
Hattie.  Robert  is  a  farmer  in  Swan  Township,  and 
married  Donazett  Vandiveer.  They  have  two  chil- 
•  dren — Lovinia  and  Virge.  George  resides  in  Brown 
Co.,  Kan.  Susan  and  Hattie  are  at  home. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Beckner  were  Mathias  and 
Elizabeth  (Wilson)  Van  Kirk.  Her  father  was  born 
in  1796,  in  Kentucky,  and  there  died  in  1846.  Her 
mother  was  born  in  1802,  in  Kentucky,  and  died 
May  27,  1882,  in  McDonough  Co.,  111.  Her  remains 
rest  in  peace  in  Bond  Cemetery,  near  Greenbush,  this 
county.  Of  her  parents'  union  16  children  were 
born,  nine  of  whom  are  yet  living,  namely:  John, 
Henry,  Nancy,  Deborah,  Adelia,  Mary  K.,  Ann 
Eliza  and  Millie  T.  Of  the  children  named,  John 
married  Johanna  Beckner,  in  1854;  Nancy  became 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Painter,  in  1844,  and  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Kines,  in  1849;  Adelia,  the  wife  of 
Henry  Stoner,  in  1879;  Ann  Eliza,  the  wife  of  W.  A. 
Perry,  in  1856;  and  Millie,  the  wife  of  Wm.  Tracy. 
Nancy  and  Mary  are  living  in  Kansas.  The  others 
are  living  in  Warren  and  McDonough  Counties,  this 
State. 

Mr.  Beckner  and  his  family  are  pleasantly  situated 
on  their  handsome  240-acre  farm,  all  of  which  is 
under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  and  since  his 
coming  to  this  State,  in  1851,  he  has  continued  to 
follow  the  vocation  in  which  he  is  engaged.  His 
first  investment  hi  landed  property  was  in  1852,  the 
year  he  settled  in  Warren  County.  It  comprised  160 
acres  (unimproved).  In  1873  he  purchased  80  acres 
which  were  broken  and  somewhat  improved.  These 


240  acres  now  constitute  the  homestead  upon  which 
he  expects  to  remain  the  balance  of  his  years  in  this 
life. 

Mr.  Beckner  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Masonry, 
of  which  organization  he  has  been  a  member  since 
1866,  and  at  the  present  holds  fellowship  with  Lodge 
No.  387,  Youngstown,  111.  He  has  been  Secretary 
of  said  Lodge  for  the  last  12  years.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  Township  Supervisor  three  years,  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  15  years,  Assessor  15  years,  School 
Trustee,  18  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  Beckner  votes 
with  and  endorses  the  principles  advocated  by  the 
Democratic  party. 


uther  B.  Perry,  proprietor  of  80  acres  of 
land,  located  on  section  30,  Swan  Town- 
ship, where  he  resides,  engaged  in  its  cul-  1 
tivation  and  improvement,  was  born  May  25, 
1841,  in  this  county.     His  father,  J.  C.   Perry,   [ 
was  born  in  Vermont  in   1801 ;  came  to  this 
State  in  1840,  and  located  in  the  vicinity  Olena,  111.; 
lived    there   one    year,  when    lie    moved   to    Swan 
Township,  and  there  resided  until  his  death,  which   ' 
took   place   Feb.   19,   1881.     The   father   married  a 
Miss  Phebe  M.  Dodge,  in    1823.     She  was  born  in 
1807,  and  died  Sept.  6,  1885,  in  this  county.     They 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children:     Elias  C.    (de- 
ceased), born  Dec.  14,  1824;  Melissa  M.,   Feb.   18, 
1827;    Cordelia    O.,  July    29,    1829;    Melvina    J. 
March  12,  1832;  Alanson  W.,  Jan.  14,  1834;  Mary 
O.,  May  24,  1836;  Luther  B.,  May  25,  1841 ;  Lorane 
E.  (deceased), Oct.  IT,  1844,  and  Lyman  (deceased), 
March  29,  1849. 

Luther  B.  Perry  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Lybarger,  July  4,  1872,  Judge  Nicholas,  of 
Macomb,  this  State,  officiating.  Mrs.  Luther  B. 
Perry  was  born  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  20,  1854, 
and  bore  her  husband  four  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living,  namely :  Mina  J.,  born  April  9,  1873; 
Orville  L.,  Dec.  27,  1875;  Iva  M.,  Dec.  9,  1878; 
Rosa  D.,  born  May  31,  1884;  died  Aug.  4,  1885. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Perry,  Joseph  Lybarger,  was  born 
in  1807,  and  died  near  Marietta,  Fulton  County,  this 
State,  in  October,  1879.  His  wife,  Joanna  (Ewing) 
Lybarger,  with  whom  he  was  united  in  1834,  died 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Aug.  8,  1885.  They  were  the  parents  of  n  chil- 
dren, nine  living  and  two  dead,  namely  :  Louis  A., 
born  June  24,  1834;  Elizabeth  F.,  Feb.  4,  1837; 
Lilburn  W.,  Dec.  23, 1839;  Milton  C.,  June  28, 1842 ; 
George  H.  (deceased).  July  23,  1845;  Joseph  D. 
(deceased),  Oct.  20,  1847;  James  A.,  Feb.  i,  1850; 
Mary  A.,  March  22,  1852;  Sarah  J.,  Nov.  20,  1854; 
Hester  E.,  Dec.  15,  1858,  and  John  R.,  Oct.  15, 
1861. 

Mr.  Perry  is  pleasantly  located  on  80  acres  of 
good  farm  land,  situated  on  section  30,  all  of  which 
is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  In  politics, 
he  votes  and  endorses  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  a  consistant  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


- 


homas  J.  Morris,  owning  more  than  400 
acres  of  excellent  farm  land  in  Roseville 
Township,  and  one  of  the  pushing  farmers, 
as  well  as  a  gentleman  of  more  than  ordinary 
business  ability,  residing  on  section  12,  was 
born  in  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  28,  1825.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Morris,  Levi  and  Lucretia  (Stephens) 
Morris,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jer- 
sey respectively,  and  were  "  old  settlers  "  of  the  Key- 
stone State.  His  father  was  quite  an  extensive 
farmer  in  that  State,  and  of  his  marriage  1 1  children 
were  born,  all  of  whom  lived  to  attain  the  age  of 
manhood  and  womanhood.  Their  names  were  Mar- 
garet, Hannah,  Louisa,  Josephus,  Jefferson  and  Wash- 
ington (twins),  Franklin,  Thomas  J.,  James  B.,  Al- 
pheus  and  Lucrelia.  The  twree  eldest  girls  are  de- 
ceased, as  are  also  Jefferson  and  Alfred.  They  all 
left  families.  The  remainder  are  living,  married  and 
have  families,  and  all  reside  in  Pennsylvania.  Two 
are  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  Washington  and 
Franklin,  and  the  others  are  farmers. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  biographical  notice  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  35  years  old,  but  since  attaining  his  majority  has 
been  doing  for  himself.  He  came  to  this  State  in  the 
spring  of  1865,  where  he  rented  a  farm  on  shares, 
the  same  adjoining  the  one  on  which  he  is  at  present 
residing.  He  continued  to  cultivate  the  rented  farm 
for  ten  years,  until  1875,  when  he  purchased  the 


place  where  he  is  at  present  living.  He  is  to  day 
the  proprietor  of  a  little  more  than  400  acres  of  land, 
and  follows  the  vocation  of  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  Morris  was  united  in  mar- 
riage on  Feb.  22,  1866,  was  Miss  Sarah  Way,  the 
accomplished  daughter  of  Gideon  Way,  of  Monon- 
galia  Co.,  W.  Va ,  where  Mrs.  Morris  was  born.  She 
has  borne  her  husband  three  children, — Charles  W., 
Ella  J  ,  and  William  I.  In  his  politics,  Mr.  Morris 
always  votes  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
held  different  offices  within  the  gift  of  the  people  of 
his  township,  and  is  a  gentleman  whose  bond  is  ac- 
cepted no  quicker  than  his  word  in  the  transactions 
of  business.  His  success  is  indicative  of  that  push, 
pluck  and  good  judgment  of  which  he  is  characteris- 
tic. The  great  grandfather  of  Mr.  Morris,  on  his 
father's  side,  Mr.  Corbry,  was  a  Baptist  preacher  and 
lived  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  While  on  his  way 
with  his  family  to  deliver  a  sermon,  they  were  at- 
tacked by  Indians  and  three  of  the  children  killed. 
One  of  the  girls  of  the  family  hid  in  a  tree-top,  and, 
supposing  the  Indians  had  left,  raised  her  head  to 
look  around,  when  one  of  the  red  devils  saw  her  and 
threw  his  tomahawk  at  her  head,  taking  off  her 
her  scalp.  They  left  her  for  dead,  but  she  survived, 
came  to  herself  and  lived  to  become  the  mother  of  a 
family.  Mrs.  Morris  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 


jilliain  O.  Kidder,  residing  on  his  farm  of 
117  acres  on  section  21,  Swan  Township, 
was  born  in  this  county,  Aug.  13,  1839, 
and  is  a  son  of  Larnard  Kidder,  born  in 
Mansfield,  Conn.,  March  u,  1806,  and  who 
died  Sept.  24,  1864,  in  this  county  (having  em- 
igrated to  Illinois  in  1837),  his  remains  being  placed 
at  rest  in  the  Hammond  Cemetery. 

The  father  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Hois- 
ington,  March  22,  1837,  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio. 
She  was  born  at  Windsor,  Vt.,  April  5,  iSog.-and  was 
the  daughter  of  Abisha  and  Lucinda  (Hastings) 
Hoisington.  Mary  A.,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  is  at  present  (January,  1886)  enjoying 
good  health  in  her  venerable  old  age. 

William  O.  Kidder,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 


WARREN  COUNTY; 


notice,  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Perry,  Dec.  20,  1865. 
She  was  born  Jan.  20,  1847,  and  was  the  daughter 
of  Charles  Perry,  who  was  born  in  1815,  and  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Jones.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kidder  are  the 
the  parents  of  three  children, — Nellie  G.,  born  Oct. 
3,  1866;  Grant  L.,  Sept.  2,  1868;  and  Ross  L.,  July 
30,  1885.  Mr.  Kidder  has  117  acres  of  land  in  this 
countv,  all  well  improved,  on  which  he  has  a  good 
dwelling  and  barn,  24x36  feet  in  dimensions,  with 
1 6  feet  posts.  In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
land,  he  is  engaged  in  the  raising  of  stock  of  a  high 
grade. 

Win.  O.  Kidder's  early  education  was  acquired  in 
the  common  schools,  and  was  supplemented  by  a 
course  of  study  at  Lombard  University,  at  which  in- 
stitution he  passed  three  winters.  In  1861,  he  en- 
listed for  the  cause  for  the  Union  at  Macomb,  Mc- 
Donough  Co.,  this  State,  in  Co.  H,  »d  111.  Vol.  Cav., 
and  was  mustered  in  at  Springfield,  Aug.  12,  1861. 
The  first  general  engagement  was  at  Union  City, 

S^enn. ;  then  at  Jackson,  La  Grange,  Memphis,  St. 
oseph,  Baker's  Creek  and  Vicksburg.     Mr.  Kidder 
scaped  the  casualities  of  the  war  without  receiving 
)»any  wounds.     He  was  on  the  Teche  and  Red  River 
Icampaigns,  under  Gen.   Banks,  and  was  discharged 
at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  just  three  years   after  his  en- 
uistment.     In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican. 


tavid  Van  Gilder,  the  present  Assessor  of 
the  township  of  Point  Pleasant,  was  born 
in  Hancock  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  26,  1824.  He 
was  12  years  of  age  when  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  and  became  pioneers  of  Knox 
County.  The  family  removed  hither  with  ox- 
teams  and  brought  all  their  personal  property  with 
them.  They  drove  their  stock  and  camped  and 
cooked  in  the  style  of  gipsies.  The  journey  'was 
Ion?  and  tedious  and  was  made  across  the  trackless 
country  that  intervened,  and  when  they  were  beyond 
the  limits  of  civilization  the  streams  were  destitute 
of  bridges  and  all  the  annoyances  increased  in  pro- 
portion. To  the  unaccustomed  people  of  the  East 
the  sloughs  were  something  terrible. 

The  father  bought  land  in  Knox  County  and  the 
family  resided  some  time  in  Knoxville,  until  the  head 


of  it  could  get  out  the  timber  necessary  to  build  a 
house  and  make  things  comfortable  for  them.  The 
first  dwelling  was  a  log  house  and  was  covered  with 
clapboards  or  "shakes."  It  had  also  a  puncheon 
floor  according  to  the  fashion  of  those  days.  The 
furniture  of  the  house  was  made  by  the  father  from 
hewed  timber.  The  parents  resided  in  that  county 
until'  their  deaths,  the  father  in  September,  1857, 
and  the  mother  about  1870. 

Mr.  Van  Gilder  resided  with  his  parents  until  he 
w<is.j!2vwhen  he  was  married  to  Nancy  L.  Maxey. 
They  lived  the  following  year  on  the  farm  of  the 
father-in-law  in  Knox  Township,  whence  they  re- 
moved to  the  northeast  portion  of  the  same  county 
and  bought  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  La  Fayette> 
Stark  Co.,  111.  Mr.  Van  Gilder  retained  the  posses- 
sion of  that  place  18  months  and  then  sold  out.  He 
returned  to  the  township  of  Knox,  where  he  bought  a 
farm  and  there  resided  until  1865.  He  again  sold 
out  and  came  thence  to  Warren  County,  where  he 
located  in  what  seemed  to  him  the  best  township  in 
the  county.  He  established  himself  permanently  by 
uniting  his  interests  with  those  of  the  general  public, 
buying  land  and  proceeding  to  add  his  quota  to  the 
development  of  the  resources  of  his  property.  His 
farm  is  situated  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
22,  Point  Pleasant  Township,  and  is  in  advanced 
"cultivation.  The  owner  has  planted  a  grove  of  shade- 
trees  and  a  valuable  orchard.  The  buildings  are  in 
every  way  suited  to  the  purposes  of  general  farming 
and  the  place  is  well  enclosed  with  hedges  and  is 
cross-fenced.  The  entire  property  is  in  a  condition 
to  compare  favorably  with  the  best  farms  in  the 
county. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Van  Gilder  died  in  1853, 
leaving  four  children.  James  M.  lives  in  Point 
Pleasant  Township.  S.  Annie  is  married  to  Alex- 
ander Strickler,  of  this  township.  '.Jonathan  S.  mar- 
ried and  left  one  child,  and  Mary  A.  and  Ellen  are 
now  dead. 

In  1858  Mr.  Van  Gilder  was  again  married,  to 
Mary  L.  Smith.  She  died  in  1864  and  left  one  child, 
who  was  named  Smith  Van  Gilder.  He  is  a  resident 
of  Fremont  Co.,  Iowa.  In  1865  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  a  third  time  married,  to  Jennie  Axtell,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  was  a  resident  of  War- 
ren County  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Joseph  Axtell,  who  died  while  on  his 
way  here  in  1840.  Mrs.  Axtell  died  here.  Mr.  and 


- 


y 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Mrs.  Van  Gilder  have  four  children — Myrtie,  Charlie 
E.,  Nellie  and  Ray  M.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van 
Gilder  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican. 


Teremiah  Hoornbeek,  residing  "on  section 
gSHf'  35,  Hale  Township,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  vocation  of  an  agriculturist  and 
stock-raiser,  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Esther 
(Wilkins)  Hoornbeek,  natives  of  New  York. 
They  were  of  Holland  and  English  ancestry 
respectively.  Mr.  H.  traces  his  family  back  to  the 
1 6th  century.  His  father  (who  was  born  in  Ulster 
County)  died  Jan.  19,  1841,  and  [his  mother  (bom  in 
Orange  County)  died  Aug.  i,  1854. 

Jeremiah  was  also  born  in  Ulster  County,  May  3, 
1824.  He  received  a  common-school  education  in 
his  native  State  and  their  resided  until  1855.  In 
December,  of  that  year,  Mr.  Hoornbeek  came  to  this 
State  and  located  in  Hale  Township,  this  county,  on 
a  farm  which  he  had  purchased,  consisting  of  160 
acres.  He  at  once  engaged  actively  and  energetic- 
ally in  the  improvement  and  development  of  his 
land.  To-day  he  has  it  under  an  advanced  state  of 
cultivation'and  enhanced  in  value  by  the  erection  of 
good,  substantial  buildings,  and  where  [he  still  con- 
tinues to  follow  the  vocation  of  his  life. 

The  marriage'.of  Mr.  Hoornbeek  took  place  in 
Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  April  2,  1851,  at  which  time 
Miss  Elizabeth  Bruyn  became  his  wife.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Cornelia (LeFevre)  Bruyn. 

The  Bruyn  family  are  of  Norwegian  descent.  Ja- 
cobus Bruyn  was  the  first  of  that  name  in  this  coun- 
try. He  came  from  (Norway  and  settled  in  New 
York  alout  1660.  The  LeFevres  are  of  French  ex- 
traction and  came  to  this  "country  about  1670  and 
settled  ii  Ulster  County,  New  York. 

She  was  born  in  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  23, 
1827,  and  i  f  the  children  she  rfas  borne  Mr.  Hoorn- 
beek six  ai.  living,  namely :  Esther,  Nathaniel  B., 
Adelia  C.,  incline  D.,  John  W.  and  Catherine  B. 
Esther  is  tl.  wife  of  Ira  Dean,  a  resident  of  Nebras- 
ka, and  they_..have  two  [children,  Ralph  S.  and  Ho- 
mer H.  N  laniel  B.  is  a  physician,  engaged  in 
practice  at  \,.  ungstown,  this  county.  He  has  two 


children,  viz. :    Lillian  and  Clyde.     The  other  chil- 
dren reside  at  home. 

Mr.  Hoornbeek  has  held  the  office  of  School  Di- 
rector and  Overseer  of  Highways,  and  he  and  his 
wife  and  children  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Hoornbeek  both  died 
in  Ulster  County.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  H.  came  to 
this  county  in  1853,  and  are  at  present  residing  in 
Tompkins  Township.  In  politics,  Mr.  Hoornbeek 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Hoornbeek  is  a  raiser  of  fine  Durham  cattle, 
and  has  one  of  the  finest  herds  in  the  State.  Victor, 
recorded  in  vol.  24,  Short-horn-  Record,  is  at  the 
head  of  the  herd.  He  took  first  premium  at  the  War- 
ren County  Fair.  Fannie  Snqwden  stands  at  the 
head  in  the  cow  line.  She  is  recorded  in  vol.  13, 
page  591,  Short-horn  Herd  Book,  and  has  taken  the 
sweepstakes  premium  for  a  number  of  years.  The 
herd  took  premiums  at  the  Warren  County  Fair  in 
the  years  1884-5.  An  excellent  view  of  Mr.  Hoorn- 
beek's  farm  residence  and  fine  stock,  and  also  Mr., 
Hoornbeek's  portrait,  accompanies  this  sketch. 


Phelps,  who  is  the  possessor  of  a 
clear  title  10400  acres  of  good  farm  land, 
located  on  section  26,  Tompkins  Town- 
ship (and  the  adjoining  section)  and  where 
he  resides,  following  the  vocation  of  an  agricul- 
turist, was  born  Jan.  6,  1836,  in  New  York.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Phelps,  Porter  and  Mary  (Reese) 
Phelps,  were  natives  of  the  same  State  in  which  their 
son,  DeWitt,  was  born.  They  moved  therefrom  to 
Knox  County,  111.,  in  1836,  but  in  1837  settled  in 
Roseville  Township,  Warren  County,  and  were  con- 
sequently among  the  pioneer  settlers  who  laid  the 
corner-stone  of  the  grandest  commonwealth  that  now 
reflects  the  brilliancy  of  our  Union's  diadem.  The 
father  there  purchased  80  acres  of  land,  which  he  af- 
terwards increased  to  320  acres,  residing  upon  the 
same,  engaged  in  its  improvement  and  cultivation  for 
10  years.  He  then  sold  his  land  and  moved  to  Len- 
ox Township,  where  he  purchased  320  acres,  on 
which  he  moved  with  his  family  and  has  since  re- 
sided there,  following  his  avocation  as  a  fanner  until 
the  present  time  with  satisfactory  success. 


°f 


3i6 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  we  place  at  the  head 
of  this  notice  was  an  inmate  of  his  father's  family  for 
25  years.  His  younger  years  were  spent  in  acquir- 
ing an  education  at  the  common  schools  and  in  labor 
on  the  farm.  After  attaining  the  age  mentioned,  he 
went  to  California  and  was  there  engaged  in  mining 
and  farming  for  five  years.  While  a  resident  in  the 
far  West,  he  also  visited  Idaho,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  livery  business.  He  returned  to  this  State  in 
1867,  and  the  following  year  purchased  240  acres  of 
unimproved  prairie  land,  on  section  26,  Tompkins 
Township,  where  he  has  resided  until  the  present 
time.  He  is  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  general 
farming,  and  in  his  chosen  vocation  is  meeting  with 
success.  He  has  a  fine  residence  on  his  farm,' to- 
gether with  good  barns,  fences,  etc.,  and  the  place  is 
greatly  beautified  by  the  numerous  fruit  and  orna- 
mental trees  which  have  been  made  to  flourish  under 
his  careful  husbandry. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Fhelps  with  Miss  Mary  A. 
Lewis,  a  native  of  this  State,  was  solemnized  in  1 87  2, 
and  of  their  union  four  children,  Kathrine  L.,  Mary 
P.,  Henneth  G.,  and  Charles  E.,  have  been 
born.  Mr.  Phelps  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  af- 
filiations, and  holds  the  position  of  School  Director 
in  his  township.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Kirkwood,  and  is  one  of  the 
leading  representative  farmers  of  Tompkins  Town- 
ship. 


M.  Hamilton,  M.  D.,  Coroner  of 
Warren  County.  This  talented  physician 
and  surgeon  of  Monmouth,  a  native  of 
Darlington,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  and  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Arabella  W.  (Scroggs)  Hamilton,  of 
the  same  State,  was  born  Oct.  23,  1829.  At 
the  age  of  2r  years,  James  Hamilton  came  from  the 
North  of  Ireland  to  America,  in  the  first  ship  that 
landed  at  Boston  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
War.  He  afterward  married  a  young  lady  that  came 
over  in  the  same  ship,  made  his  home  in  Beaver  Co., 
Pa.,  and  there  reared  15  children.  Samuel,  one  of 
the  ten  sons,  married  Miss  Aarabella  Scroggs,  in 
Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  where  their  four  sons  and  five 
daughters  were  born,  two  of  the  former  dying  in 


childhood,  the  rest  growing  to  man  and  womanhood. 
The  old  gentleman,  when  about  60  years  of  age,  re- 
moved to  Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there  died  in  1872, 
at  the  age  of  about  73  years.  His  widow  at  this 
writing  (September,  1885)  is  living  at  New  Castle, 
Pa..  His  son  Lieut. -Col.  Thos.  J.  Hamilton,  of  the 
looth  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  was  killed  July  r,  1864,  during 
the  explosion  of  the  mine  in  front  of  Petersburg. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  educated  at  the 
common  and  high  schools  of  Darlington.  When  he 
was  1 6  years  of  age  he  was  taken  out  of  school  on 
account  of  failing  health.  He  thereupon  learned  the 
trade  of  saddler  and  harness-maker  in  his  father's 
shop  in  Darlington,  and  continued  in  the  business 
for  nearly  four  years.  He  then  returned  to  school 
and  completed  his  studies.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  soon  after  reaching  bis  majority,  under 
Dr.  Daniel  Leasure,  of  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  at 
New  Castle.  Entering  Jefferson  Medical  College  in 
1851,  he  graduated  in  18153,  ar>d  relumed  to  New 
Castle,  and  the  following  six  years  was  in  partner- 
ship with  his  old  preceptor.  In  1858,  he  reached 
Monmouth,  where  he  at  once  took  rank  with  the 
foremost  of  his  profession.  When  the  war  cloud  < 
burst  upon  the  country  in  1861,  he  became  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  Ninth  111.  Regt.,  raised  under  the 
three  months  call  for  volunteers,  but  was  regularly 
promoted  to  the  position  of  Brigade  Surgeon  of  U. 
S.  A.  Volunteers  (commissioned  at  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing in  November  of  the  same  year),  and  saw  service 
at  Donelson,  Shiloh,  siege  of  Corinth,  Tuscumbia, 
Nashville,  and  was  ten  months  in  charge  of  hospitals 
at  Gallatin,  Tenn.  In  November,  1863,  on  account 
of  loss  of  health,  he  resigned,  returned  to  Monmouth, 
and  the  year  following  to  New  Castle,  Pa.,  where 
he  remained  two  and  a  half  years,  and  then  again 
returned  to  Mcnmouth,  where  he  has  continued  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  to  the  present. 

The  Doctor  has  been  for  many  years  an  ardent 
member  of  the  Republican  party ;  in  fact  he  was  a 
delegate  from  New  Castle  to  the  Convention  at  Pitts- 
burg,  Pa.,  in  1856,  that  nominated  John  C.  Fremont 
for  the  Presidency  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
future  greatness  of  the  party.  But,  while  taking  an 
active  part  in  politics,  he  is  not  a.  politician  seeking 
office.  He  is  devoted  to  his  profession  ;  belongs  to 
the  various  medical  societies  of  the  American  Med- 
ical Association  and  of  the  State  and  county,  and 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


contributes  largely  to  different  journals  and  periodi- 
cals upon  various  subjects. 

He  was  married  at  Philadelphia,  Dec.  25,  1856,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Starrett,  native  of  Maine  and  daughter  of 
the  late  Rev.  David  Starrett,  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  Their  only  child,  torn  in  1859,  died  in 
infancy. 


— -se?— *- 


lohn  H.  Frantz  is  a  settler  of  Warren 
County  of  1857.  His  farm  located  on  sec- 
lion  22,  Spring  Grove  Township,  is  one 
of  the  most  attractive  in  the  county.  He 
was  born  Feb.  20,  1836,  in  Alleghany  Co.,  Md. 
John  Frantz,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  settled  in  the  State  of  Maryland  on 
emigrating  to  America.  His  father,  Solomon  Frantz, 
was  born  in  that  State,  and  there  married  Jane  Mc- 
Elroy.  A  sketch  of  his  life  will  be  found  included 
in  the  biography  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Frantz.  His  wife 
was  born  in  Virginia.  When  the  subject  of  the  pres- 
ent notice  was  13  years  old  his  father  and  mother  re- 
moved with  their  family  to  Perry  Co.,  Ohio.  He- 
remained  under  the  parental  roof-tree  until  he  reahed 
the  age  of  legal  independence  when  he  made  his  way 
to  Warren  County.  He  rented  a  farm  in  Spring 
Grove  Township,  upon  which  he  remained  until  he 
went  to  California  in  1864.  Going  to  New  York  in 
February,  of  that  year,  from  thence  by  water  to  Pan- 
ama, he  crossed  the  isthmus  and  continued  by  vessel 
to  San  Francisco.  He  made  but  a  brief  stay  in  the 
city  of  the  Golden  Gate,  and  turning  his  face  east- 
ward, stopped  at  Virginia  City,  Nev.  He  made  his 
headquarters  there  while  operating  in  the  wood  busi- 
ness on  Carson  River.  He  remahied  there  until 
August,  1866,  when  lie  turned  his  face  Homeward, 
coming  back  by  the  Nicaragua  route,  and  via  New 
York,  arriving  at  home  on  the  151)1  day  of  Septem- 
ber. As  soon  as  he  had  become  again  acclimated, 
he  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Warren  County, 
which  has  remained  in  his  possession  ever  since,  and 
which  constituted  the  nucleus  of  his  present  farm. 
Entering  at  once  upon  the  work  of  improvement,  he 
has  added  to  his  real  estate  until  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  240  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  fenced 
and  under  cultivation'.  For  the  past  five  years  Mr. 


Frantz  has  been  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  thor- 
oughbred Short-horns,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  some 
of  the  finest  specimens  of  this  stock  in  the  coun- 
try. He  is  earnestly  giving  his  attention  to  the 
propagation  of  fine  stock,  having  determined  to  make 
it  a  specialty  in  the  future  operation  of  his  farm  work. 
He  is  a  breeder  of  thoroughbred  Clydesdale  horses 
and  has  now  about  35  head  of  horses  and  colts  of 
superior  grade,  owning  also  some  fine  specimens  of 
Morgan  stock.  He  proposes  to  give  his  attention 
very  soon  to  the  breeding  of  Norman  horses.  An  ex- 
cellent view  of  Mr. 'Frantz's  homestead  appears  on 
page  258. 

In  political  connection  Mr.  Frantz  remains,  as  he 
has  always  been,  a  Republican. 

His  marriage  to  Annie  M.  Porter  took  place  Sept. 
23,  j86o.  She  was  bom  in  the  township  within  the 
borders  of  which  she  has,  all  her  life,  lived,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Tinkham)  Porter. 
Her  birth  occurred  March  10,  1838.  The  children 
now  living,  that  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frantz  are  Jessie  A.,  Annie  G.,  Virgie  B.  and  Lillie 
May.  They  have  buried  a  son,  Thatcher  Ellsworth, 
and  three  daughters,  Jennie  L.,  Rosa  Belle  and  Bertha 
May.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


O  Carr,  Jr.,  one  of  Warren  County's  most 
energetic  and  prosperous  farmers  as  well 
as  respected  and  representative  citizens, 
resides  on  section  13,  Roseville  Township,  and 
is  a  son  of  Otho  and  Nancy  (Claycomb)  Carr, 
having  been  born  on  the  place  where  he  now 
resides,  Sept.  22,  1841.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Breckenridge  Co.,  Ky.,  the  date  of  the  birth  of  the 
father  being  Feb.  14,  1805,  and  the  mother,  Jan.  14, 
1805.  They  were  among  the  early  settlers  here. 
Mr.  Carr,  Sr.,  moved  to  Perry  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he 
married  and  remained  about  five  years,  and  then 
came  West  to  this  county.  The  trip  was  made  in 
wagons  across  the  country.  He  entered  320  acres 
of  land  here.  The  cabin  Mr.  Carr  built  in  1835  was 
located  one-half  mile  east  of  the  present  homestead  j 
and  here  he  lived  until  the  present  farm  residence 


318 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


was  built,  where  Mrs.  Lucy  J.  Harris  lives.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harris  were  for  40  years  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  of  Roseville  Township.  Mr.  Carr 
remained  on  the  above  place  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  7883,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  to 
the  land  of  eternal  happiness  two  years  previously. 
Of  their  union  were  born  -six  children,  three  of  whom 
survive, — Redmond,  Lucy  J.  and  J.  O.,  the  subject 
of  this  notice. 

J.  O.  Carr  remained  at  home  and  was  in  partner- 
ship with  his  father  and  brother  until  1875,  and  his 
success  as  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  has  been  more 
than  ordinary.  Mr.  Carr's  close  attention  to  busi- 
ness, being  accompanied  by  industry  and  economy, 
has  aided  him  in  obtaining  a  competency.  He  is 
the  possessor  of  360  acres  of  excellent  land  in  this 
township,  and  is  engaged  in  raising  horses,  cattle 
and  swine.  His  farm  is  valued  at  $40  per  acre. 

Mr.  J.  O.  Carr  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Cox  were  united 
in   marriage,  Dec.  31,  1869.     She  was  born  March 
15,  1848,  in  Ellison  To.vnship,  this  county.     Her 
parents  were  John  and   Fannelia  (Lewis)  Cox,  na- 
,    lives  of  Illinois  and  New  Jersey  respectively,  and 
C  in    1837    they  settled  in   Ellison   Township,  where 
they   made  a  purchase  of  160  acres  of  land.     Both 
died  in  this  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carr  have  had  their  home  bright- 
ened by  the  birth  of  five  children,  three  daughters 
and  two  sons,  as  follows :  Fannelia  N.,  Nettie  L. 
and  William  O.  James  E.  and  Mary  E.  are  at 
home.  Mr.  Carr  is  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion, 
and  with  his  wife  and  two  daughters  belongs  to  the 
Christian  Church.  Mr.  Carr  is  one  of  the  substan- 
tial and  representative  men  of  Warren  County. 


j(  mos  B.  Billings.  Among  the  well  known 
and  prosperous  farmers,  who  in  their  early 
years  entered  actively  and  energetically 
in  the  pursuit  of  tilling  the  soil,  and  thereby 
accumulated  sufficient  of  this  world's  goods  to 
enable  them  to  spend  the  sunset  of  their 
lives  in  peace  and  comfort,  is  Mr.  Amos  B.  Billings. 
He  is  a  resident  of  Kirkwood  and  is  a  son  of  Justis 
and  Sarah  (Alice)  Billings,  and  was  born  in 
Lewis  County,  the  Empire  State,  Jan.  10,  1811.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  in  the  year 


1804  moved  to  New  York  and  located  in  Lewis 
County,  where  they  remained,  having  purchased 
land,  until  their  death,  occurring  respectively  on  the 
last  day  of  July  and  the  nth  of  August,  in  the  year 
1847. 

Amos  B.  made  the  home  of  his  parents  his  abid- 
ing place  until  he  reached  majority,  then  worked  out 
by  the  month  for  six  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  he  again  resided  on  his  father's  farm  and  took 
charge  of  the  same,  also  caring  for  his  parents  until 
the  hand  of  death  severed  them.  During  his  early 
life  he  had  acquired  a  good  English  education  and 
when  opportunity  presented  itself,  his  father  had  him 
assist  in  the  duties  of  the  farm,  so  our  subject  was 
thoroughly  initiated  in  the  life  of  an  agriculturist 
when  left  to  earn  his  own  living.  He  was,  there- 
fore, well  prepared  for  entering  upon  the  task  of  the 
improvement  of  his  farm  of  160  acres,  which  he  had 
purchased  in  Illinois,  having  sold  his  father's  home- 
stead in  1864,  and  emigrated  westward.  His  tract 
was  located  on  section  n,  Tompkins  Township,  his 
present  site,  and  upon  this  he  has  erected  all  neces- 
sary farm  outbuildings  and  improved  the  same  until 
at  the  present  time  it  is  in  an  advanced  state  of  cul- 
tivation. He  resided  there  until  1879,  when  he  re- 
tired from  his  farm  and  bought  a  house  and  lot  in 
Kirkwood  village,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Miss  Eleanor  Mott,  a  native  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  a  daughter  of  Elias  and  Lucretia  (Shear)  Mott, 
was  married  to  Mr.  Amos  B.  Billings  in  1840.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  Massachu- 
setts respectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.'s  family  comprise 
the  following  named  children:  Amelia  A.  was  born 
March  16,  1841  ;  Ellen  J.,  born  Sept.  4,  1842;  Em- 
ily L.,  born  Aug.  10,  1844;  Mary  L.,  born  Dec.  15, 
1845  ;  Theodore  J.,  born  Aug.  T3,  1847;  Alfred  E., 
born  June  7,  1853.  Emily  L.  is  now  deceased,  hav- 
ing died  Feb.  8,  1880.  "  Amelia  A.  married  William 
Starr,  March  16,  1864.  Six  children  was  the  result 
of  this  marriage, — Emory,  Susan  E.  and  Elmer.  Ma- 
tilda E.,  Chancy  A.  and  Harriet  are  deceased.  Mr. 
Starr  died  Nov.  14,  1874.  Mrs.  S.  was  again  mar- 
ried Oct.  6,  1881,  to  Ferine  Holman.  One  child  has 
blessed  this  union,  Alida.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  are 
now  living  in  this  township.  Ellen  J.  married  James 
L.  Perkins,  Dec.  24, 1862,  and  is  now  living  in  Gales- 
burg.  Emily  L.  married  Jesse  E.  Lamphere,  Dec. 
14,  1865.  They  had  two  children,  Ralph  and  Grant. 


t'l 


RESIDENCE  OF  JACOB  SHAWLER  .SEC.  12  .  LENOX  TOWNSHIP. 


CLEVELAND 


RESIDENCE  OF  JEREMIAH  HOORNBEE  K  SEC,  35,  HALE  TOWNSHIP. 


-§• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


321 


Mary  L.  married  Peter  Burns,  March  14,  1872,  and 
is  now  living  at  Monmouth.  Theodore  J.  married 
Sophrona  Lamphere,  Oct.  6,  1870.  One  child  has 
been  the  result  of  this  marriage,  Minnie.  Alfred  E. 
married  Emma  Yeomans,  Jan.  n,  1877.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  Jennie  and  Charles. 
Jennie  is  now  deceased. 

Mr.  B.  with  hts  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  and  substantial  men  of  Warren  County.  In 
his  political  affiliations,  he  is  a  Republican. 


acob  Shawler.  Among  the  early  settlers 
of  Warren  County,  having  come  here  in 
the  year  1847,  is  Mr.  Jacob  Shawler,  an 
energetic,  prosperous  and  representative  citizen 
of  this  county,  where,  on  section  12,  Lenox 
Township,  he  is  engaged  extensively  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  The  date  of  his  birth  is  Dec.  16, 
1826,  and  he  is  a  native  of  Edmonson  Co.,  Ky. 
James  B.  and  Eva  (Duvall)  Shawler,  his  parents, 
were  natives  of  Kentucky,  where  his  mother  died. 
To  them  five  children' were  born,  all  of  whom  reached 
the  age  of  maturity.  All  are  now  deceased  except 
Jacob  and  one  sister.  His  father  afterward  removed 
to  Warren  County  and  settled  in  Floyd  Township, 
having  re-married  before  he  left  Kentucky.  His 
second  union  was  blessed  with  a  family  of  1 1  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  now  living.  He  subsequently 
removed  to  Swan  Township,  where  he  died. 

Jacob  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  five  children, 
and  came  to  this  county  in  the  autumn  of  1847.  For 
three  years  he  made  his  home  in  Floyd  Township, 
when  he  sold  his  property  there  and  moved  into 
Lenox  Township,  where  he  has  since  remained  and 
is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  and  influential 
men  in  the  township.  In  his  business  enterprises 
he  has  experienced  an  unusual  degree  of  prosperity, 
and  to-day  owns  500  acres  of  land  in  Warren  County 
and  200  acres  in  Kansas.  He  has  erected  upon  the 
home  farm  an  excellent  class  of  buildings  specially 
adapted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  The  barn  is  a  very 
commodious  structure  and  a  model  building  of  its 
kind. 

On  March  i,  1852,  after  Mr.  Shawler  had  moved 


into  Lenox  Township,  he  was  married  there  to  Julia 
A.  Ray,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where 
she  was  born  June  30,  1833.  Five  sons  have  risen 
to  bless  their  home,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Thomp- 
son B.,  married,  resides  in  Lenox  Township;  John 
O.  and  Algernon  S.  H.  live  in  Swan  Township ; 
Philemon  and  Jesse  are  with  their  parents.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Union.  In  his  political  belief,  Mr.  S.  is  a  holder 
of  independent  views. 

Our  subject  now  ranks  among  the  large  stock 
raisers  and  feeders  of  the  township.  When  he  first 
settled  in  this  county  he  could  claim  but  little  of  this 
world's  goods,  and  he  is  able  to  point  with  pride  to 
his  present  possessions  as  the  result  of  well  applied 
industry  and  sound  judgment.  He  to-day  enjoys  a 
very  comfortable  competence  and  is  properly  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  public-spirited  citizens  of  the 
community.  A  view  of  his  elegant  and  commodious 
homestead  is  one  of  our  pictorial  features,  and  will 
be  found  page  320. 


- 


K.  Cummings,  retired  from  a  life  of  mer- 
jj"  cantile  pursuits,  and  spending  the  closing 
years  of  his  life  in  peace  and  quiet  at  Kirk- 
wood,  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  having  been  bom 
in  that  country  July  4,  1813.  The  parents  of 
Mr.  Cummings,  Israel  W.  and  Susanna  (Kerr) 
Cummings,  were  natives  of  Massachusetts  and  Scot- 
land respectively.  Th_e  father  was  a  sailor  in  his 
younger  years,  and  from  his  native  country  he  went 
to  Scotland,  where  he  was  married  and  where  the 
subject  of  this  notice  was  born.  In  1828,  the  father 
with  his  family  came  to  the  United  States,  and  for 
a  time  resided  in  the  father's  native  State,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  then  moved  his  family  to  Maine, 
where  for  ten  years  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1837,  the  father  sold  his  landed  possessions  in  the 
latter  State  and  with  his  family  came  to  this  State, 
locating  in  Fulton  County,  where  the  father  pur- 
chased 192  acres  of  land.  He  moved  on  the  land 
with  his  family  and  at  once  engaged  in  the  laborious 
task  of  improving  it,  by  cultivation,  the  erection  of  a 
residence,  the  setting  out  of  trees,  etc.,  and  there 


322 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which  event 
took  place  in  1854. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  we  give  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this  biographical  notice,  was  an  inmate  of 
the  parental  household  until  Jhe  attained  the  age  of 
20  years,  having  received  a  fair  education  in  the 
district  schools.  At  this  age  in  life,  he  engaged  to 
learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  served  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  years,  fully  and  completely 
mastering  the  same,  after  which  he  followed  his 
trade  in  Fulton  County  from  1838  to  1856,  a  period 
of  1 8  years. 

Mr.  Cummings  came  to  Warren  County  in  1855 
and  in  1856  moved  to  Kirkwood.  In  1859,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  at  that  place,  and  was 
thus  occupied  for  1 2  years.  He  then  sold  out  and 
began  the  hardware  business  and  followed  that  for 
five  years,  when,  in  1878,  he  sold  the  same,  and 
since  that  time  has  lived  a  life  of  comparative  retire- 
ment, doing  nothing  except  a  little  insurance  busi- 
ness. He  is  the  proprietor  of  a  farm  of  162  acres, 
one  mile  and  a  half  from  Kirkwood,  and  is  enjoying 
the  comforts  which  a  life  of  business  activity  coupled 
with  energy  has  acquired. 

In  1836,  Mr.  Cummings  married  Miss  Mary  Eve- 
leth  in  Kennebec  Co.,  Maine,  she  being  the  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Eunice  (Jennings)  Eveleth,  four  chil- 
dren being  the  result  of  this  union, — Susan  Jane  and 
James  H.,  Melissa  E.  and  Eunice  A.,  who  are  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  C.  died  in  the  year  of  1878.  Mr. 
Cummings  again  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Eliza  Bowen  in  1879,  a  native  of  Ohio. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Cummings  votes  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Assessor  and 
Collector  of  Tompkins  Township,  and  is  one  of  the 
honored  and  respected  citizens  of  Warren  County. 


fames  W.  Van  Tasell,  farmer  on  section  1 3, 
\fc  of  Lenox  Township,  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Phebe  D.  (Corgill)  Van  Tasell.  (See  sketch 
of  Isaac  Van  Tasell  in  this  volume.)  James  W. 
was  born  in  Kendall  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  6,  1855. 
He  received  a  good  common-school  education 
and  has  all  his  life  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  was  about  four  years  of  age  when  his  par 


ents  came  to  Warren  County.  His  marriage  occurred 
in  Lenox  Township,  Sept.  9,  1880,  to  Catherine  Ball. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth 
(Wurgler)  Ball,  natives  of  Germany.  The  family 
emigrated  to  Canada,  where  the  father  died.  His 
widow  survives.  Mrs.  Van  Tasell  was  the  third  of  a 
family  of  five  children  born  to  them.  She  was  born 
in  Canada,  April  4,  1859.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Tasell 
are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Loui  I.  Mr.  Van  Tasell 
in  political  affairs  is  a  Republican. 


^arrison  Meachum,  a  farmer  pursuing  his 
vocation  on  section  33,  Berwick  Township, 
was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March 
23,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  Calvin  Meachum,  who 
,  was  likewise  born  in  York  State,  in  1790,  and 
I  who  received  his  death  from  being  thrown  from 
a  spirited  horse.  He  lived  some  24  hours  after  the 
accident,  and  at  the  date  of  his  demise  was  40  years 
old.  The  father  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sally  Huntley  in  1812.  She  was  born  in  New  York 
in  1792,  and  died  in  1876,  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  and  who  were  named  Enos, 
Porter,  Harrison,  George,  Sally,  Hannah,  Mary  and 
Eliza.  The  latter  married  Mr.  Ferris,  a  resident  of 
Kansas  City,  and  died  at  Mt.  Morris,  Livingston 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1878. 

Harrison  Meachum,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
came  to  this  State  in  1854,  and  located  in  Floyd 
Township,  this  county,  where  he  remained  for  four 
years,  until  1858,  when  he  removed  to  Berwick 
Township  and  there  bought  1 1 2  acres  of  good  land, 
with  a  number  of  small  improvements  upon  the 
same.  He  located  upon  his  land  and  at  once  en- 
gaged upon  the  arduous  task  of  its  improvement  and 
cultivation,  and  by  energy  and  economy  has  added 
to  his  original  purchase  until  he  is  the  proprietor  of 
260  acres. 

The  life  of  Mr.  Meachum  has  been  one  of  activity 
and  he  now  has  his  fine  farm  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation,  and  is  also  devoting  considerable 
of  his  time  to  the  raising  of  stock.  He  has  some  40 
head  of  cattle  on  his  place,  with  room  for  60  head, 
and  makes  the  Jerseys  a  specialty. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Meachum  to  Miss  Cornelia 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


3*3 


Landoii,  took  place  April  i,  1840.  She  was  born 
May  16,  1821,  in  New  Jersey,  and  moved  to  York 
State  in  1831,  where  she  resided  until  her  marriage. 
The  issue  of  their  union  has  been  six  children,— 
John,  William,  Harrison  S.,  Mary,  Lydia  and  Bertie. 
Lydia  became  the  wife  of  Andy  Willard,  and  died  in 
1875;  Bertie  married  Martin  Simmons,  and  died  in 
1881  ;  Mary  was  married  to  Harry  Murphy,  who  re- 
sides in  Avon. 

Ebenezer  Landon,  father  of  Mrs.  Meachum,  was 
born  in  New  York  in  1793,  and  died  in  1877.  He 
married  Miss  Lettie  Rich,  a.  native  of  Halifax,  in 
1816.  She  was  born  in  1800  and  came  to  the  State 
of  New  York  when  quite  small.  The  father  of  Eb- 
enezer Landon,  John  Landon,  served  in  the  War  of 
1812.  Mrs.  Meachum's  mother  is  still  living,  and 
resides  in  Berwick  village.  Her  parents'  family  con- 
sisted of  six  children,  namely:  Henry,  Joseph, 
Frederick,  John,  Lettie  and  Martha,  and  of  her 
marriage  with  Ebenezer  Landon  nine  children  were 
I  f  born  as  follows :  Cornelia,  Mary,  Martin,  Susan, 
i  John,  Martha,  Thomas,  Isaac  and  Elizabeth,  only 
|  four  of  whom  are  at  present  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meachum  have  the  following  grand- 
children :  Frederick,  John  Riley,  Perly,  Lucina, 
Laura  Belle,.  John,  Allie,  Cornelia,  Cloy  and  John 
Willard. 

Mr.  Meacham,  in  his  political  opinions,  favors  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Greenback  party.  In 
days  past  he  belonged  to  the  old  line  Whig,  then 
voted  with  the  Republican  party,  but  since  the 
former  party  sprung  into  existence,  has  voted  with  it. 

^  . ^  <:>•  ~ . 


:enjamin  T.  Kettering,  a  resident  of  this 
county  since  1853  and  one  of  the  large 
land-owners  of  Monmouth  Township,  re- 
sides on  section  27.  He  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland Co.,  Pa.,  April  16,  1820.  The  father 
of  Mr.  Kettering  was  a  native  of  the  same 
State  as  his  son  and  was  of  German  parentage.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  State  to  Mary  Thompson, 
a  lady  of  American  parentage  and  Scotch  descent. 
After  their  marriage,  they  resided  in  Chambersburg, 
Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  for  a  time,  when  they  moved  to 
Cumberland  County,  that  State.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  eight  children. 

Mr.  Kettering  was  next  to  the  youngest  in  order 


of  his  parents'  children.  He  lived  on  the  parental 
homestead,  attending  the  common  schools  and  work- 
ing on  the  farm,  thereby  assisting  in  the  mainten- 
ance of  his  family  and  acquiring  a  fair  English 
education,  until  he  attained  the  age  of  24  years.  In 
1853,  he  came  West  and  located  in  Warren  County, 
since  which  time  he  has  continued  to  reside  here. 
The  parents  came  to  this  county  soon  afterward  and 
remained  until  their  death.  On  arriving  in  this 
county,  Mr.  Kettering,  of  this  sketch,  first  began  to 
work  as  a  general  laborer.  His  capital  at  the 
time  amounted  to  the  sum  of  $2.50,  and  he  was  con- 
sequently compelled  to  engage  in  work  for  a  living. 
Prior  to  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  K.  had  learned 
the  trade  of  his  father,  that  of  shoemaking,  but  on 
coming  to  this  State  and  county,  he  chose  a  differ- 
ent vocation,  that  of  farming,  which  he  has  followed 
until  the  present  time. 

Feb.  8,  1858,  five  years  after  his  arrival  in  this 
county,  Mr.  Kettering  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mrs.  Melinda  Murphy,  nee  Clacomb.  She  was  a  na-  , 
tive  of  Kentucky,  in  which  State  she  was  born  Dec. 
5,  1825,  and  came  herewith  her  mother  and  brother,  . 
her  father  having  died  in  Kentucky.  She  continued 
to  reside  with  her  mother  in  this  county,  assisting  her  ; 
in  the  household  duties  and  attending  the  com- 
mon schools,  until  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Murphy. 
He  died  a  few  years  after  that  event,  leaving  two 
children  to  the  care  of  his  wife,  both  of  whom  have 
since  died,  namely:  T.  Frantz  Murphy  and  Ella  O., 
whose  demise  occurred  when  she  was  a  young  lady. 
Of  the  later  union,  three  children  have  been  born  : 
Hattie  B.;  Milton  A.,  who  resides  o.i  a  farm  near 
Kirkwood,  this  count/";  Philo  E.  was  married  to  Sina 
Frantz,  and  follows  the  occupation  of  farming  in  this 
township. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kettering  lo- 
cated on  the  homestead  which  Mrs.  Kettering  owned 
previous  to  their  marriage,  consisting  of  a  little  more 
than  100  acres,  on  which  they  are  residing  at  the 
present  time. 

Mr.  Kettering,  by  energetic  labor  and  economy, 
coupled  with  good  judgment  and  perseverance,  has 
since  added  to  the  original  homestead  until  at  pres- 
ent the  same  consists  of  400  acres  of  as  good  farm 
land  as  can  be  found  in  Warren  County.  It  is  all 
adjoined  and  has  thereon  a  good  residence,  barn  and 
substantial  outbuildings,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  best  farms,  not  only  in  Monmouth  Township,  but 


324 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


in  the  county.  In  his  chosen  vocation,  agriculture, 
Mr.  Kettering  has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  suc- 
cess, and  the  same  is  attributable  to  his  indomitable 
energy  and  perseverance,  coupled  with  the  active  co- 
operation of  his  good  helpmeet.  In  addition  to  the 
cultivation  of  his  land  he  has  been  and  is  devoting 
considerable  time  to  the  raising  of  stock,  in  which 
department  of  his  vocation  he  is  also  meeting  with 
success.  He  and  his  wife  are  consistent  and  active 
members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  K.  is  a 
Trustee  and  Deacon  of  that  Church  at  Momouth, 
and  has  been  Treasurer  of  it  for  some  time.  In  a 
political  sense,  Mr.  Kettering  votes  with,  and  believes 
in  the  principles  advocated  by,  the  Republican  party. 


i,yrus  Q.  Rankin,  one  of  the  large  land- 
owners of  Tompkins  Township,  as  well  as 
successful  farmers  of  Henderson  County, 
residing  in  retirement  at  his  home  on  section 
25,  Tompkins  Township,  is  a  native  of  Sulli- 

^  van  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  was  born  in  1832. 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Gross)  Rankin,  his  parents, 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  South  Carolina 
respectively.  After  their  marriage,  in  1830,  they 
emigrated  to  this  State  and  located  in  Henderson 
County,  where  the  father  purchased  1,000  acres  of 
land,  and  resided  on  the  same  for  40  years.  He 
then  moved  to  Monmouth,  Warren  County,  and 
there  passed  his  remaining  days  in  peace  and  quiet, 
retired  from  the  active  labors  of  life,  and  where  he 
died  in  1873.  Three  years  Sater  his  beloved  wife, 
who  had  accompanied  him  through  all  the  trials  of 
the  past,  followed  him  to  that  better  land,  her  de- 
mise occurring  in  1876. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this  biographical  notice,  remained  with  his 
parents  until  he  attained  his  majority,  in  the  mean- 
time receiving  an  education  in  the  common  schools. 
On  becoming  his  own  man,  he  began  to  trade  in 
stock  and  land,  and  was  thus  occupied  until  he  be- 
came 24  years  of  age,  when  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  M.  T.  Reynolds,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
Before  his  marriage,  he  purchased  240  acres  of  land 
in  Olena  Township,  Henderson  County,  on  which  he 
moved  with  his  family  and  was  occupied  in  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation  for  17  years.  During 


these  years,  by  hard  labor  and  economy,  he  accum- 
ulated sufficient  to  enable  him  to  add  620  acres  to 
his  original  purchase.  He  then,  in  1873,  came  to 
this  county  and  for  two  years  resided  at  Monmouth, 
where  he  had  purchased  a  residence  and  lot.  In 
1874,  he  purchased  480  acres  of  land  in  Tompkins 
Township,  where  he  removed  in  1875,  and  has  re- 
sided on  the  same  until  the  present  time.  He  has 
a  $5,000  residence  on  his  farm,  together  with  three 
barns  and  good,  substantial  outbuildings,  and  the 
farm  presents  an  appearance  indicative  of  energy 
and  perseverance  on  the  part  of  its  proprietor. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rankin,  five  in 
number,  are  named  Elizabeth  A.,  born  July  27,  1857  ; 
Reynolds  P.,  Aug.  10,  1863;  Elijah  A.,  Oct.  22, 
1865  ;  Minnie  A.,  Feb.  18,  1869;  Edith  O.,Feb.  13, 
1878.  Elizabeth  was  united  in  marriage  with  K.  D. 
Bridenthal,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
one  child — Cyrus  W.  Elijah  A.  married  Miss  Ada 
Beers,  and  they  have  one  son,  named  Earl. 

Mr.  Rankin  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the, 
principles  of  the  Republican  party.  In  religious  be- 
lief, he  and  his  wife  both  endorse  the  tenets  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  denomination 
they  belong.  Mr.  Rankin,  truly  speaking,  is  one  of 
the  leading  representative  men  of  his  line  of  busi- 
ness in  Warren  County,  and  his  success  as  an  agri- 
culturist and  trader  is  indicative  of  his  own  good 
good  judgment  and  energy. 


.avid  S.  Billingsley,  owning  80  acres  of 
land  in  Berwick  Township,  and  residing  at 
Berwick  village,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
hotel  business,  and  also  to  some  extent  in 
dealing  in  fine  horses  and  roadsters.  He  was 
born  in  Monongalia  Co.,  W.  Va.,  Sept.  28, 
i8r2,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Billingsley,  who  was 
born  near  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1778.  The  latter 
moved  to  Virginia,  when  he  was  12  years  of  age, 
and  there,  in  Monongalia  County,  resided,  follow- 
ing the  vocation  of  an  agriculturist  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1850.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Snider,  a  native  of  Virginia.  She  bore  her 
husband  13  children,  whose  names  were  John,  Sias, 
Tobitha,  Maria,  Samuel,  David,  Thornton,  Louisa, 


•3- 


-K,   - 
»• 


WARRE1 


r 


Warren,  Eugene,  Malinda,  Mary  and  Morgan.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  in  her  native  State,  in  1862. 

David  Billingsley,  of  whom  we  write,  came  West 
April  ii,  1855,  and  located  in  Warren  County.  He 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Barrick,  March  16,  1836, 
in  Virginia,  Rev.  Wood,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  offi- 
ciating. She  was  born  Sept.  8,  1814,  in  Hampshire 
Co.,  and  bore  her  husband  nine  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living.  The  record  of  their  births  are  as 
follows:  Eliza  Ann,  torn  Feb.  15,  1837;  Louisa, 
born  April  15,  1839;  Henry  F.,  April  15,  1841; 
David  Luther,  Oct.  23,  1843;  Mary,  Jan.  14,  1845; 
Martha,  June  9,  1847;  Samuel,  in  August,  1840; 
Louisa,  in  1852;  Jane,  June  27,  1855. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Billingsley,  Henry  Barrick, 
was  born  in  Hancock  Co.,  Va,  in  1787,  and  married 
Miss  Catherine  Wetzel  about  1812.  She  was  born 
in  1795,  in  Maryland,  and  she  and  her  husband  were 
both  of  German  descent.  Their  family  comprised 
ten  children — Elizabeth  M.,  Anna,  Peter  S.,  Henry, 
Isaiah,  James  M.,  John  W.,  George  and  Mary.  The 
father  died  in  1865, -in  Virginia,  and  the  mother  in 
October,  1868. 

Mr.  Billingsley  is  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at 
Berwick  village,  as  above  stated.  He  is  an  admirer 
of  fine  horses,  and  has  done  much  to  develop  this 
noble  animal  in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  also 
cultivates  his  farm,  and  as  a  business  man  and  genial 
landlord,  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  foremost  men  not 
only  in  Berwick  village  but  also  of  the  county. 


ohn  C.  Turnbull,  a  retired  farmer,  pass- 
ing the  declining  years  of  his  life  in  quiet 
ease  and  retirement  at  Roseville,  this 
county,  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  having  been 
born  near  Baltimore,  Nov.  18,  1812.  Mr. 
Turnbull  removed  with  his  parents  to  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  when  about  six  years  of  age  (or  in 
1818).  His  father,  John  Turnbull,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  Dec.  27,  1780,  and  died  in  Jackson  Co., 
Ind.,  March  28,  1840,  in  his  6oth  year.  His  mother, 
Mary  (Tonahill)  Turnbull,  was  born  in  Virginia,  Jan. 
14,  1777,  and  died  March  29,  1820,  near  New  Al- 
bany, Floyd  Co.,  Ind.  They  were  married  July  12, 
1801,  and  of  their  union  five  children  were  born, 
only  two  of  whom  at  present  survive, — Mrs.  Gossett 
and  John  C.,  the  subject  of  this  notice. 


The  gentleman,  whose  life's  history  is  herein 
briefly  summarized,  was  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  until  17  years  of  age,  having  received 
what  education  he  acquired  in  the  common  schools. 
After  leaving  home  he  worked  out  by  the  day  and 
month  until  the  spring  of  1835.  He  then  rented  a 
farm  in  Jackson  Co.,  Ind.,  which  he  cultivated  until 
1850,  when  lie  purchased  210  acres  of  land  and  was 
engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  Sept.  19,  1865.  At 
this  date  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Warren 
County,  where  he  purchased  480  acres  of  land  on 
sections  20  and  21,  Roseville  Township,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  upon  the  same  until  1872.  He  then 
moved  into  Roseville,  and  purchased  a  lot,  erecting 
there  on  a  fine  residence,  in  which  he  has  since 
continued  tc  reside. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Turnbull  is  a  Republican.  Reli- 
giously, he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Baptist  Church. 
He  is  a  gentleman  whose  accumulation  of  this 
world's  goods  has  been  acquired  through  his  own 
energy,  perseverance  and  good  judgment,  and  is  one 
of  the  respected  and  influential  citizens  of  Warren 
County.  Mr.  Turnbull  has  been  sadly  unfortunate 
in  his  married  relations,  having  lost  by  death  two 
companions.  The  maiden  name  of  his  present  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Crane,  a  native  of  Jackson  Co.,  Ind., 
their  marriage  occurring  Oct.  19,  1865.  His  first 
wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  Jackson  Co.,  Ind., J 
Jan.  r  i,  ,1835,  was  a  Miss  Rhoda  Ann  K.  Crane,  a 
native  of  New  York  State.  She  died  in  July,  1859. 
By  this  wife  he  became  the  father  of  an  only  son, 
John  C.,  born  Aug.  29,  1841,  in  Jackson  Co.,  Ind., 
who,  in  1870,  married  Susan  Gordley,  of  Brown  Co., 
III.,  by  whom  he  has  two  children — Warren  and 
Franklin. 


arah  J.  Chatterton,  owning  120  acres  of 
good  farm  land,  located  on  section  25, 
Greenbush  Township,  "where  she  resides, 
is  the  widow  of  Lewis  B.  Chatterton,  who  was 
born  in  New  York,  April  30,  1827,  and  came 
to  this  State  in  1836  with  his  parents  and  lo- 
cated with  them  two  miles  east  of  Avon,  in  Fulton 
County.  He  was  the  son  of  Cornelius  and  Lucy 
(Ball)  Chatterton,  natives  of  New  York,  but  of  English 
extraction.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
Lewis  B.  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of 


.-528 


ry; 

WARREN  COUNTY. 


Galesburg,  111.  When  the  "  California  gold  fever  '' 
became  epidemic,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  yield  to  its 
seductive  influence,  and  forthwith  hastened  to  that 
auriferous  country,  where  he  remained  five  years. 
A  portion  of  his  time  while  there  was  occupied  in 
farming.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Wells;  Aug.  20,  1857,  Rev.  Reed,  of  Peoria, 
officiating.  She  was  born  Nov.  25,  1838,  in  Fulton 
County,  111.,  (near  Avon),  being  the  daughter  of 
James  a.  d  Roxanna  (Stowell)  Wells,  natives  of  New 
York.  Mrs.  Chatterton's  parents  died  while  she  was 
was  very  young.  She  bore  unto  her  husband  nine 
children,  namely:  Freddie,  born  Sept.  20,  1859; 
Chester  J.,  born  Feb.  16,  1861  ;  Bessie  E.,  June  2, 
1863;  Harry  L.,  Nov.  2,  1865;  George  W.,  Aug.  25, 
1877;  Willie,  June  10,  1870;  Carrie  L.,  Oct.  25, 
1871 ;  Henry  K.,  July  25,  1884;  Clarence  O.,  Dec. 
5,  1876.  Bessie  E.  married  J.  W.  Kinross.  They 
are  living  in  Avon,  Fulton  County,  this  State,  and 
are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Nealy  W.  Kinross. 

Mrs.  Chatterton,  since  the  death  of  her  husband, 
continues  to  reside  on  the  home  farm,  which  is  under 
an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  and  with  the  as- 
sistance of  her  children,  is  conducting  the  same  with 
marked  ability  and  with  well  merited  success.  Her 
place  is  well  supplied  with  good  farm  buildings,  and 
last  year  she  disposed  of  $1,000  worth  of  stock.  Her 
husband  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  in  relig- 
ion, a  member  of  the  Universalist  Church,  as  is 
likewise  Mrs.  Chatterton.  Her  husband  died  May 
19,  1884,  on  the  old  homestead. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Chatterton  appears  on  page  326. 


sn.  Azro  Patterson,  deceased.  The  Mon- 
mouth Weekly  Review  on  Friday  morning, 
June  30,  1782,  contained 'the  following  fit- 
ting obituary  of  one  who  was  for  many  years 
one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  this 
county:  "Azro  Patterson  died  at  his  residence 
in  this  city,  of  Bright's  disease  of  the  kidneys,  Satur- 
day evening,  June  24,  1882,  at  7:15  o'clock,  aged  63 
years,  5  months." 

No  death  has  occurred  in  Monmouth   in  the  last 
quarter  of  a  century  that  has  caused  such  universal 


sorrow  among  all  classes  of  citizens — high  and  low, 
rich  and  poor,  young  and  old — as  the  decease  of  Azro 
Patterson,  and  none  will  be  more  keenly  missed  from 
our  midst,  particularly  by  the  poor  and  unfortunate, 
whose  fast  friend  he  was  at  all  times  and  under  all 
circumstances. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  born  in  Stowe,  Vt.,  Feb.  IT, 
1819.  At  the  age  of  six  years,  with  his  father's 
family,  he  moved  from  Vermont  to  Ashtabula,  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  till  he  was  19  years  old,  when,  in 
company  with  a  young  man  named  Williams,  and 
about  the  same  age,  he  started  for  the  West  to  work 
out  his  own  fortunes  and  way  through  the  world.  He 
reached  Monmouth  in  1837,  and  as  there  was  no 
railroad  and  but  few  facilities  for  travel  in  this  coun- 
try at  that  early  day,  he  walked  all  the  way  from 
Ashtabula  to  Monmouth,  carrying  his  scanty  pos- 
sessions in  a  bundle  on  his  back,  and  stopped  with 
his  brother-in-law,  R.  N.  Allen,  who  lived  in  an  old 
log  house  where  his  present  residence  stands.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1837  he  clerked  in  a  dry  goods  . 
store  in  a  little  frame  house  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  square,  under  what  was  known  as  the  "  old 
cottonwood  tree,"  for  General  McAlle.i.  The  next 
summer  he  worked  in  a  brick-yard  for  Erastus  Rice,  t 
whom  the  early  settlers  well  remember,  and  helped 
make  the  brick  of  which  our  old  court  house  is  built. 
Then  he  taught  school  at  "  Allen's  Grove,"  in  Ber- 
wick township,  and  was  very  popular  as  a  teacher 
among  the  scholars  and  old  settlers.  In  r839  he 
went  into  the  employ  of  S.  S.  Phelps,  of  Oquawka, 
and  had  charge  of  the  Indian  trading  store  not  far 
from  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  and  remained  in  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Phelps  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  1845  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  Strong,  at 
Ashtabula,  Ohio,  and  returned  to  Monmouth  with  his 
bride.  Her  health  failing  her  here,  he  started  back 
to  her  home  with  her,  but  she  died  at  Beaver,  Pa., 
on  the  journey.  She  lived  only  seven  months  after 
their 'marriage. 

In  1848,  and  while  residing  at  Oquawka,  he  was 
elected  State  Senator  from  the  i7th  district.  Gilbert 
Turnbull,  of  Henderson,  and  A.  C.  Harding,  of  War- 
ren, were  the  members  of  the  lower  house.  In  1850 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the 
Illinois  Legislature  from  Henderson  and  Warren 
Counties.  He  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
the  contest  being  between  Democrats  and  Whigs. 
He  was  never  a  candidate  for  any  public  position 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


329 


after  thai,  although  entreated  times  without  number 
by  his  political  and  personal  friends  to  allow  the  use 
of  his  name  for  important  public  trusts. 

In  October,  1849,  he  was  married  to  the  accom- 
plished Christian  lady,  Miss  Mary  Babcock,  daugh- 
ter of  an  old  and  valued  citizen,  E.  C.  Babcock  (see 
sketch). 

To  Azro  and  Mary  Patterson  four  children  were 
born — three  of  whom  died  in  infancy — and  but  one 
son,  Henry,  survives.  He  is  endowed  with  the  ster- 
ling qualities  of  his  parents. 

After  serving  in  the  legislature,  Mr.  P.  located  per- 
manently in  Monmouth,  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  C.  L.  Armsby  and  Jerry  Massie  in  the  dry  goods 
trade.  They  occupied  the  old  frame  building  that 
stood  north  of  the  Monmouth  National  Bank  building, 
and  afterwards  moved  to  the  building  now  occupied 
by  George  Babcock,  which  was  built  by  Mr.  Massie. 

In  1853  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  R.  N.  Allen,  in  the  dry  goods  trade,  which 
'  continued  two  years.  Mr.  Allen  then  retired  from 
business,  and  Mr.  Patterson  continued  the  trade  in  a 
1  frame  building  that  stood  on  the  corner  of  Broadway 

I  and  East  streets,  where  the  Second  National  Bank 
now  stands.  Some  time  after  Mr.  Patterson  sold  his 
stock  of  goods  to  Major  Holt,  who  continued  the 
business  a  short  time.  He  again  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  N.  A.  Rankin  and  L.  S.  Wallace,  and  car- 
ried on  the  dry  goods  trade  in  the  building  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Spriggs  Bros.,  as  a  drug  store,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  square.  This  partnership  continued 
some  time,  when  Mr.  Patterson  permanently  retired 
from  the  dry  goods  trade,  and  devoted  himself  ntore 
particularly  to  real  estate  transactions. 

Of  Mr.  Patterson's  father's  family  there  survive 
him  his  only  brother,  Edwin  Patterson,  and  Mrs.  R. 
N.  Allen,  of  Monmouth,  and  Mrs.  S.  S.  Phelps,  Mrs. 
Dr.  Park,  Mrs.  Asa  Smith,  of  Oquawka,  all  of  whom 
were  present  at  the  funeral  except  Mrs.  Phelps. 

The  large  throng  who  were  present  at  the  funeral 
from  the  town  and  county  and  from  neighboring 
places,  who  met  around  his  coffin  to  pay  their  last 
tribute  of  love  and  homage  to  his  memory,  but  feebly 
express  the  veneration  in  which  Azro  Patterson  was 
held  in  this  community,  where  he  had  spent  the 
prime  of  his  manhood,  and  had  accomplished  so 
much  good.  His  whole  life,  his  noble  deeds,  are  a 
model  for  young  men,  particularly  in  humble  circum- 
stances, to  pattern  after  and  emulate. 


In  the  proper  adjustment  of  estates,  in  the  settle- 
ment of  differences  between  man  and  man,  and 
"  pulling  men  through,"  as  it  were,  who  had  become 
cramped  and  unfortunate  in  business  transactions, 
he  perhaps  did  more  than  any  other  man  in  the 
county.  His  sound  judgment  and  advice  was  sought 
by  many,  yea,  scores  of  men  in  Monmouth  and  through- 
out the  county,  in  their  hours  of  misfortune  and 
trouble,  and  they  never  failed  of  his  tender  sympathy, 
his  generous  heart,  his  open  hand. 

He  was  ever  the  steadfast  friend  of  the  unfortun- 
ate, the  poor  and  the  needy,  and  to  him  they  went 
as  to  a  father.  He  visited  the  widow  and  the  father- 
less in  their  afflictions,  he  fed  the  hungry,  he  clothed 
the  naked,  he  bound  up  the  wounds  of  the  broken- 
hearted and  disconsolate,  he  buried  the  dead,  he  ac- 
complished all  the  good  for  his  fellowmen  that  he 
could — what  more  could  mortal  man  do? 

He  was  very  decided  in  his  political  and  religious 
views,  and  entertained  them  honestly  and  fearlessly, 
and  though  others  differed  with  him  on  these  mat- 
ters, they  honored  him  for  the  steadfastness  with 
which  he  clung  to  what  he  thought  was  right. 

In  his  death  this  community  has  suffered  a  loss 
that  connot  be  supplied.  As  a  citizen  he  was  inter- 
ested in  all  public  affairs,  and  brought  to  their  con- 
sideration an  intelligence,  coupled  with  a  judgment 
of  such  native  accuracy,  as  rarely  permitted  the  pos- 
sibility of  error.  As  a  business  man  his  character 
was  integrity  itself,  and  to  himself,  and  to  all  who 
knew  him,  his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond.  In 
matters  of  public  spirit,  his  heart  and  purse  were 
open  and  generous,  and  enterprises  of  worth  and 
character  never  sought  his  aid  in  vain.  As  a  bene- 
factor of  the  poor  and  distressed,  his  reputation  is 
enviable  indeed,  as  many  who  received  his  assistance 
will  rejoice  to  remember.  Not  a  few  who  thought 
their  business  affairs  hopelessly  entangled,  and  them- 
selves and  families  ruined,  sought  and  received  his 
aid,  and  through  his  rare  business  qualities  found 
themselves  relieved  from  embarassment,  and  the 
possessors  still  of  home  .and  shelter.  All  these  things 
he  did  from  pure,  charitable  motives,  and  not  for  re- 
muneration. As  a  friend  he  was  true  as  the  needle 
to  the  pole;  generous,  unselfish  and  abiding.  As  a 
husband  and  father,  he  was  as  affectionate  and  ten- 
der as  a  child,  and  will  be  missed  from  his  pleasant 
home  beyond  words  to  express. 

Mr.  Patterson  began  life  a  poor  boy,  but  long  be- 


33° 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


fore  his  death,  he  was  able  to  retire  from  active 
business  with  a  handsome  and  fixed  income.  His 
parents,  Lewis  P.  and  Lucy  (Bushnell)  Patterson  de- 
scended respectively  from  Irish  and  Scotch  ancestry. 
His  early  education  was  limited  to  such  as  could  be 
acquired  at  the  common  schools  of  his  day,  but  he 
suffered  not  from  that  account.  Those  who  knew 
him  in  his  mature  manhood  knevv  him  as  an  educat- 
ed man,  for  from  the  variety  of  his  opportunity  and 
experience  he  had  learned  much. 


I;  aul  Brent,  owning  200  acres  of  land  on 
section  8,  Ellison  Township,  and  one  of  the 
successful  farmers  as  well  as  respected  and 
honored  citizens  of  Warren  County,  is  a  native 
of  Virginia,  having  been  born  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  that  State,  June  5,  1831.  The  father  of 
Mr.  Brent  of  this  notice,  Kenner  Brent,  Sr.,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming, 
and  where  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Brent,  also  a  native  Virginian.  They  came 
West  in  1836,  and  settled  in  Ellison  Township,  this 
county,  when  the  same  was  in  its  natural  condition 
anH  the  hand  of  civilization  was  hardly  visible.  He 
nevertheless  procured  some  land  on  which  he  located 
and  at  once  set  about  breaking  and  improving  the 
same,  and  at  one  time  owned  more  than  400  acies. 
He  continued  to  reside  in  Ellison  Township,  follow- 
ing his  chosen  vocation,  until  Nov.  27,  1878,  when 
he  passed  to  the  land  of  the  hereafter.  His  wife  had 
preceded  him,  in  1854. 

Paul  Brent,  the  gentleman  of  whom  we  write,  is 
one  of  14  children  born  to  his  parents.  He  resided 
with  them  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  in 
Monmouth,  this  county,  Aug.  13,  1857.  The  lady 
who  became  his  wife  was  Miss  Phebe  Moore, 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Margaret  (Cleckner)  Moore, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade. 

Mrs.  Brent  was  born  Oct.  9,  1836,  in  Ohio,  to 
which  State  her  parents  had  moved  soon  after  their 
marriage.  They  came  West  in  1842,  to  Ellison 
Township,  this  county,  where,  a  few  weeks  after  ar- 
rival (Dec.  28,  1842),  her  father  died.  Her  mother 


was  a  second  lime  married,  the  name  of  her  hus- 
band being  John  Brown,  a  native  of  South  Carolina, 
and  an  uncle  of  Gen.  Burnside.  Her  step-father 
and  mother  lived  in  Ellison  Township  until  their 
death,  Mrs.  Brent,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
living  with  them.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brent  have  become 
the  parents  of  12  children,  seven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. The  living  are:  Ida  A.,  Vesper  M.,  Elias  G., 
Eva  G.,  Jessie  C.,  Paul,  Jr.  and  Harry.  The 
names  of  the  deceased  are:  Oreo  E.,  Marvin  M., 
David  L.,  Minnie  and  Edwin. 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brent  were  married,  they  set- 
tled on  a  farm  of  40  acres  of  raw  prairie  land,  and  by 
their  united  labors  and  economy,  they  have  increased 
their  landed  possessions  in  Ellison  Township  until 
they  at  present  own  200  acres  of  well  improved  land 
and  ten  acres  of  timber.  They  are  living  on  their 
farm,  enjoying  the  sweets  of  life  after  having  tasted 
of  the  bitter  during  their  years  of  toil  in  the  past. 
Mr.  Brent  also  devotes  considerable  of  his  time  to 
the  raising  of  stock,  Poland  China  hogs  and  Short-  ' 
horn  cattle.  He  and  his  wife,  together  with  some  of 
his  children,  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  B.  casts  his  vote  with 
the  Republican  party. 


.amuel  E.  Grooms,  a  resident  of  this  county 
since  1855,  and  the  proprietor  of  280  acres 
of  as  good  tillable  land  as  can  be  found  in 
Lenox  Township,  where,  on  section  20,  he  re- 
sides, is  a  son  of  Brice  and  Margaret  (Jack- 
son) Grooms,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
parents  died  in  their  native  State  and  the  children 
born  of  their  union  were  seven  in  number,  namely  : 
Hamilton,  Mary  M.,  Samuel  E.,  Martha  A.,  Leroy 
W,  Elizabeth  and  William  H. 

Samuel  E.  Grooms,  whose  name  heads  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  July 
7,  1835,  where  he  lived  until  about  20  years  of  age, 
in  the  meantime  attending  school  in  the  acquisition 
of  an  English  education  and  assisting  his  father  on 
the  farm.  In  the  year  1855,  Samuel  E.  came  to 
Warren  County,  and  later,  in  1864,  removed  to 
Lenox  Township,  where  he  has  since  resided,  mak- 


tl 


:..*& 


ESIDENCE   ON  StC..8 


FARM  PROPERTY  OF  D.  J.  SHAW,  SPRING  G 


Re  si  PENCE  OF  J.T.  PORTER, SEC. 26.,  SPRING  GROVETOWNSHIP 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


333 


ing  the  same  his  permanent  home.  His  farm  of  280 
acres,  as  stated  above,  has  all  been  put  under  excel- 
ent  cultivation,  through  his  energy  and  industry,  and 
he  has  erected  all  the  necessary  farm  buildings 
thereon,  which,  in  all,  preseivts  the  appearance  of 
thrift  and  energy. 

Samuel  E.  Grooms  was  married  to  Catherine  J. 
Miller,  daughter  of  Henry  and  May  Miller,  on  the 
gth  of  October,  1859,1)16  ceremony  taking  place  in 
Berwick  Township.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Virginia  and  came  to  Warren  County  in  1856,  re- 
siding there  until  the  spring  of  1885,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Nebraska.  Of  their  union  were  born  ten 
children,  the  following  being  their  names:  George  S., 
Catherine  J.,  James  C.,  Elizabeth  H.,  Henry  I., 
Hiram  C.,  Mary  C.,  John  W.,  Peach  S.  and  Martha 
V.  Catherine  J.,  our  subject's  "  better  half,"  was 
born  in  West  Virginia,  Feb.  5,  1838,  and  with  her 
husband  has  become  the  parent  of  three  children, — 
Leroy  L.,  Mary  A.  and  William  H.  Mary  A.  is  the 
wife  of  Perry  D.  White  and  resides  in  Lenox  Town- 
ship, having  one  child, — Lottie  M. ;  Leroy  and  Will- 
i  iam  reside  at  home.  Mr.  Grooms  has  been  School 
7  Director  in  his  townshipj  and  with  his  wife  belongs 
to  the  United  Brethren  Church.  Politically,  his 
affiliations  are  with  the  Republican  party. 


. oshua  Porter,  now  deceased,  was  a  pioneer 
of  Warren  County  of  1835.  He  was  born 
in  Athens,  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  in  1803. 
He  was  the  son  of  a  farmer  and  passed  his 
youth  and  grew  to  manhood  in  the  county 
where  he  was  born.  The  years  of  his  boy- 
hood were  spent  in  the  school-room  and  aiding  in 
the  labors  of  the  farm. 

He  was  married  there  to  Mary  Tinkham,  Dec. 
10,  1831,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the  same  county. 
Mr.  Porter,  after  his  marriage,  returned,  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  locating  near  Schenectady, 
where  he  lived  until  the  year  in  which  he  became  one 
of  the  early  settlers  in  this  portion  of  the  State  of 
Illinois.  He,  with  his  wife,  crossed  the  intervening 
country  with  a  horse  team  and  brought  with  them 


their  only  child,  Mary  C.,  now  the  wife  of  W.  J.  Miller. 
Their  experiences  on  the  route  were  similar  to  those 
that  have  been  so  often  related  in  the  accounts  of 
those    who  set    out  with    all  the    paraphernalia    of 
housekeeping  with  them  in   their  wagons  and  who 
kept  up  the  routine  of  domestic  duties  on  the  road. 
Their  first  year  in    Warren    County  was  passed  at 
Center  Grove,  near  Kirkwood,  and  in  1 836  they  set- 
tled in   the  township  of   Spring  Grove,  where  they 
made  a  permanent  location.     Mr.   Porter  entered  a 
claim  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section   26,  where 
he  built  a  log  house   for  the   accommodation  of  his 
household,  which   was    constructed    in    the   manner 
common  with  the  settlers   in  a  new  country,  where 
all  the    appurtenances    of   modern    carpentry    were 
lacking.       Mr.    Porter    rived    clapboards  from  logs 
for  covering  the  roof  of    his  cabin,  but  in   this  the 
family    found    comfort,    health    and    contentment. 
Later,  when  prosperous  times  warranted,  Mr.  Porter 
erected  more  commodious  and  convenient  buildings 
for  the  abode  of  the  household  and  for  farming  pur- 
poses.    He  improved  the  entire  acreage  and  lived 
upon  the  estate  until  his  death,  which  event  trans- 
pired Sept.    5,  1874.     His  wife  survived  until   April 
10,  1881.     The  following  is  the  record  of  their  seven 
children :     Mary  C.  is  the  wife  of  William    Jackson 
Miller,  of  Spring  Grcve  Township.     Ann  M.  is  mar- 
ried to   John  Frantz,  a  sketch  of  whom   is  given  in 
another  part  of  this  work.  William  E.  lives  in  Spring 
Grove  Township,  as  does  Thatcher  J.   M.  Constance 
is  the  wife  of    Elias  Smith,    also   of    Spring  Grove 
Township.     Alice  is  the  wife  of  Edwin  R.  Rose,  of 
Kelly   Township.     Albert    resides  in  Spring   Grove 
Township  and  is  the  twin^brother  of  the  sister  last 
named.   His  residence  is  on  the  old  Porter  homestead. 
The  children  are  all  living  and  are  honored  and  re- 
spected members  of  society. 

Thatcher  J.  the  second  son  of  Joshua  and  Mary 
(Tinkham)  Porter,  was  born  in  Spring  Grove  Tp.,  July 
25,  1841.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  that  township 
and  attended  the  common  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  was  just  20  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out, 
and  in  its  second  year  he  entered  the  service  of  his 
country  to  defend  the  old  flag  and  the  integrity  of 
the  Union.  In  the  fall  of  1862  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  io2d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  continued  in  the 
military  service  until  March,  1863.  He  received  his 
discharge  on  account  of  disability,  and  returned  to 
his  home.  He  passed  the  first  year  after  his  return 


334 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


in  seeking  to  restore  his  health,  and  in  1865  be- 
gan the  work  of  improvement  of  the  farm  upon 
which  he  has  since  lived.  It  is  situated  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  26,  in  the  township  of  Spring 
Grove.  When  it  became  his  property  a  log  house 
had  been  built  on  the  place  and  in  this  his  family  re- 
sided a  few  years,  or  until  time  and  circumstances 
permitted  the  construction  of  a  more  suitable  and 
satisfactory  structure.  The  estate  of  Mr.  Porter  con- 
tains 360  acres  and  is  all  under  improvement  and 
enclosed.  It  comprises  the  varieties  of  land  which 
make  a  farm  in  Illinois  valuable  and  desirable. 
There  is  a  grove  of  native  timber  of  about  50  acres 
on  the  place:  most  of  the  place,  however,  is  prairie 
land.  A  view  of  his  present  residence  and  farm 
buildings  are  shown  on  page  332. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Porter  to  Kate  E.  McCoy 
took  place  Dec.  i,  1864.  She  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Newland)  McCoy.  Thomas  McCoy  was 
a  native  of  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  arid  was  born 
Dec.  6,  1803.  He  was  of  Scotch  parentage,  Angus 
and  Catherine  (Monroe)  McCoy,  his  father  and 
"7  mother,  both  having  come  from  Scotland.  They 
settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were  married. 
I  Thomas  McCoy  grew  to  manhood  in  Washington 
County,  where  he  was  married,  and  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming.  In  the  spring  of  1854,  he  came 
to  Warren  County,  first  locating  in  Sumner  Town- 
ship. He  remained  here,  however,  but  about  three 
months,  when  he  bought  a  farm  on  section  27, 
Spring  Grove  Township,  where  he  lived  until  his 
deiith,  which  occurred  Sept.  19,  1873.  His  widow  is 
still  living  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead  with 
her  son,  Angus.  They  had  a  family  of  four  children, 
Mary  and  John  M.,  the  eldest,  two  both  died  when 
they  were  just  blooming  into  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. Angus  and  Mrs.  Porter  are  the  other  two. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCoy,  after  coming  to  Warren 
County,  connected  themselves  with  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Subsequently,  Mrs.  McCoy  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  In  politics 
the  elder  McCoy  was  a  life-long  Democrat. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  are  three  in 
number  and  are  named  Ada  F.,  Alvin  A.  and  T. 
Lee.  The  parents  are  giving  their  children  the 
benefits  of  a  good  education,  affording  them  far 
greater  advantages  in  this  respect  than  either  of 
them  ever  enjoyed.  Politically,  Mr.  Porter  is  a 


Democrat.  He  is  an  excellent  citizen  and  is  con- 
sidered a  leading  farmer  of  the  county.  His  place  is 
justly  rated  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  Warren 
County. 


rick  Thompson,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Berwick  Township,  was  born  Feb. 
21,  1824,  in  the  southern  part  of  Sweden. 
He  emigrated  to  the  "  land  of  possibilities"  in 
1856,  landing  in  New  York  Aug.  14,  of  that 
year.  On  arrival  in  New  York  city  Mr- 
Thompson  looked  around  and  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  his  opportunities  to  establish  a  home  in 
that  thriving  metropolis  with  his  meager  means  were 
not  encouraging,  and  he  consequently  concluded  to 
push  farther  west.  He,  therefore,  soon  after  his  ar- 
rival there,  came  to  Galesburg,  Knox  Co.,  this  State, 
from  which  place  he  came  to  Cameron,  this  county, 
where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1857.  He 
then  worked  by  the  month  at  various  occupations 
for  three  years. 

Dec.  4,  1861,  Mr.  Thompson  enlisted  in  the  War 
for  the  Union,  joining  the  58th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  under 
Capt.  Fuller,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  at 
Chicago.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fort 
Donelson,  was  in  the  three  days'  fight  and  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Pittsburg  Landing,  April  2,  1862,  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  conveyed  to  Tuscalonsa,  Ala.,  where  he 
remained  52  days,  when  he  was  taken  to  that  "  hell- 
hole," Anderson  ville  Prison,  and  was  there  confined 
for  ten  months  and  four  days.  He  was  detailed  while 
at  Andersonville  to  dig  graves  for  Union  soldiers 
who  had  died  in  that  horrible  den,  and  in  the 
months  of  June,  July  and  August,  Mr.  Thompson  as- 
sisted in  digging  graves  for  8,6 10  Union  soldiers  who 
had  died  inside  the  walls  of  that  filthy  and  inhuman 
prison.  He  was  taken,  in  September,  1864,  to  Flor- 
ence, S.  C.,  and  there  confined  in  another  rebel 
prison,  where  he  remained  until  the  latter  part  of  De- 
cember, when  he  was  transferred  to  Charleston,  S.  C., 
and  the  7th  day  of  February,  1865,  he  received  his 
discharge  and  was  mustered  out  at  Chicago. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Thompson  to  Mrs.  Phebe 
Charles  took  place  Oct.  25,  1860.  She  was  born 
May  6,  1827,  in  Ohio,  and  died  March  10,  1883. 
By  her  former  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of 


-4- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


335 


four  children.  Of  her  union  with  Mr.  Thompson, 
the  following  children  were  born,  namely  :  Hannah 
E.,  born  Oct.  28,  1861;  Ahnira  J.,  Oct.  3,  1863; 
James  A.,  Nov.  3,  1868  ;  Laura  M.,  April  26,  1870. 
James  A.  died  Nov.  18,  1879. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  the  proprietor  of  58  acres  of 
land  where  he  resides;  has  a  good  residence  upon 
his  place,  and  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  meeting 
with  success  in  his  vocation.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  Mr. 
Thompson,  as  long  as  he  remembers  the  terrible  trial 
he  passed  through  while  a  prisoner  in  rebel  prisons, 
will  never  fail  to  vote  the  Republican  ticket. 


.  esse  Biggs,  owning  364  acres  of  good 
farm  land  under  excellent  cultivation,  lo- 
cated on  section  2,  Roseville  Township, 
where  he  resides  and  is  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising,  was  born  in  Tennessee,  Jan. 
13,  1808,  his  parents  being  Reuben  and 
Catherine  (Sailing)  Riggs,  natives  of  North  Carolina. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Riggs,  of  this  sketch,  in  1818, 
ten  years  after  the  birth  of  Jesse,  moved  from  Ten- 
nessee to  Missouri  and  there  purchased  160  acres  of 
land.  They  remained  on  the  same  for  ten  years, 
where  his  father  was  engaged  in  its  cultivation.  In 
1828  his  father  sold  his  farm  in  Missouri  and  came 
to  this  State,  locating  in  Morgan  County,  where  he 
became  owner  by  purchase  of  120  acres,  on  which  he 
resided  for  a  number  of  years,  when  they  came  to 
live  with  their  son,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  with 
whom  they  resided  during  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  and  were  buried  in  Berwick  Seminary.  Their 
family  consisted  of  12  children,  n  of  whom  lived 
to  become  men  and  women,  and  three  of  whom  yet 
survive. 

Jesse  Riggs,  whose  biography  we  write,  is  the 
sixth  child  in  order  of  birth  of  his  parent's  family  of 
12  children.  He  remained  at  home  assisting  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family  until  28  years  of  age. 
From  the  age  of  his  majority  until  28,  he  took  charge 
of  and  cultivated  his  father's  farm  on  shares.  After 
leaving  home,  Mr.  Riggs  came  to  Warren  County,  in 


1834,  and  for  ii  years  followed  farming  on  rented 
land.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  purchased 
80  acres  in  Lenox  Township  and  resided  thereon, 
engaged  in  its  cultivation  six  years,  when,  by  ad- 
ditional purchase,  he  added  50  acres  to  the  same. 
He  then  sold  the  entire  tract  and  purchased  220 
acres  in  Berwick  Township.  On  this  tract  he  moved 
with  his  family  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1864, 
when  he  sold  it  and  purchased  160  acres  in  Lenox 
Township,  which,  after  working  two  years,  he  also 
sold.  He  then  purchased  174  acres  in  the  same 
township  and  lived  on  that  place  for  six  years,  when 
he  closed  out  his  landed  interests  in  that  Section  by 
sale  and  bought  the  property  on  which  he  at  present 
resides,  which  consists  of  364  acres. 

Mr.  Riggs  lost  his  first  two  companions.  By  his 
first  wife  he  had  three  children, — Martha  E.,  John 
T.  and  Jonathan  P.  The  issue  of  the  second  union 
was  four  children,  who  are  living,  as  follows:  James 
O.,  Mary  E.,  Henry  H.  and  Eliza  J.  Mr.  Riggs 
married  the  third  time  in  1865,  the  lady  chosen  to 
share  his  joys  and  sorrows,  successes  and  reverses, 
being  Miss  Emeline  Vandeveere,  a  native  of  War- 
ren Co.,  111.,  and  she  has  borne  to  her  husband  four 
children, — Frank,  Florence  H.,  Bertie  M.  and  Willis. 

Mr.  Riggs  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  various 
offices  of  his  township  and  county,  and  with  his  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Riggs  is 
considered  one  of  the  solid  and  substantial  men  of 
Warren  County. 


• 


illiam  H.  Cable,  engaged  as  an  agricul- 
turist, residing  upon  section  29,  Floyd 
Township,  was  born  April  6,  1835,  his 
parents  being  Henry  and  Olive  (Kingsley) 
Cable.  His  father  was  born  Sept.  8,  1795 
in  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Floyd 
Township,  Nov.  i,  1835,  where  he  resided  until  April, 
1867,  when  he  moved  to  Monmouth,  in  which  place 
he  resided  until  liis  death.  He  was  six  weeks  on  the 
journey  from  his  native  State,  coming  down  the  Ohio 
to  Cairo,  and  from  that  place  to  St.  Louis,  finally 
landing  at  Yellow  Banks,  now  called  Oquawka.  At 
the  latter  place  he  started  with  teams  to  Monmouth, 


(  » 


336 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


where  he  found  but  one  frame  building  in  the  city. 
His  marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  28th  of  April, 
i8t6,  in  New  York,  with  Miss  Olive  Kingsley, 
mother  of  our  subject,  she  having  been  born  in  Con- 
necticut, April  16,  1792.  To  use  Mr.  Cable's  own 
language  (expressed  with  a  pride  which  reflects  credit 
upori  him  as  a  son),  his  mother  was  a  "  genuine  Con- 
necticut Yankee,"  who  "  spun  the  yarn  from  which 
his  father's  wedding  suit  of  clothes  were  made,"  Her 
demise  occurred  Feb.  23,  1876,  at  the  age  of  83  years, 
to  months  and  7  days.  Mr.  Henry  Cable  died  after  a 
life  of  hard  work,  on  the  8th  of  March,  1878.  Their 
family  consisted  of  Mary,  born  April  i,  1819;  Ezra, 
Feb.  n,  1821;  George  C.,  April  r,  1823;  Chancy 
M.,  May  19,  1825  ;  Elizabeth  A  ,  Dec.  19,  1828,  and 
William  H.,  of  whom  we  write  this  biographical  no- 
tice. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Chaffee  was  the  lady  chosen  to 
share  the  joys  and  sorrows,  successes  and  reverses  of 
Mr.  William  H.  Cable,  their  marriage  occurring  Aug. 
r  25,  1858.  She  was  born  in  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  24,  1839,  and  of  her  union  with  Mr.  Cable,  five 
children  were  born,  all  surviving.  Charles  H.,  born 
July  31,  1860;  Francis  E.,  June  17,  1862;  Henry 
G.,  April  24,  1864;  Eddy  D.,  April  6,  1866;  Albert 
B.,  April  20,  1876.  Henry,  the  third  in  order  of 
birth,  was  severely  injured  when  16  years  of  age  by 
the  bursting  of  a  circular  saw  operated  for  the  pur- 
pose of  sawing  stove  wood  at  his  father's  door.  While 
the  lad  stood  throwing  away  the  blocks  as  they  fell 
from  the  machine,  he  was  struck  by  a  piece  of  the 
bursted  saw  (measuring  16  x  28  inches)  at  the  edge 
of  the  hair  over  the  left  eye,  tearing  away  a  piece 
from  the  skull  2>£  x  $%  inches.  The  scalp  wound 
was  13  inches  in  circumference,  but  the  wound 
healed  without  any  artificial  appliance,  and  to-day  he 
is  in  a  sound  physical  condition,  and  with  mental 
faculties  unimpaired  and  of  the  brightest  order.  He  is 
now  residing  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  holding  a  posi- 
tion as  Clerk  in  the  Security  Bank  of  Minnesota.  He 
is  21  years  of  age. 

Mr.  William  H.  Cable  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
parents  when  but  six  months  old,  in  1835.  He  has 
160  acres  of  good  land  under  excellent  cultivation 
and  improvement.  Upon  it  he  has  erected  a  dwel- 
ling 30  x  34  feet  in  dimensions,  with  a  fine  grove  of 
forest  trees  surrounding  it.  He  has  a  herd  of  about 
25  head  of  Short-horn  cattle  highly  graded,  and  his 
horses  are  of  the  Hambletonian  and  Bashaw  grades. 


He  is  also  the  owner  of  a  pair  of  Clydesdale  colts  of 
very  fine  breed.  Mr.  Cable  is  now  serving  as  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  in  this  township,  having  served  as 
School  Director  for  12  or  14  years.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
having  belonged  to  this  denomination  for  over  31 
years.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party.  The  Cable  family  originated  from  Ger- 
many. Their  great-grandfather  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  the  early  part  of  the  1710  century. 


obert  B.  Woodward.  One  of  the  exten- 
sive farmers  of  Roseville  Township  and 
large  land-owners  of  the  county,  is  Mr.  R. 
B.  Woodward:  He  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Oct.  14, 
1829,  his  parents  being  Davis  and  Mary 
(Boyd)  Woodward,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State.  By  occupation,  the  father,  Davis,  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  married  in  1828,  and  to 
that  union  13  children  were  born,  12  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  and  1 1  survive  their  parents.  The  fam- 
ily were  from  Cumberland  County  and  moved  West 
to  Fayette  County. 

Robert  B.  was  the  eldest  child  of  his  parents' 
family,  receiving  at  their  hands  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  assisting  them  whenever  it  was 
possible  until  he  attained  the  age  of  majority,  when 
he  went  out  to  earn  his  own  livelihood,  wholly  de- 
pendent upon  himself.  He  rented  a  farm,  which  he 
continued  for  two  years,  having  had  fair  success,  and 
March  31,  1853,  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Roseville  Township,  this  county,  where  he  purchased 
187  acres  of  land  upon  section  30,  20  acres  of  which 
was  timber.  Upon  this  tract  of  land  he  remained, 
engaged  in  its  cultivation  and  improvement,  until  he 
has  increased  his  landed  interests  to  561  acres.  He 
is  extensively  engaged  in  the  stock  business  and  is 
meeting  with  success. 

Dec.  5,  1850,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Robert  B. 
Woodward  and  Miss  Sarah  A.  Work,  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  solemnized.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Amy  (Harris)  Work,  also  natives  of 
that  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodward  have  had  their 


•^v 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


339     i 


home  circle  blessed  with  the  birth  of  six  children,  all 
of  whom  survive,  and  of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief 
memorandum:  Mary,  Davis  A.,  Andrew  D.,  Seth, 
Jacob  H.  and  Viola.  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Steward, 
resides  in  Franklin  Co.,  Kan. ;  Davis  A.  married 
Annie  Wilson,  a  resident  of  Roseville  Township; 
Andrew  D.  married  Priscilla  Boyd,  and  is  a  farmer 
in  Point  Pleasant  Township;  Seth  married  Ida 
Lippe  and  is  an  occupant  of  the  home  farm  ;  Jacob 
H.  and  Viola  are  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Woodward  is  a  Democrat  in  political  affilia- 
tion, and,  socially,  belongs  to  the  Select  Knights  and 
is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  is  a  director 
and  stockholder  in  the  Roseville  Union  Bank,  and  is 
one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  men  of  Warren 
County.  Mrs.  Woodward  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 


i  ohn  B.  Sofield,  of  the  firm  of  Sofield  & 
Schussler,  successors  to  D.  Harvey,  dealer 
in  hardware,  stoves,  tinware  and  agricul- 
tural implements,  at  Monmouth,  was  born  at 
Lawrenceville,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  March  26,  1833. 
His  parents,  John  and  Julia  A.  (Grant)  Sofield, 
natives  of  New  Jersey  and  Connecticut  respectively, 
and  dating  their  early  ancestry  back  to  old  England, 
were  married  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  two 
of  their  children  were  born.  The  rest  of  their  four 
sons  and  five  daughters  were  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
The  senior  Mr.  Sofield,  who  was  for  many  years  in 
the  hardware  business  at  Wellsborough,  Pa.,  died  at 
that  place  in  1860,  aged  about  58  years  His  widow 
survived  him  eight  years,  and  died  at  the  age  of  63. 
Their  eldest  son,  Alfred  J.  Sofield,  was  a.  Captain  in 
the  Union  Army  and  lost  his  life  at  Gettysburg.  His 
Company  was  attached  to  the  celebrated  "  Buck 
Tails,"  149111  Pa.  Vol.  Inf. 

John  B.  Sofield  was  educated  at  the  public  schools 
and  at  Wellsborough  Academy.  When  between  16 
and  17  years  of  age,  he  began  learning  the  tinner's 
trade,  and  in  about  a  year  and  a  half  went  into  the 
stove  and  tinware  business  at  Wellsborough,  which 
he  followed  nine  years.  He  then  removed  to  Iowa 


and  a  few  months  later  to  Osawatomie,  Kan.,  where 
he  spent  three  years  in  the  hardware  business.  In 
1860  he'came  to  Warren  County,  where  his  principal 
business  has  been  in  dealing  in  hardware,  stoves, 
tinware,  etc.  He  was  permanently  located  20  years 
at  Kirkwood,  coming  to  Monmouth  in  1880.  He 
retained  his  interest,  however,  at  Kirkwood,  until 
1883.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Kirkwood, 
in  1879,  but  held  the  office  only  a  few  months,  find- 
ing the  position  irksome  and  militating  to  too  great 
an  extent  against  the  interests  of  his  private  busi- 
ness. While  at  Kirkwood,  he  was  several  terms  a 
member  of  the  Common  Council  of  that  city,  a  posi- 
tion that  has  also  been  thrust  upon  him  since  coming 
to  Monmouth. 

Aside  from  his  mercantile  business,  Mr.  Sofield  is 
largely  interested  in  banking,  to  which  he  has  given 
considerable  attention.  He  is  eminently  a  business 
man,  full  of  energy  and  activity  and  possessed  of  a 
high  order  of  executive  ability. 

At  Galesburg,  this  State,  Mr.  Sofield  was  married  . 
Oct.  18,  1859,  to  Miss  Helen  M.  Smalley,  native  of  ; 
Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  one  child,  a  daugh-  , 
ter.  Mr.  Sofield  is  ever  an  active  Republican  in  , 
politics,  but  his  religion  is  liberal  and  broad.  Both  ' 
he  and  Mrs.  Sofield  are  members  of  the  Universalist  j 
Church. 


'lexander  Hamilton  Swain,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Monmouth  Review,  a 
history  of  which  paper,  see  elsewhere  in 

rthis  work,  was  born  in   Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct. 
13,  1828.     His    father   was    Wilson  Swain,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  descended  from 
the   German ;    and    his    mother   was    Rebecca   Mc- 
Cracken,  daughter  of  Rev  Alex.  McCracken,  a  pion- 
eer  Methodist    preacher  of   Ohio,  but   a    native   of 
Ireland,  dating  his  ancestry  back  to  the  Scotch  who 
fled  into  Ireland  at  the  time  of  the  Romish  persecu- 
tion.    Wilson  Swain  and  Miss  McCracken  were  mar- 
ried in  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  where  their   five  sons   and 
one  daughter  were  born,  and  there  the  two  old  peo- 
ple spent  their  lives.     Mr.  Swain  died  in  1845,  aged 
60  years,  and  his  widow,  in  1852,  aged  68  years. 
Alexander  Hamilton  Swain,  whose  name  would  in- 


1 


34° 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


dicate  that  the  senior  Swain  leaned  rather  to  the 
Federal  than  to  the  Republican  party  of  that  time, 
was  the  youngest  of  the  five  sons.  The  eldest,  John, 
developed  into  a  river  man  (Steam-boat  Captain), 
and  died  in  1845  ;  the  second  son,  William  T.,  be- 
came a  merchant  and  subsequently  a  soldier.  He 
was  Captain  of  Co.  H,  I2th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was 
killed  at  Shiloh;  the  third  son,  Andrew  J  ,  grew  into 
a  preacher  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  the  fourth  son,  Wilson,  learned  to  be  a  blacksmith, 
and  died  at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  1850;  the  daugher, 
Rebecca,  married  a  Mr.  T.  A.  Stone,  and  died  in 
1864,  at  Uniontown. 

Alexander  Swain,  subject  of  this  notice,  was  at 
Uniontown  College  when  his  father  died  and  from 
that  day  he  had  to  shift  for  himself.  The  Genius  of 
Liberty,  a  Democratic  paper,  was  established  at 
Uniontown,  in  1805,  and  through  all  the  various 
changes  of  eight  decades,  it  has  stood  by  its  colors; 
demonstrating  the  appropriateness  of  its  title  and  is  a 
flourishing  Democratic  paper,  A.  D.  1886.  In  the  office 
of  this  paper,  young  Swain  began  to  be  a  printer,  and 
here  he  worked  for  several  years.  In  1853,  he  land- 
ed at  Tiskilwa,  Bureau  County,  this  State,  and  there 
worked  about  nine  months  for  his  merchant  brother. 
He  next  took  employment  as  a  printer  on  the  Knox- 
ville  Journal,  coming  from  there  to  Monmouth,  in 
1855.  Friday,  Dec.  28,  1855,  the  Monmouth  Re- 
view made  its  first  appearance,  and  though  its  editor 
and  proprietor  possessed  but  a  very  limited  cash 
fund  when  he  struck  the  town,  his  paper  has  ap- 
peared regularly  every  Friday,  from  that  day  to  this 
— a  period  covering  near  a  third  of  a  century — each 
succeeding  issue  presenting  a  more  promising  indica- 
tion of  perpetual  existence.  That  its  many  readers 
may  know  that  its  Democracy,  pure  as  it  is  to-day,  is 
but  the  embodiment  of  the  time  honored  principles 
of  that  great  party,  untarnished  and  unchanged  by 
the  wear  and  tear  of  ages,  we  reproduce  here,  the 
salient  points  set  forth  in  Mr.  Swain's  salutatory  of 
over  30  years  ago. 

"  In  commencing  the  Monmouth  Review  we  feel 
called  upon  to  make  a  short  statement  to  the  pub- 
lic of  our  views  and  intentions  in  the  future  publica- 
tion of  this  paper.  Our  movement  in  the  present 
instance  has  not  been  prompted  by  any  spirit  of  con- 
tention or  desire  to  assail  those  who  may  differ  with 
us  in  opinion,  but  from  the  evident  demands  of  the 
growth  and  improvement  of  the  country,  and  the 


party  whose  principles  we  wish  to  advocate.  The 
Democratic  party  in  this  section  of  the  State  appears 
to  require  an  organ  which  should  express  their  views, 
uphold  Democratic  principles  and  seek  to  extend  the 
influences  of  Democracy  among  the  people.  How 
far  we  shall  succeed  in  performing  this  oner- 
ous task  it  is  not  for  us  to  say,  more  than  that  we 
shall  set  ourselves  with  all  our  abilities  to  its  per- 
formance. The  Democratic  party  at  this  time  occu- 
pies a  singular  position  before  the  country  ;  beset  by 
all  the  different  factions  and  organizations  of  the  day 
whose  policy  for  the  time  is  to  drop  minor  differences 
and  unite  for  the  defeat  of  that  one  party,  which  has 
ever  maintained  its  part  as  a  barrier  against  section- 
alism on  the  one  hand  and  lawlessness  on  the 
other.  In  reference  to  the  important  and  exciting 
issues  which  divide  and  excite  the  people,  we  stand 
on  the  broad  National  platform  of  the  Democracy  of 
the  whole  Union  which  allows  the  people  of  the  sev- 
eral States  and  Territories  to  regulate  their  domestic 
concerns  in  their  own  way,  which  extends  to  the 
needy  of  every  country  and  clime  the  rights  and 
privileges  we  so  bountifully  enjoy,  irrespective  of 
their  religious  and  political  opinion  or  place  of, 
birth." 

The  files  of  the  Review  attest  the  adherence  of  its 
editor  to  the  principles  he  has  honestly  thought 
right.  Though  many  have  differed  and  will  continue 
to  differ  with  him,  none  have  ever  doubted  his  sin- 
cerity. His  paper  has  always  championed  the  weak 
as  against  the  strong,  has  always  advocated  the  ad- 
vancement of  public  interest  and  in  no  instance  has 
it  groveled  in  the  slum  of  personal  abuse  unaccom- 
panied by  public  duty.  Mr.  Swain  was  one  of  the 
original  12  to  organize  the  Warren  County  Library 
and  that  greatest  of  all  the  city's  public  institutions, 
owes  much  of  its  success  to  the  influences  wielded 
by  Editor  Swain  and  his  paper.  Personally,  Mr.  Swain 
has  been  but  little  in  politics.  He  was  a  candidate 
for  Circuit  Clerk  in  1864,  and  defeated  by  methods 
that  would  never  be  tolerated  when  the  country  was 
at  peace.  In  1869-70,  he  was  Journal  Clerk  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention,  and  as  such  wrote  the 
present  Constitution  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Swain  is  a  32d  degree  Mason  ;  served  14 
years  as  High  Priest  in  Chapter,  and  some  years  as 
illustrious  Grand  Master  of  Council.  June  9,  1856. 
at  Knoxville,  111.,  Mr.  Swain  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Louisa  Brewer,  cousin  of  Dr.  Brewer,  whose 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


34i 


biography  is  presented  in  another  part  of  this  vol- 
ume. Their  only  daughter,  Mary  Rebecca,  is  mar- 
ried to  E.  C.  Babcock,  of  Butte  City,  M.  T. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Swain  accompanies   this  sketch 
of  his  life. 


fndrew  J.  Reid  is  a  resident  on  section  4 
of  the  township  of  Spring'Grove.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Greenwich,  Washington 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  Peter'and  Phebe 
(Hutchins)  Reid.  His  parents  were  both  born 
in  the  same  county  where  their  son  first  saw 
the  light  of  day.  His  birth  occurred  July  9,  1833. 
Alexander  Reid,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was  also 
a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  was  a  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  Continental  Army.  He  was  a  partici- 
pant in  the  battle  of  Hubbardton  in  Rutland  Co., 
Vt.,  the  only  authenticated'battlefield  of  the  Revo- 
lution in  the  Green  Mountain  State.  John  Reid, 
the  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Washington 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  known 
.  as  the  "  Argyle  Patent."  The  maternal  grandmother 
was  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia.  In  her  girlhood,  she 
was  Eunice  Campbell.  Her  father  was  of  the 
Campbell  clan. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Reid  of  this  sketch  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm  and  became  quite  famous 
as  a  naturalist.  He  was  one  of  those  who  classified 
and  arranged  the  flora  of  the  Empire  State.  He 
was  well  known  through  his  writings  for  the  Spirit 
Of  The  Times.  His  death  took  place  in  Greenwich, 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y..  in  September,  1878,  at  the 
age  of  83  years  and  two  months.  The  mother  died 
in  1878,  aged  76.  Six  of  11  children  of  whom  they 
became  the  parents,  are  still  living.  Alexander  H. 
resides  in  De  Kalb  Co.,  111. ;  Andrew  J.  is  the  next 
in  order;  Jane  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  Wellman,  of 
Greenwich,  N.  Y. ;  Catherine  is  married  to  H.  L. 
Pratt,  of  Westfield,  ChautauquaCo.,  N.  Y. ;  Margaret 
is  the  wife  of  Edward  Orcutt,  of  Cambridge,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Emily  A,  is  married  to  William  T. 
Creighton,  of  Harper  City,  Kan. 

Mr.  Reid  grew  to  the  age  and  condition  of  man- 
hood in  the  county  where  he  was  born,  and  received 


the  training  of  a  farmer's  son.  He  obtained  a  de- 
gree of  learning  which  enabled  him  to  engage  in 
teaching,  and  for  a  time  he  was  occupied  in  that 
pursuit.  In  1857  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  passed 
three  years  in  farming  in  Mercer  County,  and  in 
1860  came  to  Warren  County  and  followed  the  same 
pursuit  in  the  summer  seasons  and  taught  school 
winters  until  he  decided  to  enter  the  military  service 
of  the  United  States.  He  enlisted  Sept.  30,  1861, 
in  Co.  G,  3oth  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  continued  to  dis- 
charge military  duty  until  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge,  Dec.  21,  1862,  for  disability.  He  was  in 
the  actions  at  Fort  Donelson  and  Britton's  Lane, 
near  Denmark.  After  his  return  to  Warren  County, 
he  located  upon  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  It 
was  unimproved  at  the  time,  but  under  his  skillful 
management  it  was  soon  placed  in  proper  condition 
for  prosperous  agriculture.  In  1872  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Norwood,  in  which  pursuit  he 
continued  for  seven  years,  when  he  again  resumed 
fanning.  In  political  relations,  he  is  a  Republican. 
His  marriage  to  Selinda  E.  Boggs  took  place  June 
3,  1863.  She  was  born  in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  mother  of  two  children, — Gertrude  and 
Eva  May. 


I.  Field.  Among  the  energetic  and  pros- 
fc  perous  agriculturists  of  Warren  County,  is 
Mr.  Field  of  this  notice,  who  is  a  resident 
on  section  15,  Tompkins  Township,  and  a  na- 
tive of  the  Buckeye  State,  having  been  born 
there  in  the  year  1819.  Jacob  and  Martha 
(Inman)  Field,  the  parents  of  Mr.  J.  I.  Field  of  this 
writing;  were  natives  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
coming  to  Ohio  from  the  latter  State  in  the  year 
1818.  The  father,  Jacob,  resided  in  Ohio  until 
1854  (the  mothers  demise  having  occurred  in  1849), 
when  he  came  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  located  in 
Henderson  County,  where  he  purchased  land  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  in  1875. 

J.  I.  Field  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  30  years,  or  the  year  in  which  the 
death  of  his  mother  occurred.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  at  the  age  of  15  years  engaged  un- 
der his  father's  instruction  [to  learn  the  blacksmith's 


f  > 


342 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  15  years  in  his  father's 
shop.  He  then  came  to  this  State  and  purchased 
1 60  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  in  Walnut  Grove  Town- 
ship, Henderson  County,  upon  which  he  moved  and 
engaged  in  the  laborious  task  of  its  improvement 
and  cultivation,  and  to  which,  by  a  subsequent  pur- 
chase, he  added  80  acres.  He  continued  to  reside 
on  this  land  until  1876,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved 
into  the  village  of  Kirkwood,  there  purchasing  a  lot 
and  residence,  in  which  he  resided  for  18  months. 
He  then  sold  l.is  village  property  a|id  bought  160 
acres  of  land,  located  upon  sections  10  and  15.  On 
this  land  he  moved  his  family  and  once  more  engag- 
ed in  the  vocation  of  an  agriculturist,  which  he  has 
successfully  continued  until  the  present  time.  He 
has  an  excellent  farm,  with  good  residence  and  out- 
buildings, and  its  general  appearance  and  actual 
condition  is  highly  indicative  of  that  thrift  and  ener- 
gy which  its  owner  possessses. 

In  1857  Mr.  Field  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Math- 
ews,  a  native  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  who 
bore  him  three  children, — Martha  J.,  William  E.and 
Joseph  F.  The  wife  and  mother,  after  accompany- 
ing her  husband  through  the  trials  of  17  years,  pass- 
ed to  the  land  of  the  hereafter,  her  death  occurring 
in  1874.  In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Field  coincides 
with  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  His 
religion  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  United  Presbyter- 
ian Church,  of  which  denomination  at  Kirkwood,  he 
is  a  member. 


.  ohn  Bennet,  who,  after  the  many  struggles 
which  he  has  e.ncountered'in  his  more  than 
four  score  years,  is  now  able  to  sit  in  the 
midst  of  peace  and  plenty,  while  viewing  the 
the  golden  sunset  of  life  in  the  domestic  qui- 
etude of  his  farm,  on  section  16,  Tompkins 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  13,  1800,  his  parents  being  James  and  Hannah 
(Sharp)  Bennett,  natives  of  South  Catolina  and  New 
York  respectively. 

Mr.  Bennett  of  this  notice  was  an  inmate  of  the 
the  parental  household  until  20  years  of  age.    He  re- 


ceived such  education  as  was  to  be  acquired  at  the 
district  schools,  and  in  1824,  after  leaving  the  home 
of  his  parents,  he  purchased  a  tract  of  farm  land  on 
time,  which,  however,  owing  to  reverses,  he  was  un- 
able to  pay  for.  After  this  first  bitter  experience 
with  the  "  ups  and  downs  "of  life,  he  was  occupied 
until  1854  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  rented  land  in 
his  native  State.  In  1854  Mr.  Bennett  came  to  Il- 
linois and  purchased  a  farm  of  80  acres  in  Warren 
County,  located  on  section  16,  Tompkins  Township, 
on  which  he  established  a  home  for  his  family,  and 
for  eight  years  he  continued  to  reside  thereon,  dilli- 
gently  cultivating  the  soil.  In  1865  he  sold  his  80- 
acre  tract  and  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he 
has  since  resided.  His  improvements  are  of  the 
best  quality  and  his  farm  is  indicating  of  that  push 
and  energy  which  has  characterized  the  life  of  Mr. 
Bennett. 

Mr.  Bennett  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
marriage  was  to  Miss  Lydia  Thorp,  January,  1821, 
and  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  Miss  Melinda 
Thorp  became  his  second  wife.  In  politics  Mr.  Ben- 
nett is  a  strong  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
pyblican  party.  In  religion  he  and  his  wife  are  lx>th 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


.ugh  Martin,  deceased,  was  a  pioneer  of 
Warren  County  and  came  hither  in  1832, 
in  which  year  he  located  in  that  part  of  the 
county  now  included  in  the  township  of  Sum- 
ner.  He  was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa. 
It  is  a.  tradition  that  his  father  was  an  Indian 
captive  12  years.  Mr.  Martin  was  married  in  his 
native  county  to  Margaret  Brown,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland.  She  came  to  this  country  at  the  age  of  14. 
On  the  route  the  vessel  was  captured  by  pirates.  Half 
of  the  crew  from  the  freebooter  was  placed  on  board, 
and  one-half  of  the  captured  crew  transferred  to 
pirate  vessel.  In  the  course  of  the  storm  that  soon 
after  arose,  the  vessels  became  separated  and  that 
portion  of  the  captured  crew  left  on  board  their  own 
ship,  mutined  (if  such  a  term  can  properly  apply) 
and  retook  their  ship.  They  made  the  port  of  New 
York  in  safety  and  the  owners  of  the  vessel  refunded 
the  passage  money  to  the  passengers.  Mrs.  Martin 


RESIDENCEOF  JOHN  SIMCOCK.SEC-H.SPRING  GROVETOWNSHIP. 


JOYDOR  STUD  FARM  , OWKCD  BY  JOHN  J.lvEY,5Ec.,33.SurviNE:R TOWNSHIP. 


i 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


345 


came  in  company  with  her  brother  and  they  located 
in  Pennsylvania.  Seven  years  later  her  mother  and 
other  members  of  the  family  came  from  the  Green 
Isle  to  join  them. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Martin  went  to  Mus- 
kingum  Co.,  Ohio,  being  one  of  the  earliest  of  its 
pioneer  population.  In  1829,  in  company  with  his 
wife  and  seven  children,  he  set  his  face  toward  Illi- 
nois. He  drove  a  four-horse  team  across  the  many 
intervening  miles  and  made  the  trp  in  the  Gipsy 
fashion.  After  six  weeks  travel  they  arrived  in  Ful- 
ton County.  Mr.  Martin  bought  a  half-section  of 
land  for  which  he  paid  $200.  He  rented  a  few  acres 
of  timber  which  was  in  the  vicinity  of  his  pur- 
chase, on  which  a  log- cabin  had  been  erected,  and 
the  humble  structure  sheltered  the  family  three 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  another  removal 
brought  the  household  to  Warren  County.  This  was 
in  the  fall  of  1832.  Mr.  Martin  pre-empted  a  claim 
on  section  28,  in  what  became  Sumner  Township, 
when  the  work  of  county  organization  was  com- 
pleted. He  built  a  log  house  on  his  claim,  which 
,  was  his  home  until  death.  He  was  a  hard-working, 
honest  man  and  was  frugal  in  habits,  and  judicious 
in  the  management  of  his  affairs.  Before  he  died  he 
was  the  owner  of  600  acres  of  land  which  was  dis- 
tributed among  his  children  previous  to  his  death. 
His  second  son,  William,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
reach  the  site  of  Sumner  Township.  He  was  mur- 
dered by  the  Indians  in  August,  1832. 


*ohn  J.  Ivey  is  a  farmer  and  breeder  of 
thoroughbred  horses  and  trotting  stock, 
and  resides  on  section  33,  of  Sumner  Town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  is  a 
descendant  of  parents  who  were  born  respect- 
ively in  Virginia  and  Northern  Tennessee. 
His  father,  David  A.  Ivey,  was  a  native  of  Sussex 
Co.,  Va.  He  was  old  enough  to  take  a  part  in  the 
war  of  1812,  when  that  struggle  broke  out,  and  after- 
ward married  a  lady  named  Mourning  Mason.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  a  "hard-shell"  Baptist  preacher, 
and  her  parents  were  natives  of  North  Carolina. 
The  marriage  took  place  in  Robertson  Co.,  Tenn., 


where  they  lived  about  four  years.  They  then  went 
to  Logan  Co.,  Ky.,  where  the  father  purchased  a 
tract  of  timber  three  miles  from  the  State  line.  He 
lived  to  clear  a  farm  upon  which  he  died  in  1867, 
his  wife  following  him  in  1870.  All  their  lives  were 
passed  in  the  practice  of  the  principles  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  they  were  consistent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  They  left  a  record  which  still 
exerts  an  influence  on  those  to  whom  their  careers  of 
uprightness  and  integrity  were  well  known.  Six  of 
their  children  grew  to  maturity.  Carrie,  the  oldest, 
remained  with  her  parents  until  their  respective 
deaths.  She  now  resides  with  her  brother  in  Sum- 
ner Township.  Virginia  is  also  a  member  of  the 
household  of  her  brother.  James  A.  is  a  preacher  in 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  is  now  stationed  at  New 
Orleans.  Joseph  died  on  the  homestead  in  Kentucky. 
Ellen  is  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  James  A.  Lewis,  of 
Kentucky. 

Mr.  Ivey  was  born  Dec.  6,  1827,  in  Robertson  Co., 
Tenn.  He  was  but  a  few  months  old  when  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  was  brought 
up  on  the  farm  of  his  father.  The  residence  was  in 
Logan  County  and  the  boy  passed  his  time  mostly  in 
farm  labor,  with  the  exception  of  the  winter  seasons 
which  were  spent  in  obtaining  an  education  in  the 
select  schools.  His  first  engagement  in  active  life  . 
was  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  Keysburg,  where  he 
operated  three  years  and  went  thence  to  Clarksville, 
Tenn.  At  that  place  he  continued  in  the  same  voca- 
tion in  a  wholesale  and  retail  establishment,  where 
he  continued  three  years.  He  then  formed  a  part- 
nership with  R.  M.  House,  whereby  he  acquired  an 
interest  in  the  oldest  grocery  house  in  Clarksville. 
The  relation  continued  until  1859  when  it  was  ter- 
minated by  the  death  of  Mr:  House.  After  an  ex- 
perience alone,  of  about  the  duration  of  a  year,  he 
sold  out  and  went  to  that  part  of  Steward  County, 
Tennessee,  which  is  now  included  in  Houston 
County,  and  there  bought  a  farm  and  milling  prop- 
erty— the  latter  including  a  saw  and  flour  mill.  He 
superintended  these  interests  until  interrupted  by 
circumstances  growing  out  of  the  bitter  internecine 
war.  He  was  a  slave-holder  and  withal  a'  Union 
man  of  decided  and  declared  opinions.  Unfortu- 
nately, his  ideas  were  not  those  that  generally  pre- 
vailed there  and  he  soon  found  himself  in  incogenial 
quarters.  His  life  was  unsafe  and  eventually  the 
fate  that  overwhelmed  all  who  had  the  smallest  re- 


- 


T 


346 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


-- 


spect  for  an  integral  Union,  overtook  him.  His 
property  was  confiscated  and  he  became  a  fugitive 
in  the  woods  of  the  State  where  he  had  added  to  the 
general  prosperity  without  the  privilege  of  cherishing 
his  own  views  of  his  rights  as  a  man.  After  the  fall 
of  Fort  Donelson  the  Union  commander  removed  the 
family  of  Mr.  Ivey  under  a  guard  of  protection  to  the 
home  of  his  father  in  Kentucky.  The  Union  forces 
were  under  obligations  to  him  for  services  for  which 
his  knowledge  of  th§  surrounding  country  especially 
fitted,  and  he  acted  as  a  scout  and  guide  for  the 
soldiers.  He  was  chiefly  identified  with  the  83d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.  In  consequence  of  these  important  ser- 
vices his  interests  received  special  attention  at  the 
hands  of  the  victors  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  his  family 
was  removed  to  safe  quarters,  and  provided  for.  His 
services  to  the  Union  cause,  having  rendered  him 
peculiarly  unpopular  among  the  people  of  Stewart 
Co.,  Tenn.,  a  return  to  his  home  in  that  section, 
after  the  close  of  the  war  would  have  been,  to  say 
the  least,  an  unwise  movement.  He  therefore  con- 
cluded to  cast  his  fortunes  with  that  part  of  the 
Union  whose  side  he  had  espoused  in  the  course  of 
the  conflict.  As  many  of  those  with  whom  he  had 
become  acquainted  in  the  army  were  from  War- 
ren Co.,  111.,  that  fact  determined  his  future  and  he 
came  hither.  He  arrived  at  Oquawka,  July  4,  1865, 
and  came  directly  to  Sumner  Township.  He  had  al- 
ready bought  200  acres  of  land  in  that  township,  on 
sections  29  and  33,  and  on  his  arrival  he  took  pos- 
session of  the  property.  His  family  removed  to  a 
small  frame  house  which  had  been  built  previous  to 
his  purchase.  All  the  structures  on  The  place,  in- 
cluding the  fences,  were  in  a  state  of  dilapidation 
and  he  at  once  set  about  the  work  of  putting  every- 
thing into  presentable  conditition.  He  has  erected  a 
fine  large  farmhouse  and  an  excellent  barn,  beside 
other  buildings.  He  has  also  added  60  acres  addi- 
tional to  the  farm  and  the  whole  place  is  in  the  best 
possible  condition  for  profitable  fanning.  The  place 
is  thus  thoroughly  well  adapted  to  all  the  uses  of 
agriculture.  It  is  supplied  with  running  water,  tim- 
ber and  building  stone  of  a  good  quality.  For  a  time 
Mr.  Ivey  directed  his  attention  to  the  breeding  of 
mules  and  operated  with  success  in  that  line,  until 
1 88 1,  when  lie  commenced  to  raise  thoroughbred 
Kentucky  horses  for  the  track.  At  present  he  has 
eight  of  them  in  training,  six  of  the  number  having 
made  a  record  at  the  agricultural  exhibitions  in  the 


adjoining  counties  in  the  autumn  of  1885.  An  ex- 
cellent view  of  Mr.  Ivey's  fine  homestead  is  presented 
elsewhere. 

Mr.  Ivey  is  a  firm  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party  in  his  political  views  and  connections.  He  is 
a  man  of  ability  and  one  who  is  awake  to  all  issues 
that  can  affect  the  general  welfare.  He  is  thor- 
oughly versed  in  the  current  news  of  the  day,  and 
abreast  of  the  advancement  of  the  period.  He  is  a 
thoroughly  domestic  man  with  all  the  excellences  of 
character  that  mark  men  of  like  proclivities.  He 
has  served  two  years  as  Supervisor  of  Sumner  Town- 
ship. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Columbia  House  took  place 
Aug.  26,  1856.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Robert  M. 
and  Mary  R.  (Barnes)  House,  and  was  born  in 
Williamson  Co.,  Tenn.,  and  was  of  German  descent, 
his  ancestors  having  been  early  settlers  in  Virginia. 
Her  mother  is  of  Scotch  descent.  The  first  whole- 
sale grocery  business  established  at  Clarksville,  was 
started  by  her  father.  He  died  Feb.  i,  1859,  leaving 
to  a  family  of  five  children,  a  priceless  heritage,  a 
good  name. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ivey  have  only  two  children  living. 
They  are  daughters  and  are  named  Mary  Virginia 
and  Emma  F.  Their  first  born  was  a  daughter  who 
died  in  infancy.  John  J.,  the  only  son  was  born  in 
Stewart  Co.,  in  1862,  and  died  in  Dallas,  Texas,  Nov. 
23,  1883. 


arvin  Perry,  a  farmer  of  Tompkins  Town- 
ship residing  on  sec.  215,  was  born  in  Put- 
nam Valley,  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  3, 
1830,  his  parents  being  Reuben  and  Lorin- 
da  (Pratt)  Perry,  natives  of  New  York  and  Con- 
necticut respectively.  The  gentleman  whose 
name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  biographical  notice 
lived  with  his  parents  until  he  attained  the  age  of  20 
years,  receiving  at  their  hands  a  good,  common- 
school  education.  Leaving  home  at  that  age  of  life, 
he  worked  at  various  occupations  by  the  month  for 
several  years.  In  1857  he  came  to  Warren  County, 
this  State,  and  settled  near  Cameron,  where  for  three 
years  he  followed  the  vocation  of  an  agriculturist  on 
rented  land.  In  1861,  when  the  news  flashed  across 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


347 


the  country  that  the  Southern  States  had  seceded 
and  Rebel  shot  and  shell  were  being  thundered 
against  the  walls  of  Sumter,  Mr.  Perry  was  one  of 
the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  of  our  martyred  Pres- 
ident for  brave  hearts  and  strong  arms  to  defend  the 
country's  flag.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  451)1  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  served  for  three  years.  He  was  Corporal 
and  then  promoted  Sergeant,  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  and  many  others  of  smaller 
import.  After  being  a  member  of  the  451!!  Regi- 
ment for  a  year  and  a  half,  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge,  by  special  order,  and  immediately  enlisted 
in  the  Mississippi  River  Marine  Brigade,  and  served 
in  the  same  until  he  received  an  honorable  discharge 
by  reason  of  the  disbandment  of  the  Brigade.  Re- 
turning home,  he  again  rented  land  for  three  years 
and  engaged  in  his  former  occupation.  At  the  expi- 
ration of  that  time,  he  purchased  70  acres  of  land, 
where  he  at  present  resides,  engaging  actively  and 
energetically  in  its  improvement  and  cultivation. 

Mr.  Perry  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth F.  Brown,  a  native  of  Indiana,  Fs^ti^vjfi&f 
and  of  their  union  two  children,  Villa  May  and  Lo- 
rinda  D.,  have  been  born.  In  politics,  Mr.  Perry  is 
a  strong  supporter  and  active  worker  for  the  princi- 
ples advocated  by  the  Prohibition  party.  In  religion, 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Protestant  Meth- 
odist Church. 


.  ohn  Simcock,  one  of  the  highly  esteemed 
IF  citizens  of  the  township  of  Spring  Grove, 
where  he  has  resided  for  many  years,  is  a 
native  of  England  and  was  born  in  Stafford- 
shire Dec.  27,  1829.  He  was  a  son  of  a  miner 
and,  according  to  the  custom  in  England,  pre- 
pared to  follow  the  vocation  of  his  ancestors.  When 
he  was  seven  years  of  age  he  entered  the  mines  to 
assist  in  the  variety  of  labor  that  can  be  performed 
by  the  children  of  the  miners,  and  which  is  in  many 
instances  quite  important,  as  the  maintenance  of  the 
family  is  thereby  much  enhanced.  He  was  engaged 
in  the  capacity  of  a  door-tender  and  his  duty  was  to 
open  the  doors  leading  to  various  portions  of  the 


mine  before  the  passage  of  the  cars  which  contained 
the  results  of  the  labors  of  those  who  worked  the 
veins  of  coal.  As  he  grew  older  he  was  \  romoted  to 
other  kinds  of  labor  of  a  more  advanced  character 
until  he  could  wield  all  the  tools  of  z.bona-fide  miner. 
He  continued  to  reside  in  his  native  country  until 
185  r.  In  that  year,  during  the  month  of  May,  he 
left  Liverpool  on  a  sailing  vessel  for  the  United 
States,  and  landed  at  <he  port  of  New  York  after  an 
ocean  passage  of  six  weeks  and -three  days.  He  pro- 
ceeded to  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  occupied 
in  the  mines  there  until  the  month  of  October  fol- 
lowing. 

During  the  month  last  mentioned  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  after  a  delay  of  a  short  time  in  LaSalle 
County  he  came,  in  the  spring  of  1852,  to  Warren 
County.  He  engaged  in  his  old  vocation  here  until 
the  spring  of  1853,  when  he  returned  to  the  land  of 
his  birth.  He  passed  a  year  on  his  native  island 
and  in  the  spring  of  r85s  he  returned  to  the  home 
'•of  his  adoption.  He  then  went  to  the  same  county- 
In  the  Buckeye  State  where  he  had  at  first  found 
employment  on  coming  to  America,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  'came  again  to  La  Salle  County.  He< 
passed  a  year  in  the  mines  there  and  then  went  to 
St.  Louis.  A  year  was  passed  in  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri and  in  1856  he  came  again  to  Warren  County 
with  the  intent  to  pass  his  remaining  life  within  its 
limits. 

He  then  first  entered  into  the  business  of  a  farmer 
in  good  earnest,  and  rented  land  in  the  township  of 
Spring  Grove.  He  operated  there  a  few  years-and 
then  became  an  independent  landholder  in  the  town- 
ship of  Cold  Brook.  The  tract  contained  coal  and 
he  opened  the  hidden  treasures  and  operated  as  a 
miner  until  i86(.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  went 
thence  to  Pike's  Peak.  He  drove  an  ox  team  and 
passed  two  months  on  the  way  to  his  destination  in 
the  mountains.  After  reaching  there  lie  engaged  in 
gold-mining  two  months,  and,  not  finding  the  results 
of  his  labors  satisfactory,  he  returned  to  Warren 
County.  He  passed  the  first  year  after  his  return  in 
the  township  of  Cold  Brook  and  then  rented  a  coal- 
bank  on  section  14,  Spring  Grove  Township. 

fii  1864  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  situated  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  14,  and.  as  it  contained 
a  vein  of  coal,  he  proceeded  to  open  it  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  on  the  same  business  witli  which  he 
was  familiar.  It  did  not  prove  a  success,  and  not 


348 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


long  after  he  exchanged  the  land  for  the  same  quan- 
tity on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  same  section. 
There  he  opened  a  coal-bank,  which  he  has  since 
continued  to  operate  with  success.  In  1872  lie  put 
in  the  shaft  and  it  is  the  only  one  in  the  township. 
The  output  of  the  bank  is  between  40,000  and  60,- 
ooo  bushels  annually.  A  view  of  Mr.  Sirncock's 
residence  and  coal-bank  is  given  on  page  344. 

Mr.  Simcock  was  married  April  26,  1859,  to  Janet 
McKelvie.  She  was  born  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland, 
April  16,  1842,  and  is  the  mother  of  13  children,  12 
of  whom  are  living.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Enoch 
Wilson,  of  Spring  Grove  Township;  Ma'.ilda  married 
Lincoln  Bailey  of  the  same  township.  Those  who 
are  unmarried  are  Margaret  J.,  John,  Janet,  Thomas, 
Aaron,  Annie,  Edith,  Bertha,  Charles  and  Richard. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simcock  are  members  of  the  Church 
of  God,  at  Spring  Grove.  In  politics,  he  has  always 
been  a  strong  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 


;  illiam  Crosby  became  a  citizen  of  what  is 
now  Kelly  Township  in  1848.  He  was 
born  in  1815,  in  Augusta  County,  Va.,  and 
is  the  son  of  George  Crosby,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  latter  was  born  in  1862, 
and  settled  in  the  "Old  Dominion  "  in  1804. 
He  bought  a  farm  in  Augusta  County  and  was  its 
owner  and  occupant  tnrough  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  by  trade  a  blacksmith,  and  during  the 
second  contest  with  Great  Britain  he  made  horse- 
shoes for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  of  the  American 
army.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  the  county  where 
her  son  was  born.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
was  a  pupil  in  what  was  called  the  "subscription 
school."  He  grew  to  the  age  of  manhood  in  Virginia 
and  married  Maria  Wagner,  in  September,  1839.  She 
was  born  in  Augusta  County,  in  1817. 

For  the  next  eight  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crosby  re- 
mained on  the  homestead  of  his  father  and  in  1847 
started  to  find  a  home  in  the  West.  They  traveled 
to  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  with  two  horses  and  a 
wagon,  and  lived  there  about  a  year.  In  Match, 
1848,  they  again  turned  their  faces  toward  the  set- 


tine;  sun,  setting  out  on  the  i6th  of  that  month  with 
the  same  outfit  as  that  with  which  they  had  left  Vir- 
ginia the  year  previous.  They  arrived  in  Warren 
County  on  the  ad  day  of  April,  and  took  possession 
of  a  claim  which  the  father  had  secured  the  fall  pre- 
v'ous.  It  consisted  of  80  acres,  and  afier  a  few  years 
it  was  found  that  the  title  was  defective  and  Mr.^ 
Crosby  was  obliged  to  pay  for  the  property  a  second 
time.  Since  he  secured  himself  in  its  ownership  he 
has  been  a  continuous  resident  on  the  place.  He  is 
at  present  the  owner  also  of  80  acres  on  section  i,  in 
the  same  township,  and  21  acres  of  timber  on  section 
13.  He  and  his  wife  have  nine  children  living, — 
Ruth,  May,  Elizabeth,  George,  Sally,  John,  Benja- 
min, Melinda  and  Augustus.  Mr.  Crosby  has  been 
a  life-long  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party. 


:,  iram  Ingersoll,  a  pioneer  of  Warren  County, 
of  1835,  was  born  Feb.  7,  1812,  in  Cortland 
Co,N.  Y.  His  father,  David  Ingersoll, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  the  mother 
was  born  in  Ireland.  Her  name  before  her 
marriage  was  Jane.  McCoy.  The  elder  Inger- 
soll located  with  his  family  in  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y., 
when  his  son  was  12  years  of  age.  He  was  there 
resident  until  the  fall  of  the  year  named,  in  which  he 
determined  to  seek  a  home  in  the  "  far  West."  He 
removed  from  his  home  in  the  Empire  State  as  far 
as  Syracuse,  where  he  took  passage  on  a  canal-boat 
for  Buffalo.  He  crossed  the  lakes  from  that  place  to 
Chicago,  and  there  hired  a  team  which  brought  him 
to  Peoria.  He  came  thence  to  Warren  County  on 
foot.  His  father  had  settled  in  Kelly  Township  in 
1833,  and  in  the  fall  of  1835  Mr.  Ingersoll  joined 
the  family  there.  He  engaged  in  farming  on  his  fa- 
ther's estate.  In  the  spring  following  he  went  to 
Knoxville  and  passed  two  months  there  working  at 
his  trade  of  carpentry.  He  returned  to  the  home  of 
his  father  and  pursued  the  same  occupation  in  War- 
ren Count).  In  the  spring  of  1838  he  went  back  to 
the  State  of  his  nativity  and  remained  there  about  a 
year  and  a  half.  In  the  autumn  of  1839  he  again 
came  to  Kelly  Township,  and  lived  with  the  family 
of  his  father  until  the  succeeding  spring.  In  the 
course  of  that  season  he  built  a  house  for  his  father 


' 


. 

in   -nk 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


35' 


and  got  out  the  timber  preparatory  to  the  construc- 
tion of  a  saw-mill.  He  continued  to  follow  the  trade 
of  carpentry  for  some  years,  as  he  had  opportunity. 
In  1846  he  was  married,  and  bought  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 22  of  the  same  township  in  which  his  parents 
resided,  and  passing  the  intervening  years  between 
that  time  and  1875  in  farming  and  working  at  his 
trade.  In  the  year  last  mentioned  he  retired  from 
the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  active  life  and  bought 
the  place  where  he  has  since  resided  in  that  part  of 
Alexis  which  is  included  in  Henderson  Township,  in 
Mercer  County. 

Jan.  i,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Cecilia  Potter. 
She  was  born  in  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  March  14, 
1826,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Chester  and  Eliza  (Cas- 
tle) Potter.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  and  came  to  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  in  1831.  After 
passing  a  winter  there  they  came,  in  the  spring  of 
1832,  to  Warren  County.  They  located  at  Rockwell's 
Mills,  where  they  resided  at  the  time  of  the  Black 
Hawk  War.  The  family  was  in  the  block-house  in 
the  fort  at  the  time  of  the  murder  of  William  Martin, 
in  1832.  An  account  of  this  affair  will  be  found  in 
various  parts  of  this  work  in  connection  with  the 
sketches  of  those  who  were  witnesses  of  the  flight  of 
the  savages  with  the  scalp  of  their  victim.  In  1833 
Mr.  Potter  removed  to  Kelly  Township,  and  in  the 
same  year  he  erected  a  grist-mill  on  Main  Hender- 
son Creek.  Soon  after  he  built  a  saw-mill  in  con- 
nection with  the  mill  already  standing.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Potter  lived  in  Kelly  Township  until  the  events 
of  their  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ingersoll  had  one 
child,  which  died  at  the  age  of  nine  months. 


^avid  J.  Shaw  is  one  of  the  prominent  farm- 
ers in  the  township  of  Spring  Grove.     His 
home  farm  is  located  on  section  8,  where 
he  is  the  owner  of  210  acres  of  excellent  land 
in  the  best  possible  condition.     He  also  owns 
a  quarter  section  of  the  old  homestead  farm 
on  section  4,  Spring  Grove  Township. 

Mr.  Shaw  was  born  June  22,  1840,  in  Brown  Co., 
Ohio.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Robert  and  Lucinda 
(Stewart)  Shaw.  His  father  was  a  native  of  the 

—  A 


State  of  Kentucky,  but  reared  in  Ohio,  to  which 
State  his  parents  moved  during  his  early  childhood, 
they  being  among  the  first  permanent  settlers  in 
Brown  County.  Robert  Shaw  was  twice  married, 
and  of  the  four  children  left  motherless  by  the  death 
of  his  first  wife,  one  only  is  now  living,  Ezra,  who  is 
a  resident  of  the  city  of  Chicago.  Lucinda  Stewart, 
the  second  wife  and  the  mother  of  the  gentleman 
who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Ohio 
and  was  of  English  extraction.  On  the  paternal 
side,  the  family  is  of  Scotch  origin.  From  the  second 
marriage  were  born  12  children,  of  whom  only  six 
are  now  living.  Elizabeth  removed  to  Toledo,  Tama 
Co.,  Iowa;  James  is  married  and  is  a  citizen  of  Dav- 
enport, in  that  State;  John  lives  in  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago ;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Herman  Loveridge, 
of  Galesburg,  111.;  Laura  is  living  in  Toledo,  Tama 
Co.,  Iowa,  with  her  sister. 

Mr.  Shaw  was  16  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  Warren  County.  They  located  on  section 
4,  in  Spring  Grove  Township,  his  father  purchasing  ' 
a  farm  which  contained  240  acres.  The  claim  upon 
which  the  property  was  situated,  was  first  settled  by 
a  man  named  Stewart,  who  was  one  of. a  body  of  14 
pioneers  who  made  the  first  settlement  in  the  county. 
The  original  owner  had  placed  100  acres  under  cul- 
tivation, and  there  was  a  convenient  and  fairly  good 
log  house  and  stable  on  the  place.  The  senior 
Shaw  made  a  further  purchase  of  40  acres  on  section 
7,  and  was  resident  thereon  for  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  passed  in  Mon- 
mouth.  His  death  took  place  in  September,  1874, 
his  wife  following  him  in  April,  1879. 

Mr.  Shaw  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until 
his  marriage.  That  event  took  place  Oct.  3,  1861, 
when  he  became  the  husband  of  Nancy  Armstrong. 
She  was  born  in  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Johnson)  Armstrong. 
Mr.  Shaw  and  his  wife  located  in  Mercer  County 
soon  after  their  union,  and  one  year  later  took  pos- 
session of  the  place  on  which  they  are  now  living, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  mixed  husbandry.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shaw  are  the  parents  of  six  children — R. 
Thomas,  Mary  L.,  William,  Clarence,  Delia  and 
George.  Their  eldest  son  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead farm  located  on  section  4.  Mary  L.  is  mar- 
ried to  Alex.  Pease,  a  farmer  of  Mercer  County. 

Mrs.  Shaw  has  for  25  years  been  a  communicant 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Mr.  Shaw  is  a  Repub- 


35* 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


lican  in  his  political  views  and  connections,  and  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Two  of  the  brothers  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
Martin  Luther  and  James,  were  soldiers  in  the  late 
Rebellion.  The  former  was  a  member  of  Co.  F, 
i;th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  took  an  active  part  in 
many  engagements,  participating  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Fort  Donelson  and  Vicksburg,  among  others, 
and  during  his  service  of  three  years  was  present  at 
all  the  engagements  in  which  his  regiment  took  part. 
On  his  return  home,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  In- 
ternal Revenue  Collector,  continuing  to  fill  that  im- 
portant position  until  he  received  the  appointment  of 
ticket  agent  at  Monmouth  for  the  Rockford,  Rock 
Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  on  the  completion  of 
the  line.  About  three  weeks  thereafter  he  was  killed 
at  the  depot  by  a  train.  His  death  occurred  in 
1872,  a  wife  and  two  children  surviving  him,  who 
are  now  living  in  Wilber,  Neb. 

James  Shaw  was  a  member  of  the  io2d  Regt.  111. 
Vol.  Inf.  Going  out  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
war,  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  great  contest. 
Upon  his  return  home,  he  engaged  in  farming,  sub- 

.equently  becoming  a  merchant  at  Alexis.     He  after- 
ard    moved    to    Davenport,    Iowa,    where    he   is 

employed  in  the  mercantile  business.     He  is  mar- 

ied  and  the  father  of  several  children. 

We  present  in  this  connection  a  portrait  of  David 
J.  Shaw.  There  will  also  be  found,  on  page  332,  a 
view  of  his  residence,  and  of  the  original  Shaw 
homestead  established  by  his  father. 


eorge  W.  McMahill,  farmer,  residing  on 
section  31:,  Greenbush  Township,  was 
born  in  1826,  in  Kentucky,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  McMahill,  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  McMahill,  of 
this  notice,  John  McMahill,  was  kidnapped 
when  a  small  lad  by  a  Captain  of  a  sailing  vessel 
from  off  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  was  brought  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  tree. 
George  W.,  of  whom  we  write,  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha  Jane  McMahill,  May  8,  1848,  in  Illinois. 


She  was  born  in  1833.  They  have  had  no  children. 
Mr.  McMahill  is  the  owner  of  some  3,000  acres  of 
land,  some  of  it  being  located  in  Missouri,  some  in 
Iowa,  and  the  remainder  in  McDonough  and  Warren 
Counties,  this  State.  He  is  engaged  in  breeding 
full-blood  Short-horn  cattle,  of  which  he  has  some 
40  head.  He  also  has  one  Holstein  cow.  His 
horses  are  of  the  Norman  and  Clydesdale  breed.  In 
religion,  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics,  Mr.  McMa- 
hill always  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 


illiam  J.  Nicol,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of 
Sumner  Township,  residing  on  section 
^,  has  been  all  his  life  an  inhabitant  of 
Illinois,  and  a  resident  of  Warren  County 
since  five  years  of  age.  He  was  born  Sept. 
18,  1847,  in  Edgington  Township,  Rock  Island 
Co.,  111.  James  Nicol,  his  father,  is  a  native  of 
Preble,  Co.,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Warren  Co.  before  he 
was  married.  He  passed  a  few  years  in  Rock  Isl- 
and County,  where  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers. 
He  bought  land  in  the  township  which  has  been 
named  as  the  one  in  which  his  son  was  born,  but  at 
that  time  it  was  designated  by  the  number  which 
was  to  be  found  on  the  charts  of  the  surveyors.  He 
remained  there  until  1852.  In  that  year  he  removed 
to  Warren  County  and  settled  in  Spring  Grove 
Township.  After  a  residence  there  of  five  years,  he 
sold  the  farm  on  which  he  had  lived,  and  located  in 
the  township  of  Sumner.  He  became  a  landholder 
on  sections  18  and  19  and  continued  the  manage- 
ment of  his  property  there  until  his  decease,  which 
transpired  March  4,  1861.  His  wife,  Susan  (Giles) 
Nicol,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  died  in  1869.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  and  the  son  who 
is  the  subject  of  this  personal  narration  is  the  only 
survivor.  It  can  justly  be  said  of  him  that  he  has 
grown  up  with  Warren  County.  He  lived  with  his 
parents  until  their  death. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Nicol  was  married  to  Sarah  A.  Mc- 
Cracken.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Mary  J.  McCracken,  and  is  a  native  of  the  county 
in  which  she  lives.  She  was  born  Jan.  21,  1862. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


353 


The  young  people  located  on  the  Nicol  homestead, 
which  is  the  property  of  the  husband.  In  1884,  Mr. 
Nicol  bought  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  on  section 
12,  in  the  same  township,  which  contains  160  acres. 
The  homestead  includes  175  acres,  and  the  estate 
on  section  19  comprises  105  acres,  a  total  of  440 
acres.  Mr.  Nicol  is  engaged  in  mixed  husbandry. 
He  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Will- 
iam Ira. 


H.  Black,  a  gentleman  of  push  and  en- 
ergy among  the  numerous  citizens  of  his 
vocation,  that  of  a  farmer,  resides  on  sec- 
tion 14,  Tompkins  Township.  He  was  born 
in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  June  16,  1823,  his  par- 
ents being  William  and  Elizabeth  (George) 
Black,  natives  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  respect- 
ively. The  parents  were  married  in  Greene  County, 
Ohio,  and  there.the  father  followed  the  occupation  of 
a  farmer  until  1838,  when  he  came  to  this  State  and 
located  at  Monmouth,  this  county,  and  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  three  years.  He  was  consequently 
a  pioneer  of  this  county,  and  was  here  to  see  the 
broad  and  uncultivated  prairie  lands  in  their  or- 
iginal condition.  He  remained  at  Monmouth 
for  the  time  stated  and  then  moved  to  Henderson 
County,  where,  near  Olena,  he  purchased  80  acres 
of  land.  Here  he  located  with  his  family  and  was 
engaged  in  his  chosen  vocation  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1858.  His  wife  survived  him  until 
1885.  Their  family  comprised  nine  children,  five 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

A.  H.  Black,  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  notice,  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of  his 
parents'  children,  and  remained  on  the  old  home- 
stead, assisting  his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm, 
until  he  attained  his  28th  year.  At  this  age  in  life, 
he  left  the  parental  roof-tree  and  went  forth  to  bat- 
tle against  the  trials  of  life  alone,  hoping  to  procure 
a  competency.  He  at  first  rented  land,  and  for  three 
years  was  engaged  in  farming  in  that  manner,  when 
he  purchased  a  farm  of  his  own,  consisting  of  80 
acres,  in  close  proximity  to  the  village  of  Olena.  On 
this  land  he  located  and  passed  his  years  in  labor 
until  1864.  He  then  sold  it  and  came  to  Kirkwood, 


and  purchased  a  lot  and  residence  there,  where  he 
resided  for  two  years,  when  he  sold  his  village  prop- 
erty and  bought  60  acres  on  section  14,  Tompkins 
Township,  on  which  he  removed  and  there  resided 
until  1880.  During  this  year  he  rented  his  farm 
and  again  moved  into  Kirkwood,  where  he  lived  four 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  moved  back 
on  his  farm  and  has  resided  there  ever  since.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming,  having  been  brought  up 
to  that  calling,  and  following  it  the  major  portion  of 
his  life  is  consequently  possessed  of  that  knowledge 
of  agriculture  which  enables  him  to  make  a  success 
of  it. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Black  to  Miss  Martha  Ran- 
kin  took  place  Jan.  16,  1851.  She  was  a  native  of 
Indiana,  where  she  was  born,  May  27,  1832.  Her 
parents  were  Joseph  and  Lutitia  (Brown)  Rankin, 
natives  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  respectively.  They 
came  to  this  State  in  1837  and  purchased  land  in 
Henderson  County,  and  lived  there  until  the  latter's 
death,  in  r847-  Mr.  Rankin  went  to  Kansas  after] 
his  wife's  death,  and  was  there  engaged  in  farming 
until  Nov.  i,  r878,  when  he  crossed  the  river  to  meet! 
his  companion  in  the  land  of  the  hereafter. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Black  is  a  strong  advocate  of  thej 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  party 
he  always  casts  his  vote.  He  and  his  wife  are  the' 
parents  of  one  child — Melissa,  who  is  the  wife  of 
James  Riggs,  and  by  whom  she  has  had  four  chil- 
dren, who  have  been  named,  Cora,  Edna,  Hugh  O. 
and  Albert  G.  Mrs.  Black  is  a  member  of  the  Uni- 
ted Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  she  united  at 
the  age  of  18  years,  and  has  since  been  a  consistent 
member  in  good  standing.  She  first  united  with 
that  branch  of  the  Church  known  as  Seceders,  but 
joined  with  the  union  of  the  Seceders  and  Associate 
Reformed  when  they  united. 


-«-«- 


W- 


illiam  Stark,  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Kirkwood  and  who  is  engaged  in 
the  drug  trade,  is  a  native  of  Scotland. 
His  father,  James  Stark,  came  to  America 
in  1835,  and  settled  in  Hancock  Co.,  111., 
where  he  died  the  following  year.     His  mother^ 
Mary  (Drown)  Stark,  died  in  Scotland.     William  re- 


354 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


mained  with  his  parents  until  their  death,  when,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  and  sister,  he  moved  on 
the  farm  in  Hancock  County,  where  they  lived  until 
1849.  At  that  time  William  engaged  as  a  clerk  in 
his  brother's  store  a:  Augusta,  111.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1856,  when  he  went  to  Plymouth, 
and  clerked  for  three  years.  He  then  returned 
to  the  farm  where  he  remained  for  two  years 
longer,  when  we  again  find  him  in  his  brother's  store 
at  Augusta.  He  remained  there  until  1862,  when 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  ngth  1)1.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served 
for  14  months,  most  of  which  time  was  spent  in  a 
Rebel  prison.  He  was  captured  at  Rutherford, 
Tenn.,  and  remained  a  prisoner  nine  months,  when 
he  was  exchanged,  and  being  sick,  was  honorably 
discharged.  He  returned  to  his  home  in  Augusta, 
where  he  remained  until  1867,  when  he  came  to 
Kirkwood  and  embarked  in  the  drug  business,  and 
is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  prominent 
business  men  and  influential  citizens  of  the  place. 
He  owns  a  fine  brick  store  on  Kirk  street  and 
carries  the  largest  stock  of  drugs  in  the  village. 

In  1866,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Stark  and  Miss  Ellen 
Douglass  occurred.  She  is  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Eckels) 
Douglass.  One  child  blessed  this  union,  which  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Stark  is  a  Republican  in  political 
faith  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
also  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R. 


[  heodore  C.  Pearce,  a  farmer,  residing  on 
section  20,  Berwick  Township,  was  born  in 
the  same  township  of  which  he  is  at  pres- 
ent a  resident,  March  9,  1843.  He  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  23  years  old, 
•  working  on  his  father's  farm,  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  supplementing  his  education  by  an 
attendance  of  one  year  at  Monmouth  College,  and  a 
course  of  two  years  at  Knox  College.  He  is  the  son 
of  Andrew  G.  Pearce,  a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been 
born  in  Champaign  County,  that  State,  Nov.  16, 
1816.  The  father  came  to  this  State  in  1830,  and 
located  at  Pekin,  111.,  where  he  remained  one  year, 
then  came  to  this  county,  and  located  in  Berwick 


Township,  being  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that 
township  as  well  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Warren 
County.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Powers,  May  28, 
1840.  She  was  born  Jan.  19,  1819,  near  Cincin- 
nati, the  "Buckeye  State."  Her  parents  are  both  de- 
ceased, having  died  in  Greenbush  Township. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  a  family  compris- 
ing four  children,  as  follows:  Martha  J.,  born 
March  28,  1841 ;  Theodore  C.,  of  whom  we  write, 
Mary  C.,  March  18,  1848,  and  George  T.,  July  i, 
1855.  Both  of  the  girls  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Pearce,  of  this  notice,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Susan  Baldwin,  who  was  likewise  born  in 
this  township,  Dec.  13,  1848.  Her  parents  were  A. 
N.  Baldwin,  born  in  New  York,  July  20,  1822,  and 
Phebe  A.  (Lewis)  Baldwin,  born  July  9,  1826.  Her 
father  died  Dec.  2,  1873.  He  was  married  in  1844, 
and  his  wife  still  survives  him.  Their  children  were 
12  in  number, — Mary  Ann,  Arthur  N.,  Susan  A., 
Aletta  A.,  Sarah  E.,  Mary  L,  Charles  L.,  Lgnnettie, 
Phebe  J.,  John,  Minnie  A.  and  Anna  G.  Five  of  the  ^ 
above  are  deceased,  namely:  Mary  A.,  Arthur  N., 
Aletta  A.,  Sarah  E.  and  John  M. 

The  date  of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Pearce  and  Miss 
Baldwin  was  Dec.  19,  1866,  Rev.  F.  Smith,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  officiating,  and  of 
their  union  eight  children  have  been  born,  of  which  . 
the  following  is"a  record, — Alice  M.,  born  May  27, 
1868;  Ida  G.,  July  n,  1870;  May  A.,  May  2,  1872; 
Arthur  E.,  Feb.  16,  1874;  Eva  L.,  Aug.  ir,  1876; 
Fred  G.,  March  9,  1879  ;  Ralph  E.,  June  ir,  1881  and 
Bessie,  May  29,  1883,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr. 
Pearce  has  160  acres  of  good  farm  land  in  this 
county,  on  which  is  a  good  dwelling,  66x24  feet  in 
dimensions  and  two  stories  in  height.  Its  interior  is 
handsomely  finished,  while  its  exterior  surroundings 
are  of  a  character  which  constitute  it  an  exceedingly 
charming  place  of  residence.  His  substantial  barn  is 
40  x  42  feet  with  i8-foot  posts,  the  entire  farm 
being  enclosed  with  a  good  wire  and  board  fence. 
His  stock  is  kept  in  first-class  condition  and  two 
roadsters  which  he  owns  are  of  a  very  fine  strain. 

Socially,  Mr.  Pearce  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.,  belonging  to  Cameron  Lodge,  No.  625,  to 
to  which  he  has  belonged  for  some  15  years,  and  in 
which  order  he  has  held  many  of  the  important  offices. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  belong- 
ing to  Lodge  No.  185,  Abingdon.  Religiously,  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 


r 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


357 


pal  Church.     In  politics,  Mr.  Pearce   affiliates  with 
the  Republican  party. 

Eliphalet  Lewis,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Pearce, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  May  n,  1799,  and  during 
his  early  life  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  oyster- 
fishing  near  Amboy.  He  came  to  Illinois  irv  1837, 
and  for  a  few  years  resided  near  Springfield.  He 
then  located  in  Warren  County,-  and  made  the  first 
improvements  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Pearce,  and  upon  which  he  continued  to  reside  until 
his  death,  June  25,1867.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
A.  Mills,  May  24,  1823.  She  was  born  July  21, 
1806,  and  bore  her  husband  five  children,  viz.: 
Henry,  born  in  February,  1824;  Phebe  A.,  July  9, 
1826;  Mary  A.,  July  3,  1838;  Susan  E.,  Oct.  12, 
1841,  and  Thomas  P.,  Aug.  12,  1843,  all  of  whom 
are  living. 


f 


|  obert  W.  Gerlaw,  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners in  Warren  County  and  a  prominent 
example  of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
a  straightforward,  energetic  and  determined 
man,  is  the  founder  of  the  village  of  Gerlaw, 
near  where  he  resides.  He  is  a  native  of 
Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1817.  Adam  and  Catherine  (Haines)  Ger- 
law, his  parents,  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  Robert  W.  was  the  fifth  child  in  order  of  birth. 
Adam  Gerlaw  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Md., 
about  the  year  1781.  His  father's  name  was  also 
Adam,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany.  He  came  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  the  Colony  of  South 
Carolina  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  en- 
listed in  the  service  of  his  adopted  country  in  that 
heroic  conflict  for  American  liberty,  and  bore  an 
honorable  part  in  aiding  to  establish  our  independ- 
ence and  laying  the  foundations  of  the  splendid  in- 
stitutions that  we  now  enjoy.  At  the  close  of  that 
war  he  removed  to  Maryland,  and  about  the  year 
1808,  with  his  family,  became  pioneers  of  Greene 
Co.,  Ohio.  Here  he  died  about  1821.  To  him  is 
due  the  credit  of  establishing  this  branch  of  the  Ger- 
law family  on  American  soil.  No  language  can  pic- 
ture the  hardships  and  suffering  of  the  pioneer  of 


that  early  period,  which  was  the  price  paid  for  the 
blessings  we  enjoy  to-day  in  this  country.  His  wife, 
the  grandmother  of  Robert  W.,  was  for  a  short  time 
a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  but  was  lib- 
erated after  the  treaty  of  Greenville. 

Adam  Gerlaw,  Jr.,  as  was  observed,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  where  he  was  married,  and  with  his  father 
removed  to  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  and,  like  the  elder 
Gerlaw,  became  a  prominent  pioneer  of  that  section. 
Here  the  family  cleared  a  patch  of  ground,  built  the 
accustomed  log  cabin  and  engaged  in  farming  in  a 
crude  way.  They  likewise  endured  such  privations 
and  hardships  as  were  incident  to  life  in  a  new  coun- 
try of  that  day.  The  Gerlaws  have  always  been  an 
energetic  and  industrious  people.  Adam  became, 
for  that  period,  a  very  successful  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  He  was  a  man  of  a  kind  heart  and  sterling 
character,  and  greatly  beloved  by  his  family.  The 
following  incident  will  illustrate  their  attachment  for 
him:  His  first  seven  children  were  sons,  and  they 
all  remained  with  him,  aiding  him  in  his  farming 
and  other  operations  till  all  of  them  attained  the 
.  years  of  manhood,  and  it  was  in  a  large  measure  ow- 
ing to  their  united  efforts  that  he  acquired  his  wealth. 
He  continued  to  own  his  property,  both  personal 
and  real,  until  his  death,  when  it  was  inherited  by 
his  children.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  in  that  struggle  nobly  did  his  part  in  upholding 
the  national  honor  which  his  father  had  fought  to 
attain.  Politically,  he  was  a  Whig,  and  always  op- 
posed to  the  institutions  of  slavery.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  his 
wife,  Catherine  Haines,  who  was  also  descended 
from  German  parentage,  worshiped  with  him.  They 
had  ten  children,  all  of  whom  reached  the  years  of 
maturity,  and  eight  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing 
(January,  1886).  Those  deceased  are  David  and 
Adam.  Those  living  are  Jacob,  Otho,  Robert  W., 
Arthur,  Jonathan,  Francis  Catherine  (wife  of  Benja- 
min Clark),  Henry  Harrison,  and  Jane,  wife  of 
Emanuel  Hawker.  Mrs.  Gerlaw,  mother  of  Robert 
W.,  died  in  1852,  at  their  residence  in  Greene  Co., 
Ohio.  Her  husband  died  while  on  a  vist  to  his  son, 
Robert  W.,  in  this  county,  in  1857. 

Robert  W.,  the,  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  log  school  house  in  the  neighborhood 
where  his  parents  resided.  Such  educational  advant- 
ages, as  we  might  infer,  were  very  meager.  He  has, 
however,  supplemented  them  by  careful  reading  and 


35  8 


ry~; 

WARREN  COUNTY. 


study,  so  that  to-day  we  find  him  to  be  a  gentlemen 
well  versed  on  the  important  questions  of  the  hour. 
In  conversation  he  is  most  interesting,  with  a  vein 
of  humor  pervading  his  remarks  which  makes  them 
piquant  and  pleasing  to  listen  to.  In  the  autumn  of 
1850  he  came  to  Warren  County,  and  for  about  16 
months  worked  on  a  farm.  He  was  then  married  to 
Mary  Jane  Black,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Abagail  Black,  who  were  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  of  Irish  extraction.  The  above  named 
union  took  place  March  16,  1852,  and  the  August 
following  they  moved  upon  the  farm  where  they  now 
reside.  Mr.  G.  had  previously  erected  a  house 
there,  which  is  on  section  34,  Spring-  Grove  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerlaw  have  had  born  to  them  five 
children  namely:  Robert  Dayton  (deceased),  Ella 
M.,  Mary  Abagail,  Sarah  and  Frank  L.  Those  liv- 
'ing  all  reside  at  home.  Mr.  Gerlaw  has  given  them 
the  advantages  of  a  good  education  and  many  priv- 
ileges which  he  did  not  enjoy.  His  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Gerlaw  was  first  a  Whig,  and  on  • 
the  formation  of  the  Republican  party  became  iden- 
tified with  it,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  sup- 
porter of  its  principles.  He  voted  both  times  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  with  whom  he  was  well  ac- 
quainted, and  twice  for  Grant.  During  the  late 
Slave-holders'  Rebellion,  he  was  a  staunch  Union 
man.  He  was  elected  several  terms  Supervisor  for 
Spring  Grove  Township,  and  during  the  war  acted  as 
agent  in  selling  the  township  bonds  to  raise  money 
to  pay  the  bounty  for  the  soldiers  required  to  fill  its 
quota.  He  also  went  to  Quincy,  where  he  hired  a 
number  of  substitutes. 

Mr.  Gerlaw  began  life  with  but  little  of  this  world's 
goods,  in  fact,  about  all  he  did  possess  was  his 
strong  arms  and  abundance  of  energy,  and  thus 
equipped,  he  set  out,  with  the  help  of  his  good  wife, 
to  carve  out  that  success  which  has  since  crowned 
their  efforts.  By  dint  of  good  jugment  in  making  in- 
vestments, he  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  for 
himself  and  family  a  very  handsome  competency. 
Later  in  life  upon  the  death  of  his  father,  he  inher- 
ited $10,000,  which  he  invested  in  a  judicious  man- 
ner. He  also  owns-  a  fine  farm  of  1,300  acres  in 
Nemaha  Co.,  Neb.,  which  is  fenced  and  well  stocked 
with  good  graded  cattle  and  supplied  with  comfort- 
able buildings. 


In  May,  187  i,  Mr.  Gerlaw  laid  out  the  town  which 
is  named  in  his  honor,  and  which  is  situated  on  a 
portion  of  the  home  farm  and  on  the  line  of  the 
Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  now 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad.  The 
village  is  in  a  growing  condition,  enjoys  considerable 
trade  and  is  a  place  from  which  a  great  deal  of  stock 
is  annually  shipped.  It  is  well  supplied  with  schools 
and  churches  and  is  quite  prosperous.  A  fine  bird's- 
eye-view  of  the  town,  as  well  as  a  view  of  the  hand- 
some residence  and  surroundings  of  Mr.  Gerlaw's 
home,  is  shown  by  a  well  executed  engraving  on  an 
adjoining  page.  The  act  of  founding  this  village 
will  cause  the  name  of  Robert  Gerlaw  to  be  long  re- 
membered by  the  people  of  this  county,  and  he  de- 
servedly merits  the  respect  in  which  he  is  held  by 
his  fellow  citizens. 


-S3- 


-e*- 


}:  uben  Holeman,  engaged  in  farming  on  sec- 
tion  32,  Roseville  Township,  was  born  in 
Indiana,  Jan.  20,  1817.  His  parents,  Isaac 
and  Nancy  (Cleghorn)  Holeman,  were  natives 
of  North  Carolina,  and  the  mothers 's  demise 
occurred  while  in  Jackson  Co.,  Ind.  The 
father  came  to  Illinois  in  1848  and  settled  in  Swan 
Township,  where  he  engaged  quite  extensively  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  became  the  father  of  eight 
children,  seven  of  whom  still  survive. 

Ruben  Holeman  remained  at  home  assisting  his 
father  in  the  labors  on  the  farm,  and  alternating  his 
labors  thereon  by  attendance  at  the  common  schools 
until  he  attained  his  2ist  year.  At  that  age  in  life 
he  began  farming  for  himself  on  a  rented  farm,  which 
he  continued  for  two  years,  and,  in  1847,  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Geenbush  Township,  this 
county,  then,  in  1849,  removed  to  Roseville  Town- 
ship and  purchased  too  acres  on  section  32,  and 
lived  on  the  same  seven  years.  He  then  sold  it  and 
purchased  437  acres  of  land,  some  of  it  being  located 
in  Swan  Township.  He  now  resides  on  section  32 
Roseville  Township,  where  he  has  erected  a  fine  res- 
idence, with  suitable  outbuildings  and  made  all  his 
improvements. 

In  1844  he  was  married  to  Miss  Susanna  Crab,  a 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


359 


native  of  Indiana  and  daughter  of  James  and  Pau- 
lina (Thelkeld)  Crab,  natives  of  Kentucky,  who  en- 
gaged in  the  occupation  of  farming  in  Indiana,  where 
they  resided  until  their  death.  The  family  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Holeman  consists  of  eight  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living — John  VV.,  Daniel  B.,  Ugriah  C., 
Isaac  A.,  Theodore,  Albert  A.,  Orville  L.  and  Eliza 
Ann.  Eliza  A.  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Perkins,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  seven  children  ;  Daniel  B. 
married  Harriet  Smith,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  children ;  John  W.  married  Mary, 
Hosier  and  they  have  one  child  ;  Uriah  C.  married 
Usitta  Rowland,  and  they  have  a  family  of  two 
children ;  Theodore  married  Ida  Carr,  and  their 
family  consists  of  two  children.' 

Mr.  Holeman  has  held  the  office  of  Assessor, 
Road  Commissioner,  Collector,  and  School  Trustee. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  he  is  considered  one  of  the  solid  and 
substantial  men  of  Warren  County.  Politically  he 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party. 


K%tephen  Dixson,  deceased,  was  formerly  a 
resident  of  the  township  of  Point  Pleasant. 
He  was  born  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  21, 
1814,  and  was  the  son  of  Eli  and  Rebecca 
(Hart)  Dixson.  His  parents  removed  to  In- 
diana when  he  was  four  years  old  and  he 
there  grew  to  the  estate  of  manhood.  He  was  trained 
in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  and  was  married  in  the 
Hoosier  State.  The  lady  whom  he  married  was  the 
sister  of  the  wife  of  his  brother,  Eli,  and  was  Miss 
Amanda,  the  daughter  of  Drury  B.  and  Rebecca 
(Hurd)  Boyd.  In  1854  her  parents  came  from 
Greene  County  to  Warren  County,  and  located  on 
section  i,  in  Point  Pleasant  Township.  The  husband 
had  previously  purchased  there  a  considerable  tract 
of  unimproved  land,  and  made  it  his  home  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  March  i,  1879.  His 
wife  died  May  3,  1861.  He  was  a  man  of  industri- 
ous habits,  and  at  the  time  of  his  decease  was  the 
owner  of  upwards  of  600  acres  of  valuable  farming 
lands. 

Three  of  their  children  lived  to  mature  life.     Eli 


B.  is  a  resident  of  Bushnell,  McDonough  Co.,  111. 
Margaret  was  born  Oct.  27,  1855,  and  was  the  wife 
of  Andrew  L.  Madison.  She  died  in  March,  1879, 
leaving  two  children.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Alex- 
ander Elston,  and  they  reside  in  Kansas. 

Mr.  Dixson  was  prominent  in  his  defense  of  mo- 
rality and  temperance  and   liberal    in   his   religious 
views.      He  enjoyed  the  respect  and  esteec 
fellowmen  in  the  community  of  which  he  yfas  a 
ber. 


(rury  B.  Boyd,  a  pioneer  settler  at  Point 
Pleasant  Township,  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Virginia,  May  12,  1780.  He  was  the 
son  of  George  and  Jemima  (Birge)  Boyd,  and 
was  early  orphaned  by  their  deaths.  He  was 
made  an  apprentice  to  a  trade,  and  when  still 
young  went  to  the  State  of  Georgia.  There  he  was 
married  to  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  George  and 
Nancy  (Dean)  Hurd.  She  was  born  in  Georgia  and 
soon  after  their  marriage  they  went  to  Kentucky, 
where  they  located  in  Bath  County  and  the  husband 
utilized  his  good  education  in  teaching  and  in  the  al- 
ternate seasons  he  worked  at  his  trade.  They  lived 
there  until  1822,  when  they  went  to  Pulaski  County, 
in  the  same  State,  and  remained  there  until  1825. 
They  removed  thence  to  Greene  Co.,  Ind.,  where 
they  were  among  the  earliest  of  the  pioneer  element. 
They  located  on  land  which  was  covered  with  heavy 
timber  and  their  two  sons  were  occupied  with  the 
work  of  clearing  the  farm,  while  the  father  worked  at 
his  trade.  After  a  time  he  purchased  a  saw-mill. 
His  wife  died  Aug.  14,  1835,  and  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, about  two  years  later,  to  Elizabeth  Kelshaw. 

The  children  of  George  and  Nancy  (Dean)  Hurd 
were  Mary,  George,  Elizabeth  and  Nancy.  Mary 
was  married  to  Joseph  Dixson  and  died  in  Greene 
Co.,  Ind.  George  is  married  and  lives  in  Georgia. 
Elizabeth  was  the  wife  of  Drury  B.  Boyd,  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Nancy  became  the  wife  of  Sanford 
Raimy,  and  they  live  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio. 

While  living  in  Indiana  he  was  twice  elected  to 
represent  his  District  and  served  two  terms  in  the 
Legislature  of  that  State.  After  his  removal  to  War- 
ren County,  he  located  at  Ellison  and  a  few  years 


t  * 


360 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


later  settled  on  section  2,  of  Point  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, where  he  died,  Sept.  7,  1856.  His  wife  was, 
killed  in  the  tornado  at  Ellison  in  1858.  Two  of 
their  children  are  still  living.  Mrs.  Dixson  is  repre- 
sented elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  it  is  through  her 
interest  in  the  preservation  of  the  records  of  her  fam- 
ily circle  that  these  sketches  of  the  members  of  the 
family  haye  been  obtained.  Her  only  sister  is  the 
wife  of  Elisha  Hughen,  of  Point  Pleasant  Township, 
of  whom  a  sketch  is  given  in  this  work. 

Mr.  Boyd  and  his  family  made  the  trip  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Greene  County  with  horse-teams.  They 
settled  in  a  small  log  house,  of  the.  most  unpreten- 
tious style,  until  the  father  could  clear  a  place,  upon 
which  he  erected  a  double-hewed  log  house. 


errine  Holman,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 21,  Tompkins  Township,  where  he  is 
actively  engaged  in  the  labors  of  Jiis  voca- 
tion, is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  having  been 
born  in  that  State,  Aug.  20,  1819,  of  parents 
named  Kenneth  and  Sarah  (Jemison)  Holman, 
natives  of  the  same  State.  Perrine  Holman  was  an 
inmate  of  his  father's  household  until  lie  attained  the 
age  of  22  years,  and  received  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools.  Arriving  at  the  age  named,  he 
set  out  to  battle  against  the  trials  ^of  life  alone,  with 
naught  but  strong  arms  and  a  firm  determination  to 
"  get  on  "  in  the  world.  He  first  worked  out  by  the 
month  and  was  engaged  in  accumulating  in  that 
manner  for  five  years.  He  then  embarked  in  the 
oyster  trade,  and  followed  that  for  five  years,  when 
he  rented  a  farm,  which  he  cultivated  for  another 
period  of  five  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time, 
in  1853,  he  came  to  this  State  and  located  in  Hen- 
derson County,  where  he  purchased  40  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  moved  and  was  actively  and  laboriously 
engaged  in  its  cultivation  for  four  years.  He  then 
sold  his  land  in  Henderson  County  and  moved  to 
Tompkins  Township,  this  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased another  4o-acre  tract  on  which  he  moved  his 
family  and  where  he  is  to-day  residing,  meeting  with 
success  in  his  vocation. 

His  first  marriage,  with  Mrs.   Elizabeth   Meech, 


took  place  in  1844.  She  was  also  a  native  of  New 
Jersey.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Holman  was 
with  Mrs.  Annett  Star,  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
and  took  place  Oct.  6,  1881.  She  came  West  in 
1875.  By  her  first  marriage  with  Mr.  Star  six  chil- 
dren were  born,  three  of  whom  are  living  and  three 
are  dead.  The  living  children  are  Emery  A.,  Susan 
E.  and  Elmer  R.  Star,  and  by  the  latter  union,  one 
child,  Alida  M.  Holman,  was  born.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Holman  is  a  Greenbacker,  and  is  one  of  the  success- 
ful farmers  of  Tompkins  Township. 


• 


mery  H.  Crandall,  Supenntendent  of  the 
County  Infirmary,  located  in  Lenox  Town- 
ship, Warren  County,  is  a  son  of  Richard 
and  Sybil  (Armstrong)  Crandall,  natives  of 
New  York  and  Wisconsin  respectively.  They 
married  and  settled  in  the  Keystone  State,  and 
in  March,  1860,  came  to  Warren  County,  locating  in 
Lenox  Township,  but  removed  to  Monmouth  in  the 
fall  of  1871,  where  they  still  reside.  Five  children 
were  born  to  them,  as  follows  :  Melvina  J.,  Emery 
H.,  Martha,  Armstrong  and  Lydia  A. 

Emery  H.,  of  whom  this  personal  sketch  is  written, 
was  born  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  8,  1843,  and  re- 
mained at  home,  receiving  a  good  common-school 
education  and  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm,  thus 
fully  initiating  him  in  the  arts  of  agriculture,  and 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Warren  County.  He 
has  since  been  a  resident  of  this  county  with  the 
exception  of  about  ten  months  spent  in  the  army. 
He  purchased  land  at  different  times  until  he  is  now 
the  proprietor  of  240  acres,  which,  through  his  ex- 
cellent knowledge  of  improving  and  cultivating,  he 
has  all  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  and 
it  is  considered  second  to  none  in  his  township. 

July  26,  1862,  Mr.  Crandall  enlisted  in  Co.  C, 
83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  which  he  served  for  about  ten 
months,  being  discharged  at  Cairo,  this  State,  on  ac- 
count of  disability.  He  then  returned  to  the  more 
peaceful  pursuit  of  agriculture. 

Mr.  Emery  H.  Crandall  and  Miss  Kate  Williams 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony,  at 
Monmouth,  on  the  22d  of  November,  1865,  she  be- 


± 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


363 


ing  a  native  of  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  having  been  born 
there  March  18,  1848.  Her  parents,  Peter  and 
Lamira  (Woods)  Williams,  were  both  natives  of  the 
Keystone  State,  and  in  the  year  1856,  emigrated 
westward  to  Warren  County,  this  State,  and  located 
in  Roseville  Township.  They  afterward  removed  to 
Iowa  and  from  there  to  Kansas,  where  the  father, 
Mr.  Williams,  died,  March  1  1,  1880.  The  mother 
still  survives.  They  had  become  the  parents  of  n 
children,  namely  :  Sarah  L.,  Margaret  E.,  William 
S.,  Cyrus,  Kate  (our  subject's  wife),  Robert,  Theo- 
dore, Alice,  Carson,  Chester  and  Estella.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Emery  H.  Crandall's  home  has  been  blessed 
with  the  birth  of  four  children,  the  names  of  whom 
are  Archie,  Minnie  E.,  Francis  E.  and  Maude  G. 

Mr.  Crandall  has  served  his  township  as  School 
Trustee  for  six  years,  also  as  School  Director,  and 
in  December,  1884,  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of 
the  County  Infirmary  in  Lenox  Township,  in  which 
are  from  25  to  40  inmates.  Mr.  Crandall  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and,  in  politics,  Mr.  C.  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party. 

<£% 

Chancy  Hardin.  Prominent  among  the 
names  of  men  who,  by  their  energy,  good 
judgment  and  perseverance,  laid  broad 
and  deep  in  her  pioneer  days,  the  foundation 
for  the  subsequent  growth,  development  and 
material  prosperity  of  Warren  County,  stands 
the  name  of  Chancy  Hardin.*  Occupying  as  he  has 
for  the  last  45  years,  close  business  relations  with 
the  citizens  of  the  county,  and  being  conspicuouous 
among  the  few  far-sighted  men  who  early  appreciated 
the  importance  of  railroads  in  promoting  the  settle- 
ment of  a  new  country,  and  the  consequent  benefits 
resulting  therefrom,  it  is  not,  therefore  a  matter  of 
comment  to  find  Mr.  Hardin  one  of  the  trio  who 
were  in  the  van  of  the  railroad  builders  in  this 
county. 

Mr.  Hardin  of  this  notice  is  the  second  son  of 
Chancy  and  Anna  (Gates)  Hardin,  and  was  born  Jan. 
15,  1815,  in  Richfield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  de- 
scended from  a  long  line  of  English  ancestry,  the 


father  of  Mr.  Hardin  used  the  "g"  in  his  name 
in  the  early  part  of  his  life,  but  left  it  off  about  the  same 
time  as  his  son  Chancy  did.  The  other  sou,  Harry  G., 
retains  the  "  g." 


family  being  transplanted  to  America  by  Nathan 
Hardin,  who  landed  at  Cape  Cod  in  the  year  1640. 
His  grandson,  Chancy  Hardin,  was  born  at  Middle 
Haddam,  Conn.,  Jan.  8,  1775,  and  died  at  Iowa 
Falls,  Dec.  u,  1876.  His  first  wife,  the  mother  of 
Chancy,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  also  born  at 
Middle  Haddam,  n  years  later  than  her  husband, 
and  died  at  Richfield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  6, 
1819,  whither  they  had  previously  removed.  Of 
their  union,  there  were  only  two  sons  who  lived  to 
attain  the  age  of  maturity,  both  of  whom  yet  survive, 
Harry  G.  and  Chancy.  Some  time  after  tbe  death 
of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Hardin  married  Miss  Sally 
Martin,  who  was  born  in  Olsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  3, 
1794,  and  who  died  at  Iowa  Falls,  Iowa,  in  April, 
1885.  By  the  last  marriage,  three  daughters  were 
born, — Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Justin  Soule ;  Fidelia,  wife 
of  A.  E.  Arnold;  Arzelia,  wife  of  S.  P.  Smith,  all  of 
«  horn  are  living.  The  elder  Hardin  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1858;  the  next  year  moved  to  Iowa  Falls, 
Iowa,  where  two  of  the  daughters  reside,  and  the ' 
other  is  living  in  Battle  Creek,  Mich. 

Chancy  Hardin  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his' 
father's  farm,  and  his  early  education  was  acquired** 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  When  1 
about  the  age  of  21,  he  began  clerking  in  a  store  in 
Burlington  Flats,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  continued 
in  that  position  about  two  and  a  half  years.  He 
served  the  first  six  months  for  his  board;  the  second 
six  months  for  board  and  $10  per  month,  after  which 
he  received  $35  per  month  for  his  services.  Desir- 
ing to  better  his  financial  condition  in  life,  he  con- 
cluded to  come  West,  and  soon  started,  landing 
at  Monmouth,  July  4,  1840.  From  his  home  in  New 
York  he  went  to  Chicago,  via  the  canal  and  lakes, 
and  from  the  latter  city  his  conveyance  to  this  place 
was  by  means  of  a  two-horse  farm  wagon,  the  time 
required  to  make  the  journey  being  three  weeks.  A 
few  months  after  reaching  Monmouth.  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  store  of  James  E.  Hogue  at  a  salary  of 
$35  per  month. 

In  August,  1840,  Mr.  Hardin  and  wife  began 
housekeeping,  and  as  it  may  be  interesting  to  the 
reader  of  the  present  day  to  learn  something  in  re- 
gard to  the  inconveniences  and  privations  of  the 
early  settlers,  we  deem  it  appropos  to  give  something 
in  detail  in  regard  to  their  early  housekeeping.  Mr. 
Hardin  relates  that  their  table  consisted  of  a  dry- 
goods  box ;  dry-goods  boxes  were  used  for  stools  and 


364 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


one  for  a  cupboard,  with  a  curtain  in  front  for  doors. 
This  will  illustrate  to  some  extent  the  prudent  meth- 
ods of  Mr.  Hardin  and  wife  when  they  began  house- 
keeping. Though  he  had  at  that  time  $800  in 
currency,  the  careful  economy  thus  practiced  and 
adhered  to  through  a  long  life  is  no  doubt  the  true 
reason  of  the  success  which  has  attended  his  efforts. 
After  clerking  for  a  time  for  Mr.  Hogue,  he  sold  out 
the  remnant  of  the  goods  ot  auction  for  his  employer, 
after  which  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  Deputy 
Sheriff  and  Constable  for  one  year. 

In  the  spring  of  1843,  Mr.  Hardin  moved  on  a 
farm  of  640  acres,  located  in  Tompkins  Township,  a 
part  of  which  he  had  previously  purchased  and  the 
balance  leased.  By  additional  purchases  he  in- 
creased his  landed  interests  to  1,000  acres,  and  con- 
tinued farming,  stock-raising  and  feeding  until  1850, 
when  he  sold  the  land  for  $12  per  acre  on  ten  years' 
time  at  six  per  cent,  interest.  In  the  fall  of  1850, 
Mr.  Hardin  moved  to  Monmouth,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  His  business  since  that  time  has 
almost  exclusively  been  devoted  to  loaning  money 
and  dealing  in  real  estate,  in  which  he  has  been 
eminently  successful. 

In  1853,  in  company  with  Gen.  A.  C.  Harding 
and  Judge  Ivory  Quinby,  Mr.  Hardin  built  the  rail- 
road from  Burlington  to  Knoxville,  and,  after  com- 
pleting and  operating  it  for  about  six  months,  they 
sold  it  to  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road Company.  They  took  the  contract  originally 
to  build  and  equip  the  road,  that  is,  to  make  the  bed, 
bridges,  tie  and  iron  it  and  to  put  in  side-tracks,  for 
$13,500  per  mile.  They  carried  out  the  contract, 
which  seems  a  remarkably  low  figure,  but  the  rail- 
road company  failing  to  furnish  the  money  to  them 
as  per  estimates  agreed  upon,  a  second  arrangement 
was  entered  into,  by  which  the  railroad  company 
furnished  the  iron  at  the  rate  of  $5.000  per  mile,  ex- 
cept the  bottom  division  of  seven  and  a  half  miles, 
which  the  contractors  built  at  a  cost  of  $18,400  per 
mile.  Messrs.  Hardin  &  Co..  knowing  the  route  be- 
forehand that  the  road  would  take,  purchased  such 
tracts  of  land  as  were  desirable  for  town  sites,  and 
thereby  made  considerable  money  by  the  laying  out 
of  towns  and  the  sale  of  lots,  and  also  on  the  land 
they  owned  lying  adjacent  to  the  town.  They  laid 
out  the  South  Addition  to  the  city  of  Monmouth, 
and  were  also  the  founders  of  the  towns  of  Kirkwood 
and  Riggsville.  The  above  comprises  the  railroad 


experience  of  Mr.  Hardin,  which  important  enter- 
prise gave  to  the  county  its  first  eastern  and  western 
outlet. 

In  1860,  Mr.  Hardin  and  sons  purchased  a  large 
hardware  stock  in  Monmouth,  and  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, which,  under  the  firm  style  of  C.  Hardin 
&  Sons,  they  conducted  for  seven  years.  After  that 
Mr.  Hardin  established  three  banks,  one  at  Dodge 
Center,  one  at  Wasseca,  Minn.,  in  1873,  and  the 
other  at  Eldora,  Iowa,  in  1877.  The  business  of  the 
banks  was  carried  on  by  his  sons  and  sons-in-law. 
Mr.  Hardin  has  recently  sold  the  bank  at  Dodge 
Center,  and  his  sons  have  returned  to  this  county  to 
assist  in  looking  after  their  father's  interests.  The 
other  banks  are  managed  by  J.  D.  K.  Smith  and  A. 
P.  Jamison,  his  so*ns-in-law.  Mr.  Hardin  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Monmouth  National  Bank,  in 
1870;  was  Vice-President  and  Director  until  the 
bank  was  sold  to  George  F.  Harding  and  others,  in 
1874.  In  January,  1875,  Mr.  H.,  with  his  brother 
Harry  G.,  and  others,  organized  the  Second  National 
Bank  of  Monmouth.  With  this  bank  he  has  since 
been  identified  as  President  and  Director.  Almost 
immediately  upon  its  organization,  the  bank  attained 
prominence  in  financial  circles,  which  it  has  ever 
maintained.  This  is  largely  due  to  the  liberal  yet 
conservative  manner  in  which  its  business  is  trans- 
acted. 

In  addition  to  his  other  large  enterprises,  Mr. 
Hardin  has  for  many  years  carried  on  farming  upon 
an  extensive  scale,  and  at  this  writing  he  farms  over 
2,000  acres  in  this  county,  besides  3,000  acres  in 
Iowa  and  3,000  acres  in  Minnesota.  The  principal 
part  of  his  farming  is  devoted  to  stock  raising  and 
feeding.  It  may  be  here  stated,  however,  that  the 
foundation  of  his  fortune  was  laid  by  judicious  in- 
vestments in  real  estate.  He  has  borne  an  honora- 
ble part  in  aiding  to  build  up  the  city  of  Monmouth, 
and  several  handsome  and  substantial  blocks  owe 
tl'eir  erection  to  his  enterprise.  Since  the  founda- 
tion of  Monmouth  College,  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  has  been  actively  and 
prominently  identified  with  its  success  and  growth. 

Mr.  Hardin  was  married  in  the  city  of  Chicago, 
Aug.  27,  1840,  to  Miss  Harriet  A.  Gordon,  a  native 
of  Richfield  Springs,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  S.  and  Rebecca  (Lee)  Gordon. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  where  he 
born  Dec.  13,  1783.  His  grandparents,  Alex- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


3«5 


ander  Gordon,  and  Jane,  his  wife,  left  Ireland  and 
arrived  in  Boston,  Mass..  in  1719.  They  subse- 
quently settled  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  They 
were  both  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  and  brought 
with  them  to  this  country  five  children.  To  them 
belong  the  credit  of  establishing  that  branch  of  the 
family  in  the  United  States  and  which  has  since  be- 
come quite  numerous.  In  religious  belief,  they  were 
Presbyterians.  The  wife  and  mother,  Jane  Gordon, 
died  May  14,  1774,  and  Alexander  Gordon,  the 
pioneer,  died  July  27,  1774,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
103  years,  both  of  their  deaths  taking  place  at  their 
home  in  Connecticut.  One  of  the  sons  of  Al- 
exander, John  Gordon,  was  married  to  Janet  Carr, 
March  30,  1732,  and  they  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Samuel  S.  was  the  second  child.  His 
father,  John  Gordon,  died  in  1797,  and  his  widow 
survived  until  her  82^  year. 

Samuel  S.  Gordon,  father  of  Mrs.  Hardin,  the 
wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  by  trade  a 
clothier,  and  when  he  grew  to  manhood  he  moved 
to  and  settled  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.  There  he  became 
acquainted  with  and  married  Rebecca  Lee,  their 
wedding  taking  place  about  1807.  She  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent.  Her  parents  were  John  and  Anna 
Lee,  and  they  were  also  residents  in  early  life  of 
Connecticut;  afterwards  removed  to  Otsego  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  where  Mrs.  Gordon  resided  until  her  death, 
which  took  place  about  the  year  1853.  Mr.  Gordon 
scbsequently  came  to  this  county  and  lived  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hardin,  at  whose  home  he  died,  Dec.  i , 
1873,  at  the  venerable  age  of  90  years.  Two  other 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gordon  had  previously 
moved  to  this  State, — John  L.  Gordon  and  N.  Maria, 
wife  of  Brainard  Root.  They  are  dead  and  both 
buried  at  Monmouth.  Mary  Ann,  the  other  chilil, 
died  in  Michigan,  and  is  also  buried  at  Monmouth. 
This  branch  of  the  Lee  family  first  settled  in  East- 
ern New  York,  and  subsequently  removed  to  the 
western  part  of  the  same  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gor- 
don had  a  family  of  eight  children,  three  sons  and 
five  daughters,  of  whom  Mrs.  Hardin  was  the  fifth 
child  in  order  of  birth,  and  the  only  children  now 
living  are  Mrs.  Hardin  and  a  brother,  Daniel  B. 
Gordon,  of  Oswego,  N.  Y. 

As  the  fruits  of  the  above  union,  Mr.  Hardin  and 
wife  had  born  to  them  six  children.  Arzelia,  wife  of 
A.  P.  Jamison,  resident  of  Wasseca,  Minn;  Delavan 
S.,  who  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Parsons,  a  native  of 


Northamptonshire,  England,  and  is  residing  in  Mon- 
mouth; Nina  is  the  wife  of  J.  D.  K.  Smith,  and  their 
home  is  in  Eldora,  Iowa;  Chancy  Dewit  married 
Clara  V.  Smith,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa  ;  Jennie  be- 
came the  wife  of  Frank  Brownell,  and  they  reside  in 
Granville,  N.  Y. ;  Dewane  died  in  infancy.  The  two 
sons  are  managing  Mr.  H.'s  farms  in  this  county 
and  are  also  partners  with  their  father  and  sons-in- 
law  in  the  banking  business  in  Iowa  and  Minnesota, 
which  is  conducted  under  the  name  of  C.  Hardin  & 
Sons. 

Since  1840,  Mr.  Hardin  and  wife  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  During 
the  late  war,  Mr.  Hardin  was  a  staunch  Union  man. 
His  son  Delavan  S.  was  a  soldier  for  about  a  year. 
Mr.  Hardin's  success  in  life  may  be  attributed  to  hi» 
careful,  conservative  and  methodical  manner  of  do- 
ing things.  His  judgment  on  business  and  financial 
matters  is  regarded  by  his  friends  as  being  eminently 
sound,  and  he  ranks  as  not  only  among  the  most 
prominent  successful  business  men  of  Warren  County,  . 
but  also  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

Perhaps  the  portrait  of  no  other  man  in  Warren 
County  will  be  looked  upon  with  more  interest,  or 
be  more  appropriate  in  this  ALBUM,  than  that  of  Mr. 
Chancy  Hardin,  which  the  publishers  take  pleasure 
in  giving  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


illiam  P.  Jones,  owner  of  165  acres  of  ex- 
cellent farm  land,  on  section  22,  Swan 
Township,  and  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
p  of  Warren  County,  was  born  in  Kentucey, 
Nov.  n,  1810.  He  was  a  son  of  Elijah 
Jones,  born  in  Old  Virginia,  who  married  Miss 
Sarah  Hamrock,  about  the  year  r8oi,  the  ceremony 
taking  place  in  North  Carolina.  She  was  born  in 
Virginia,  in  1777,  and  of  their  union  seven  children 
were  born:  Susanna,  born  in  1802;  Wyley,  in  1804; 
Margaret,  in  1809;  William  P.,  in  1810;  Jessie,  in 
1812;  John,  in  1814;  and  Elizabeth,  in  1816.  Mrs. 
Jones,  mother  of  our  subject,  died  ia  Illinois,  in 
1857,  the  father  in  1833,  in  Kentucky. 

William  P.  Jones,  of  whom  we  write,  was   married 
in  1829,  to  Miss  Adora   Strode,  who   was    born  in 


366 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


> 


1810,  in  Kentucky,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by 
the  Rev.  IWilliam  Whitman.  Of  their  union  nine 
children  have  been  born,  namely  :  Mary  A.,  born 
April  19,  1830;  Sarah  A.,  April  15,  r833  ;  Cynthia 
A.,  Jan.  24,1834;  Elijah,  Jan.  29,  1836;  Elizabeth, 
Sept.]  8,  1838;  Catherina,  Oct.  12,  1841;  Angelina, 
Sept.  6,  1845;  William,  May  4,  1848;  and  Peter, 
Nov.  7,  1850.  Only  five  of  the  children  still  sur- 
vive. Mrs.  Jones,  wife  of  our  subject,  died  April  7, 
1877. 

William  P.  Jones  came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  and 
first  located  in  Greenbush  Township.  He  is  a  thor- 
oughly informed,  practical  agriculturist,  having  pur- 
sued that  avocation  nearly  all  his  life,  and  has  been 
abundantly  blessed  with  prosperity,  which  invariably 
is  the  reward  of  the  industrious  and  intelligent  tiller 
of  the  soil.  In  political  opinion,  Mr.  Jones  is  a 
Democrat,  having  voted  for  "  Hickory  "  Jackson.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  denom- 
ination his  wife  was  also  a  member.  Mr.  Jones  is 
now  living  with  one  of  his  sons,  Peter  B.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Ellen  Threlkeld,  Feb.  6,  1878.  They  have 
become  the  parents  of  five  children, — Mary  Grace, 
Inez  A.,  Glen  A.,  Frank  M.  and  Wilford. 


-Of — 


^avid  Duffield,  a  successful  farmer,  owning 
a  valuable  farm,  located  on  section  14,  " 
Berwick  Township,  was  born  Dec.  30, 
1837,  in  McHenry  County,  this  State.  His 
father,  Nathan  Duffield,  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  was  born,  in  1817.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  P. 
Duffield,  a  farmer's  daughter,  of  Virginia,  and  in 
which  State  she  was  born,  in  1820,  and  who  bore 
him  ten  children,  and  departed  this  life  in  1878. 
Their  children  were  named  David,  Caroline,  Jeru- 
sha,  John,  Thomas  M.,  Martha,  Charles,  Nathan, 
Jane  and  Alice.  The  father  died  Dec.  9,  1885. 

David  Duffield,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
has  passed  the  years  of  his  life  that  are  gone  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
acquired  an  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  State.  Nov.  5,  1869,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lydia  A.  Stafford,  in  Otsego  Co.,  N. 

LA 


Y.  She  was  born  July  13,  1844.  Of  their  union 
three  children  have  been  born,  namely  :  Lalla  E., 
born  June  14,  1872;  Arlie  S.,  born  Nov.  26,  1875  ; 
and  Cyrus  A.,  born  Sept.  26,  1881. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Duffield,  S.  P.  and  Sarah 
(Smith)  Stafford,  were  born  in  New  York,  in  iSrs 
and  1818,  respectively.  They  had  five  children, — 
Maria,  born  1841  ;  Lydia  A.,  in  1844;  Joseph,  in 
1847  ;  Amanda,  in  1853  ;  and  Sarah,  in  i86r.  Mr. 
Duffield  is  at  present  pleasantly  situated  on  80  acres 
of  good  farm  land,  located  on  section  14,  Berwick 
Township,  which  he  owns,  and  is  active  engaged  in 
his  chosen  vocation.  He  has  been  Township  Col- 
lector for  a  number  of  years  and  School  Director 
for  quite  a  long  time.  Politically,  he  is  a  Jefferson- 
ian  Democrat.  Mrs.  Duffield  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church. 


|£enry  Charles  Parsons,  a  former  citizen  of 
the  township  of  Sumner,  was  born  in  1-- 
Fletcher,  Vt.,  in  1820,  and  was  the  son  of 
Elder  and  Charlotte  Parsons.  In  his  early 
youth  his  mother  was  removed  by  death  and  he  . 
became  an  inmate  of  the  household  of  a  man 
named  George  Buck,  with  whom  he  passed  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  minority.  He  was  brought  up 
with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  farming,  and  received 
such  education  as  the  common  schools  of  that  day 
afforded. 

The  first  prominent  event  of  his  adult  life  was  his 
marriage  to  Abigail  Buck,  who  became  his  wife  Dec. 
25,  1846.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Murray  and 
Polly  (Thorp)  Buck  and  her  parents  were  natives  of 
the  Green  Mountain  State.  In  the  maternal  line  of 
descent  she  was  of  Connecticut  origin.  Before  mar- 
riage Mr.  Parsons  had  bought  a  small  farm  in  Buck 
Hollow,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Vt.,  which  became  the 
home  of  himself  and  his  bride.  After  living  on  the 
place  two  years,  the  sold  out  and  came  to  Warren 
County,  arriving  in  1848.  Their  route  of  travel  was 
via  Lake  Champlain,  Cham  plain  Canal  and  Erie 
Canal  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  by  the  lakes  to  Chicago. 
In  that  city  Mr.  Parsons  bought  a  pair  of  horses  and 
set  forth  for  his  point  of  destination.  One  of  the 
horses  sickened  and  died  on  the  road.  The  father 


(li   >tt 


ITCHEY,  SEC.2..SPRIN6   Gf?OVETOWNSHI  P. 


EC.,  26.  LENOX  TOWNS  HI  p. 


RESIDENCE- or  A.A.CHAPMAN^EC-.SS.SPRING  GROVETOWNSHIP. 


A 

T 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


369 


traded  the  remaining  animal  for  another  span  and 
successfully  com  pled  the  journey.  He  located  in 
Hale  Township  on  the  farm  owned  by  Murray  Buck. 
After  two  years  he  bought  160  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 33,  in  the  same  township.  At  first  he  built  a 
small  frame  house,  of  which  his  family  took  posses- 
sion, and  then  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  work  of 
improving  his  land.  Two  years  later  the  house  was 
burned  with  all  its  contents.  A  good  and  substan- 
tial brick  house  replaced  the  primitive  structure  of 
the  pioneer  and  was  his  home  during  the  remaining 
years  of  his  earthly  course.  He  made  subsequent 
purchases  of  land  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
the  owner  of  240  acres,  finely  stocked  and  furnished 
with  modern  farming  implements  of  the  most  ap- 
proved patterns.  His  demise  took  place  Nov.  1 6, 
1869.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  practical  tem- 
perance man.  Six  of  the  children  of  which  he  and 
his  wife  became  the  parents  are  living.  Wealthy  is 
married  to  Marion  Harrison  of  Sumner  Township. 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  William  Morrison.  They  settled 
at  Atlantic,  Iowa.  Horace  resides  on  the  homestead. 
Henry  and  Grant  are  also  residents  thereon.  Pearl 
is  the  youngest. 


Alexander  A.  Chapman,  a  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 35,  in  the  township  of  Spring  Grove, 
like  so  many  of  the  first  settlers  in  this  part 
of  the  United  States,  is  the  descendant  of  a 
family  of  New  England  origin.  Ashbel  Chap- 
man, his  grandfather,  was  born  in  the  section 
of  this  country  first  settled  in  the  days  of  the  Pil- 
grims, and  removed  thence  to  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  At  that  period 
the  Empire  State  was  in  its  infancy,  the  greater  por- 
tion of  it  still  covered  with  the  primeval  forest.  The 
tract  on  which  the  elder  Chapman  located  was  in  the 
same  condition  as  when  his  ancestors  landed  upon 
the  bleak  Massachusetts  coast  nearly  two  centuries 
below.  He  went  sturdily  at  the  work  of  clearing  the 
the  wilderness,  and  in  due  time  had  reclaimed  a  suf- 
ficient spot  of  ground  and  erected  the  first  homestead. 
The,  then,  nearest  point  was  the  Mohawk  River,  some 
150  miles  distant.  With  the  breaking  out  of  the  dif- 
ficulties engendered  by  the  second  struggle  between 


this  country  and  England,  our  pioneer  turned  from 
his  axe  and  plow  to  assist  in  the  settlement  of  his 
rights  and  to  aid  in  the  defense  of  what  had  been 
secured  by  his  forefathers.  He  continued  to  reside 
in  New  York  till  about  1836,  when  he  removed  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  Summit  County,  where  he  passed 
to  his  rest  at  the  ripe  age  of  80  years. 

Orson  C.  Chapman,  his  son,  married  Rebecca 
Giffbrd,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  was 
born  Feb.  26,  1801,  previous  to  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  Cayuga  County.  After  marriage  he  oper- 
ated there  as  a  business  man  until  1834,  when  he 
removed  thence  to  Oswego  County,  in  the  same 
State,  where  he  passed  about  ten  years,  and  remov- 
ing later  to  Ohio,  where  he  settled  in  the  same  por- 
tion of  the  State  first  chosen  by  his  father,  viz.  ;  Sum- 
mit County.  After  continuing  there  six  years  he 
returned  to  Oswego.  In  1866  he  made  another 
transfer  of  his  home  and  interests  to  Noble  Co.,  Ind., 
where  his  demise  took  place  in  1871.  His  wife,  the 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  biography,  still  survives  ' 
him.  They  were  the  parents  of  12  children. 

Alexander  A.  Chapman  is  the  fourth  child  of  his  ' 
parents  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bennett,  in  " 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  19,  1833.  In  1856  he  sev- 
ered his  connections  with  the  parental  home  and 
came  to  Warren  County.  He  obtained  employment 
as  a  farm  hand  and  continued  to  work  out  until  he 
finally  chose  a  partner  for  life.  His  marriage  to  Ann 
M.  Buck  occurred  Dec.  15,  1858.  The  parents  of 
his  wife,  Norman  and  Maria  Buck,  were  natives  of 
Vermont,  who  had  become  settlers  in  this  county  in 
1848.  Mrs.  Chapman  was  born  in  Loraine  Co,, 
Ohio,  Nov.  5,  1834.  After  his  union  he  settled  in 
Spring  Grove  Township,  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
has  ever  since  made  his  home.  This  property  for- 
merly belonged  to  the  father  of  Mrs,  Chapman  and 
then  contained  only  80  acres  improved  land,  60 
acres  of  which  was  under  cultivation.  There  was 
then  only  a  small  frame  house  on  the  place.  The 
whole  tract  of  320  acres  owned  by  Mr.  Chapman  in- 
cludes the  east  half  of  the  southeast  part  of  section 
35,  and  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  36.  The  place  is  improved  with  handsome, 
modern  buildings,  and  with  a  fine  lawn.  A  good  idea 
of  the  homestead  will  be  obtained  from  the  accom- 
panying illustration.  It  is  justly  considered  one  of 
the  most  attractive  homes  in  the  county. 

The  children  of  the  household  are  three  in  num- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


• 


her,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Norman  Ward,  the 
eldest,  is  a  civil  engineer,  now  pursuing  his  profes- 
sion in  Nebraska.  Isa  and  Frank  reside  at  home, 
where  they  are  receiving  the  benefits  of  a  thorough 
education.  In  politics,  the  representative  man,  whose 
career  we  have  outlined,  is  a  staunch  supporter  of 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  to  which  he 
has  adhered  since  its  organization. 


r.  M.  B.  Bay,  one  of  the  large  land- 
owners of  Lenox  Township,  a  gentleman 
of  more  than  ordinary  executive  ability 
and  a  successful  farmer,  residing  on  section 
26,  Lenox  Township,  is  the  son  of  Garland  ;md 
Sarah  (Lee)  Ray,  natives  of  Kentucky. 
His  parents  came  to  this  county  in  1835,  and  will 
consequently  take  rank  among  its  pioneer  settlers. 
They  located  in  Roseville  Township,  where  they 
continued  to  reside  for  about  a  year,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Lenox  Township,  where  they  lived  until 
their  death,  the  decease  of  Mr.  Ray's  mother  taking 
place  Feb.  24,  1868,  and  that  of  his  father  April  12, 
1881.  Their  children  were  ten  in  number,  namely: 
Amelia  A.,  Harriet  E~,  Henrietta  M.,  James  W., 
M.  B.,  Eletha,  Clarinda  J.,  Julia  A.,  Susan  A.  and 
Nancy  Elizabeth. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  notice  was  born  in  Edmonson  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  6, 
1828,  and  had  reached  the  age  of  nine  years  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  this  county,  where  he 
has  continued  to  reside  until  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Ray  ma)  be  said  to  have  followed  the  vocation  of  an 
agriculturist  from  childhood,  as  he  was  brought  up  to 
that  occupation  and  has  made  it  the  pursuit  of  his 
life.  He  is  at  present  the  owner  of  over  1,200  acres 
in  this  county,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of 
30  acres  of  timberland,  is  under  an  advanced  state 
of  cultivation,  and  with  the  exception  of  210  acres  in 
Roseville  Township  is  all  situated  in  Lenox  Town- 
ship. He  keeps  upon  his  home  farm,  which  com- 
prises 500  acres,  about  too  head  of  cattle,  20  head 
of  horses  and  colts,  and  fattens  about  100  head  of 
hogs  annually.  What  of  this  world's  goods  he  may 


possess,  and  the  same,  as  will  be  readily  seen  is  not 
small,  has  been  accumulated  through  his  own  in- 
domitable energy,  pluck  and  good  judgment. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ray,  which  occurred  in 
Lenox  Township,  Seyt.  5,  1850,  when  Miss  Nancy 
C.  Ray  became  his  wife,  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  ten  children.  Mrs.  Ray  is  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  Ray,  natives  of  Kentucky.  Their 
children  are  Richard  H.,  Emeline,  Laura  J.,  Letitia, 
John  L.,  Theodosia,  Mary,  Hiram,  Hattie  and  Mar- 
tha. Martha  is  deceased ;  Richard  resides  in  Lenox 
Township;  Emeline  is  the  wife  of  Tilford  Rice  and 
resides  in  Lenox  Township ;  Laura  J.  married  John 
Chapman,  who  resides  in  Iowa ;  Letitia  became  the 
wife  of  William  Ken,  also  a  resident  of  Iowa;  John 
L.  lives  in  Lenox  Township;  Theodosia  married 
William  Parrish,  also  a  resident  of  Lenox  Township; 
Mary  was  united  in  marriage  with  Theo.  C.  Alexan- 
der, who  is  a  farmer  in  Lenox  Township ;  Hiram  is 
also  residing  in  Lenox  Township;  Hattie  became 
the  wife  of  Martin  Landon,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Ber- 
wick Township. 

Mr.  Ray  has  held  the  office  of  Highway  Commis-  ; 
sioner  and  Overseer  of  Highways.     In   politics,  he  ~ 
casts  his  vote  with  the  Democratic  party.     Himself 
and   wife  both   belong  to   the    Missionary    Baptist 
Church. 

We  present  a  fine  view  of  Mr.    Ray's   substantial 
homestead  on  page  368. 


):  rlando  Bandall,  a  successful  farmer  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Warren  County, 
owning  330  acres  of  land  in  Tompkins 
Township,  and  residing  on  section  16,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
born  Jan.  28,  1827.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Ran- 
dall—Roswell  and  Charlotte  (Page)  Randall,  were 
natives  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  respect- 
ively. After  marriage,  in  1849,  they  emigrated  lo 
this  county,  where  the  father  became  a  citizen  of 
Tompkins  Township,  locating  on  section  1 6,  where 
he  purchased  160  acres  of  land.  The  parents  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  their  land  in  Tompkins  Town- 
ship for  1 6  years,  during  which  time  the  father  was 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


37' 


laboriously  engaged  in  its  cultivation.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time,  he,  with  his  family  moved  into 
the  village  of  Kirkwood,  and  there  resided  until  the 
death  of  both  heads  of  the  household,  which  oc- 
curred in  1878  and  1879  respectively. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  we  place  at  the  be- 
ginning of  this  biographical  sketch,  was  an  inmate  of 
the  parental  household,  until  he  became  28  years  of 
age.  He  then,  in  1856,  purchased  80  acres  of  land 
on  section  2i,Tompkins  Township,  which,  by  subse- 
quent purchases,  he  increased  to  330  acres  of  as 
good  farm  land  as  there  is  in  the  county.  He  is  ac- 
tively engaged  in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of 
his  farm  and  is  meeting  with  well  merited  success. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Randall  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Melissa  Hall,  a  native  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  a  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Rachel  (Underhill) 
Hall.  They  have  six  children  living,  named  Edgar 
H.,  Charles  M.,  Allen  C.,  Deliah  R.,  Charlotte  D., 
and  Frank  P.  In  politics,  Mr.  Randall  votes  with 
•  the  Republican  party.  What  of  this  world's  goods 
he  may  possess,  has  been  acquired  through  his  own 
indomitable  energy,  perseverance  and  good  judg- 
ment, coupled  with  the  active  co-operation  of  his 
good  helpmeet,  and  is  regarded  he  as  one  of  the  most 
substantial  farmers  of  Tompkins  Township. 


•urton  Godfrey,  Road  Commissioner,  farm- 
er and  stock-raiser,  residing  on  section  27, 
Ellison  Township,  was  born  in  Ross  Co., 
Ohio,  June  28,  1822.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Godfrey,  Elisha  Godfrey,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  of  New  England  parentage,  and 
came  to  Ohio  with  his  father  and  mother  when  a 
young  man.  The  mother  of  Elisha  died  in  Warren 
Co  111.,  and  his  father  in  Ohio.  Elisha  married  Miss 
Dorcas  Hill,  a  native  of  Virginia.  She  came  to  Ohio 
with  her  parents  when  quite  young  and  they  both 
died  in  Ross  County  that  State., 

The  gentleman  whose  sketch  we  write,  resided 
with  his  parents  until  his  marriage,  receiving  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  the  common  schools,  and  as- 
sisting in  the  maintenance  of  the  family,  by  labor  on 
the  farm.  His  parents  came  to  this  State  in  1857. 


Burton  Godfrey  had  preceded  them,  having  arrived 
here  in  1856,  and  settled  in  Ellison  Township.  His 
parents  settled  in  Ellison,  but  after  witnessing  the  ter- 
rible hurricane  that  passed  through  that  village  in  the 
spring  of  1858,  returned  to  Ohio,  where  they  resided 
five  years  and  again  returned  to  this  county,  where 
the  father  died  in  1873,  of  heart  disease.  His  wife, 
Burton's  mother,  soon  afterward  returned  to  Ohio, 
where,  in  1881,  she  died. 

Burton  Godfrey  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of 
ic  children.  He  lived  with  his  parents  in  Ross  Co., 
Ohio,  until  his  marriage  with  Rebecca  J.  Penwell. 
She  was  born  in  the  county  where  she  was  married, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  an  Ohio  farmer.  Their 
married  life  lasted  for  five  years  only,  when  the 
wife  and  mother  died,  leaving  two  children — 
Joseph  M.  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Lozier.  Mr.  Godfrey 
was  a  second  time  married,  in  Pickaway  Co.,  Ohio, 
April  n,  1853,  when  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Graham,  nee 
Grimes,  became  his  wife.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Ruth  (Chenoweth)  Grimes,  natives  of 
Virginia  and  Ohio  respectively,  who  were  married 
in  the  latter  State  and  where  they  both  died.  They 
were  well-to-do  people,  loving  and  kind  parents, 
obliging  neighbors  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
them.  Mrs.  Godfrey  was  the  second  in  order  of 
birth  of  a  family  of  five  children,  born  of  the  second 
marriage  of  her  father,  he  having  been  married  four 
times.  The  date  of  her  birth  was  Aug.  16,  1824, 
and  the  place  of  her  nativity  Ross  Co.,  Ohio.  She 
was  about  ten  years  of  age  when  her  mother  died, 
and  afterward  lived  with  her  father  and  step-mother 
until  her  marriage  to  John  W.  Graham,  a  native  of 
Pickaway  Co..  Ohio,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
He  died  in  that  county  June  14,  1847,  leaving  two 
children,  Charles  W.  and  Benjamin  F.,  both  of  whom 
are  married  and  engaged  in  farming — the  former 
in  Ellison  Township  and  the  latter  in  Iowa. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Godfrey,  they 
lived  on  a  farm  in  Ohio  from  1853  until  1856.  On 
coining  to  this  State  Mr.  Godfrey  purchased  80  acres 
of  land  in  this  county  on  section  27,  Ellison  Town- 
ship, on  which  he  located  and  where  he  has  since 
lived.  By  energetic  labor  and  economy  he  has  added 
240  acres  to  his  original  purchase,  and  is  at  present 
the  proprietor  of  320  acres  of  excellent  farm  land, 
under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation  and  ten  acres 
of  timber. 

He  has  a  good  residence  on  his  farm,  together  with 


372 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


barn  and  other  outbuildings,  and  is  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Warren  County.  His  attention  in 
addition  to  his  farm  labors  has  been  directed  to  the 
raising  of  Short-horn  cattle,  in  which  he  is  meeting 
with  success.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  denomination 
Mr.  G.  is  present  trustee  and  steward.  In  politics 
Mr.  Godfrey  is  a  staunch  and  active  worker  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held  the 
office  of  Collector,  Assessor,  Road  Commissioner, 
Overseer  of  the  Poor  and  many  of  the  minor  offices 
within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  his  township. 


eorge  Thayer.  Upon  section  28,  of  Rose- 
ville  Township,  there  resides  an  intelli- 
gent farmer  in  comfortable  circumstances 
and  well  known  throughout  the  community,  by 
the  name  of  George  Thayer.  He  was  born  in 
New  York  State,  and  is  the  son  of  Sabin 
Thayer,  a  native  of  that  State.  There,  the  elder 
Thayer,  met  and  married  Miss  Lovina  Kingsbury, 
who  was  also  born  in  the  Empire  State.  They  were 
living  there  in  the  quiet  and  peaceful  occupation  of 
farming,  when  their  son,  George,  was  born.  His 
birth  occurred  Aug.  24,  1828.  Here  young  Thayer 
lived  until  1840,  when  his  parents  started  with  their 
family  westward.  They  found  a  desirable  location 
in  Knox  County,  where  the  senior  Thayer  purchased 
80  acres  of  land,  and  began  its  improvement.  He 
was  however,  not  permitted  to  see  the  beautiful 
prairies  develop  to  the  high  condition  which  they 
are  in  at  present,  for  four  years  after  his  arrival  here, 
he  died.  His  wife  lived  20  years  longer,  dying 
in  1864. 

George  Thayer  left  home  at  a  very  early  age,  the 
death  of  his  father  compelling  the  mother  to  start 
him  out  to  help  make  a  living  for  the  family.  He 
worked  out  by  the  month  until  he  was  23  years  of 
age,  and  by  economy  he  had  accumulated  a  little 
money,  and  bought  the  place  where  he  now  lives. 
This  consisted  of  but  60  acres  at  that  time,  1863, 
but  since  success  has  crowned  the  hard  labor  and 
good  business  judgment  of  Mr.  Thayer  to  a  certain 
extent,  we  now  find  him  the  owner  of  220  acres 


acres.  He  is  now  engaged  in  general  farming,  and 
is  regarded  in  this  community  as  a  gentleman  of 
good,  sound  business  judgment,  and  a  respected 
citizen.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  together 
with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church. 

In  1851,  August  23,  the  wedding  ceremony  which 
united  in  marriage  George  Thayer  and  Miss  Jean- 
nett  White,  occurred.  Miss  White  was  born  in  New 
York  State,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Ephraim  and 
Sally  (Crane)  White,  eaily  and  respected  pioneers  of 
Hancock  Co.,  111.,  her  father  and  mother  dying  in 
that  county  at  a  very  early  day,  the  death  of  the 
forme*  occurring  in  1845,  and  the  latter  in  1843. 
Mrs.  Thayer  is  the  mother  of  six  children,  namely  : 
John  W.,  Bion  L.,  Charles  A.,  Darwin  N.,  Ida  L. 
and  Nettie.  John  W.,  married  Mary  Nisely,  and 
their  two  children  are  named  George  and  Mary. 
Bion  L.  selected  for  a  wife,  Stella  Cunningham. 
Lovell  and  Malvin  are  the  names  of  their  children. 


'Ibert  Rodgers  is  an  energetic  and  respect- 
ed citizen  of  Lenox  Township,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  on  section 
27.  He  is  a  son  of  Clark  and  Nancy  (Bar. 
rett)  Rodgers,  and  was  born  in  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio,  Dec.  2,  1840.  His  parents  were 
na'ives  of  the  Buckeye  State,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1853,  locating  in  McDonough  County.  They  after- 
ward removed  to  Fulton  County,  the  adjoining  coun- 
ty, where  they  died,  the  father  Oct.  4,  1880,  and  the 
mother  Aug.  n,  1871.  They  had  a  family  of  ten 
children — John  B.,  James  O.,  William  H.,  Eliza  A., 
Albert,  May,  Martha,  Elvira,  Scott,  and  Perry. 

Albert  Rodgers  was  but  13  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  removed  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  live  with  them  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
22  years,  when  he  worked  out  for  awhile  at  farming 
and  mining.  He  remained  a  resident  of  McDon- 
ough County  until  1871,  when  he  came  to  Warren 
County,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  having  purchased  80  acres  of  land  on 
section  27,  his  present  location,  in  the  year  1881,  and 
engaged  actively  and  energetically  in  its  improve- 
ment and  cultivation. 

He  was   married  in  Berwick  Township,   Warren 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


375 


County,  March  26,  1874,  to  Miss  Martha,  daughter 
of  Greenbury  and  Mary  (Moore)  Ray,  natives  of 
Kentucky,  who  came  to  Warren  County  in  1844. 
They  lived  in  Berwick  Township,  where  they  made 
their  permanent  abiding  place  until  their  deaths,  the 
mother's  demise  occurring  Dec.  28,  1871,  and  the 
father  Jan.  24,  1879.  Their  family  comprised  tHe 
following  named  children  :  Martha,  Lizzie,  Willis, 
Mary,  Wilbur,  Jennie  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Rodgers  was  the  eldest  of  her  parents'  family, 
and  was  born  in  Kentucky,  April  25,  1848.  Herself 
and  husband  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  the  latter  in  politics  casts  his  vote  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party. 


,,on.  Ivory  Quinby,  deceased,  son  of  Asa 
and  Mehitable  Quinby,  was  born  on  the 
I4th  day  of  July,  1817,  in  Btixton,  Maine, 

jf  and  died  at  Monmouth,  111.,  Oct.  23,  18*9. 
After  completing  his  preparatory  studies,  he 
entered  the  Freshman  Class  of  Waterville  Col- 
lege, Maine,  in  1832,  being  then  a  little  over  15 
years  of  age.  While  in  college  he  ranked  high  as 
a  student.  His  favorite  study  was  natural  science, 
and  he  was  especially  distinguished  for  his  attain- 
ments in  chemistry.  He  graduated  with  honor-,  his 
diploma  bearing  the  date  of  Aug.  3,  1836,  he  being 
then  a  little  over  19  years  of  age. 

After  leaving  college,  he  spent  a  short  time  in 
Parsonsfield,  as  an  assistant  teacher  in  the  academy, 
then  under  the  care  of  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Hosea 
Quinby.  He  then  went  to  Saco  and  entered  the 
office  of  Judge  Shepley,  as  a  student  of  law.  His 
health  prevented  him  continuing  here  long,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1837,  when  not  yet  21  years  of  age,  he 
sought  a  home  in  Illinois.  He  left  Maine  with 
$125,  this  being  the  sum  total  of  his  worldly  goods. 

He  landed  first  at  Quincy,  where  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Hon.  O.  H.  Browning  and  John 
Mitchel,  Esq.  By  the  advice  of  Mr.  Browning,  he 
selected  Monmouth,  then  an  inconsiderable  village, 
as  his  future  home.  He  and  Mr.  Mitchel  arranged 
a  partnership  and  set  out  for  the  place  of  their 
choice.  From  Oquawka  they  came  to  Monmouth 
on  foot,  opened  an  office,  and  commenced  business 
as  attorneys  and  counsellors  at  law. 

On    March    14,    1839,    when    between    22  and 


23  years  of  age,  he  married  Miss  Jane  A.  Allen. 
She  died  on  the  7th  of  February,  1847.  She  was 
the  mother  of  three  children,  all  of  whom  died  before 
their  father. 

He  does  not  appear  to  have  continued  long  in 
Monmouth  at  that  time.  For  some  cause  he  aban- 
doned the  practice  of  law,  removed  to  Berwick  and 
went  into  the  mercantile  business. 

On  the  i7th  of  February,  1848,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Pearce,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Phebe  (Little)  Pearce,  of  Virginia  and 
Ne.v  Jersey  respectively.  Mr.  Thomas  Pearce  was 
a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  came  to  Tazewell 
County,  this  State,  in  the  spring  of  1830,  removing 
thence  into  Warren  County  in  the  fall  of  1831. 
With  his  team  Mr.  Pearce  hauled  the  first  load  of 
goods  to  Monmouth.  In  company  with  Hon.  Sam- 
uel G.  Morse,  he  laid  out  the  town  of  Berwick,  and 
resided  there  several  years.  He  died  in  1853,  aged 
75  years.  His  widow  lived  to  be  78  years  of 
age,  and  died  in  1869.  By  his  second  marriage, ' 
Judge  Quinby  had  born  to  him  eight  children,  only 
four  of  whom  survived  him — Jane  (Mrs.  Dr.  A.  F.  ' 
Bucknam) ;  George,  a  resident  of  Dakota  where  he 
owns  a  large  landed  estate;  Frank,  an  attorney-at- 
law  at  Monmouth ;  and  Ivory,  a  student. 

Soon  after  the  opening  of  Monmouth  College,  he 
became  one  of  its  warmest  friends,  and  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  For  a  short 
time  he  held  the  office  of  Treasurer.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  entrusted  with  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  college  building.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  for  some 
years  President  of  the  Board.  Occupying  these 
responsible  positions,  the  interests  of  the  college 
made  large  demands  on  his  time  ;  yet  it  was  cheer- 
fully given.  He  was  punctual  and  regular  in  at- 
tending all  meetings  of  the  Committee  and  Board. 
The  many  reports,  carefully  prepared,  on  file  in  his 
handwriting,  show  that  he  gave  the  college  much 
and  careful  thought.  His  colleagues  uniformly  paid 
the  most  profound  respect  to  his  opinion.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  no  measure  he  favored  was  ever  voted 
down.  In  addition  to  the  time  and  thought  given, 
he  also  made  frequent  and  large  donations  to  the 
college  in  money,  which  amounted  to  over  $8,000. 
Tliose  bist  acquainted  with  the  history  of  the  col- 
lege affirm  that  his  assistance,  in  various  ways,  was. 


t  i 


37  6 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


so  timely  and  valuable,  that  without  him  the  enter- 
prise could  hardly  have  succeeded. 

Judge  Quinby  was  distinguished  for  the  soundness 
of  his  judgment  and  the  candor  with  which  he  ex- 
pressed his  opinions.  It  is  doubtful  whether  there 
is  a  man  in  Monmouth  whose  opinion,  on  any  ques- 
tion with  which  he  was  familiar,  carried  greater 
weight.  Many  a  mooted  point  has  he  settled  by 
simply  stating  his  deliberate  judgment. 

In  appearance  and  manner  he  was  somewhat 
austere,  yet,  in  fact,  he  was  one  of  the  most  tender- 
hearted of  men.  There  are  many  who  can  testify 
to  substantial  acts  of  kindness  on  his  part,  which 
they  will  be  slow  to  forget.  They  are  not  a  few  who 
to-day  bless  his  memory. 

At  the  same  time,  he  was  peculiarly  modest  and 
unostentatious.  In  giving  money,  he  shrank  from 
notoriety.  He  made  many  offers,  to  stimulate  others 
to  like  liberality;  but  in  all  such  cases  he  uniformly 
enjoined  secrecy  as  to  his  name.  When  he  gave 
alms,  he  did  not  sound  a  trumpet  before  him.  He 
hardly  let  his  left  hand  know  what  his  right  hand 
was  doing. 

Above  all,  he  was  a  Christian  man.  He  early 
made  a  profession  of  faith  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  on  his  death-bed  he  confessed,  unsolicited,  in 
•  the  broadest  and  most  unequivocal  terms,  his  faith 
in  Christ. 

All  in  all,  in  the  death  of  Ivory  Quinby,  Mon- 
mouth lost  one  of  the  worthiest  of  her  citizens.  The 
vacancy  will  hardly  be  filled.  Let  those  who  survive 
imitate  his  virtues  and  follow  his  footsteps,  while 
they  revere  his  memory  and  lament  his  loss. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Warren  County  Bar,  Oct.  26, 
1869,  Mr.  Delos  Phelps  read  in  open  Court  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions : 

WHEREAS,  Divine  Providence,  in  His  inscrutable 
dispensation,  has  removed  from  among  us  Ivory 
Quinby,  long  and  well  known  to  the  citizens  of  our 
county,  for  many  years  a  practicing  attorney  of  ac- 
knowledged probity  and  ability,  in  our  courts,  and 
for  a  long  time  occupying  a  judicial  station  among 
us.  Therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  members  of  the  Warren  County 
Bar,  assembled  out  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  our 
deceased  brother,  and  to  pay  a  proper  tribute  to  a 
good  man  who  has  fallen  in  our  midst,  that  in  the 
loss  of  him  who  now  ''  after  life's  fitful  fever  sleepeth 
well,"  the  members  of  the  legal  profession  have  lost 
one  who  to  the  virtue  of  private  life  added  the  calm, 
dispassioned  judgment  and  consistent  uprightness  of 


character,  which  rendered  him,  while  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  an  ornament  to  the  profession,  a  guide  to 
his  brethren,  and  one  who  worthily  illustrated  the 
exalted  principles  of  enlightened  jurisprudence. 

Resolved,  That  we  willingly  bear  testimony  to  the 
ability,  sterling  integrity,  and  great  usefulness  in  his 
day,  of  our  departed  friend  and  brother.  That  we 
deplore  his  loss,  as  an  important  member  of  the  com- 
munity at  large,  and  sincerely  sympathize  with  his 
wife  and  family  in  the  irreparable  loss  sustained  by 
them  in  the  death  of  their  husband  and  father. 

Resolved,  That  as  members  of  the  Bar  of  Warren 
County,  we  will  attend  his  funeral  in  a  body.  That 
a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  published  in  the  city 
p.ipers,  a  copy  sent  to  the  family  of  the  deceased, 
and  a  copy  spread  on  the  records  of  the  County  and 
Circuit  Courts  of  Warren  County  at  the  next  terms 
of  the  same.  A.  C.  HARDING,  Chairman. 

J.  J.  GLENN,  Secretary. 

Hon.  A.  C.  Harding  then  said  : 

"  If  the  Court  please,  I  move  that  these  resolutions 
be  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Bar  of  this  county, 
and  spread  upon  the  records  of  this  Court.  They 
express  the  respectful  and  grateful  feelings  we  all 
entertain  for  our  friend  and  colleague,  Ivory  Quinby, 
Esq.,  who,  since  your  last  adjournment,  has  passed 
from  the  scenes  of  earthly  usefulness  to  the  bourne 
of  the  blessed.  He  went  to  the  tomb  with  an  escort 
of  a  multitude  of  people,  who  bedewed  his  grave 
with  tears.  The  college  and  the  pulpit  pronounced 
and  expressed  eulogies  upon  his  character,  and  im- 
mortalized his  memory.  No  words  or  tears  of  mine 
can  add  to  -that  homage  which  his  noble  life  has 
earned  and  received.  His  connection  with  the 
courts  as  a  lawyer  and  Judge  has  rendered  honorable 
the  profession  of  the  law,  and  left  impressions  of 
respect  for  judicial  urbanity  and  integrity  which  will 
long  remain  upon  the  minds  of  his  colleagues  and 
the  people.  His  long  career  at  the  Bar  of  this  Court 
was  never  blotted  by  trick  or  chicanery;  but  at  every 
step  of  his  legal  practice  he  honored  his  profession 
by  frank,  manly,  courteous  and  honest  conduct.  To 
him  the  Bar  of  this  county  owes  as  much  as  to  any 
of  its  members  for  the  honorable  character  it  bears. 
I  refrain  from  entering  the  fields  of  eulogy  which 
have  been  so  abundantly  harvested  to  the  memory 
of  fudge  Quinby  by  the  Rev.  Doctors  of  Divinity, 
Matthews  and  Wallace,  and  by  the  Reverend  and 
eloquent  Wasmuth.  But  because  his  character  was 
so  peculiarly  unostentatious  and  his  charities  secret, 
I  deem  it  proper  to  add  that  while  I  knew  him  in  the 
confidential  relation  of  a  partner  in  the  practice  of 
the  law  for  more  than  15  years,  and  for  more  than 
eight  years  in  the  construction  of  railways,  I  never 
knew  him  to  violate  the  rule,  '  Do  unto  others  as  ye 
would  they  should  do  unto  you.'  In  all  distribu- 
tions of  gains  and  losses  he  was  liberal  and  just. 
While  differing  in  political  relations  until  the  great 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


377 


Rebellion,  no  scenes  of  bitter  strife  between  us  is 
remembered  to  have  ever  existed,  and  we  rallied 
together  in  the  hour  of  the  nation's  trial  with  the 
good  and  the  true  of  all  parties  to  the  rescue  of  our 
imperiled  government.  In  one  characteristic,  our 
friend  was  not  generally  well  known.  From  some 
consideration — it  may  have  been  that  he  dreaded  the 
appearance  of  a  desire  to  distinguish  or  aggrandize 
himself — he  sedulously  shrouded  in  secrecy  his  best 
charities  and  noblest  acts.  I  know  of  some  of  his 
charities  to  the  destitute  in  past  days  that  I  never 
heard  mentioned  by  him  or  others.  His  many  acts 
of  beneficence  to  the  college  of  our  cities,  and  his 
efforts  to  found  a  library,  were  all  marked  by  modest 
retirement  from  public  notice.  After  all  business 
relations  between  us  had  been  closed,  I  became  en- 
dangered, and  should  have  been  pecuniarily  ruined, 
but  that  my  friend,  Judge  Quinby,  almost  unsolicited 
(for  I  felt  the  danger  so  great  that  I  ought  not  en- 
danger him),  became  absolute  security  to  pay  a 
judgment  of  more  than  $300,000.  Sir,  few  or  none 
others  could  or  would  have  done  this  from  philan- 
thropic obligations  only.  But  I  forget.  Pardon  this 
digression.  Let  us  cherish  his  memory  and  follow 
his  example,  that  like  him,  when  we  pass  away, 
those  who  remain  may  strew  words  of  kind  remem- 
brance over  our  graves;  and  our  names  find  a  place 
on  the  pages  of  this  Court,  and  be  written  above  in 
the  great  Book  of  Eternal  Life." 

At  the  same  meeting,  Mr.  Strain,  who  had  been 
intimately  associated  with  Judge  Quinby  in  the 
Board  of  College  Trustees  for  many  years,  paid  to 
his  memory  the  following  tribute : 

"  In  every  emergency,  we  sought  his  aid  and  coun- 
cil, and  it  was  always,  when  possible,  given  in  his 
quiet,  unassuming  way.  His  ideas  were  always 
clothed  in  plain,  simple  and  expressive  language. 
In  his  benefactions  there  was  no  sounding  of  trum- 
pets, and  the  public  but  seldom  knew  the  benefactor. 
In  his  almsgiving — which  was  liberal — his  left  hand 
knew  not  what  his  right  hand  did.  And  it  is  hi^h 
praise  of  him  to  be  able  to  say  that  after  a  life  of 
many  years  among  us  devoted  to  active  business — 
to  the  discharge  of  professional  duties ;  to  the  per- 
formance of  official  trusts,  and  to  the  accumulation 
of  a  large  estate — no  tongue  speaks  but  in  his  praise, 
and  no  breath  of  censure  tarnishes  his  memory. 
Such  a  character  is  indeed  a  rich  legacy  to  his  family 
aud  friends,  and  the  community  of  which  he  was  a 
member,  and  an  example  of  greatest  worth  to  each 
one  of  us.'' 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  Di- 
rectors of  the  Monmouth  College,  on  Monday,  Oct. 
25,  1869,  the  following  action  was  taken: 

Resolved,  By  the  Trustees  and  Directors  of  the 
Monmouth  College  : 

i.  That  in  the  death  of  the  Hon.  I.  Quinby,  long 


a  member  and  officer  of  the  Board,  we  lost  a  col- 
league, who  we  ever  found,  in  all  our  intercourse 
with  him,  an  upright,  courteous,  Christian  gentleman, 
and  in  whose  counsel  we  have  been  accustomed  to 
repose  the  utmost  confidence. 

2.  That  we  found  him   a  fast,  true  and  efficient 
friend  of  the  college  in  the  time  of  need  ;  by  his  able 
counsels,  active  services,  liberal  and  timely  dona- 
tions,  he    has   placed    the  college   under  a  debt  of 
gratitude  which  can  never  be  repaid. 

3.  That  we  extend  to  the  family  of  the   deceased 
our  sympathies,  in  this  their  hour  of  great  affliction, 
and  express  the   hope  that  the  richest  blessings  of  a 
covenant-keeping  God  may  descend  and  rest  upon 
them. 

4.  That    these    resolutions   be   spread    upon    the 
records,  published  in  the  city  papers  and  forwarded 
to  the  widow  of  the  deceased. 

D.  A.  WALLACE,  Pres. 

JOHN  J.  GLENN,  Sec'y. 

Thus,  in  arranging  and  compiling  the  accessible 
matter  appertaining  to  a  noble  life,  a  bare  recital  of 
the  generous  acts  whereof  would  alone  fill  a  volume, 
the  writer  acknowledges  his  inability  to  do  ample  . 
justice  to  the  subject,  and  returns  thanks  to  those 
from  whose  contributions  he  has  so  liberally  drawn, 
and  who,  from  their  intimate  relationship  with  Judge 
Quinby  in  his  lifetime,  were  best  calculated  to  speak 
advisedly  of  him.  A  portrait  of  the  Judge  is  shown 
on  another  page  of  this  work. 

Mrs.  Quinby 's  second  marriage  took  place  on  the 
ist  of  May,  1877,  to  Rev.  R.  Haney,  a  prominent 
clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


Imon  Kidder,  attorney-at-laWj  Monmouth, 
was  born  in  Warren  County,  Feb.  27, 
1838,  and  was  the  son  of  Larnard  and 
Mary  (Hoisington)  Kidder.  The  subject  of 
this  biographical  notice  was  reared  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm,  attending  regularly 
the  common  schools,  and  in  1859  graduated  from 
Lombard  University,  at  Galesburg.  '  Leaving  col- 
lege, he  began  directly  reading  law  with  Philo  Reed, 
at  Monmouth,  and,  in  October,  1862,  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  before  the  Supreme  Court  at  Ottawa.  His 
first  practice  was  with. James  Strain  as  partner;  later 
with  William  C.  Norcross,  and  recently  with  Mr. 
Frank  Quinby,  son  of  the  highly  reputed  Judge 


378 


WARREN'  COUNTY. 


Quinby,  whose  sketch  is  given  in  this  work.  At  this 
writing  (October,  1885),  Mr.  Kidder  is  unassociated 
with  any  one.  Early  in  life  he  was  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, but  owing  to  the  uncertain  position  of  that 
party  upon  the  question  of  the  whiskey  traffic,  he 
abandoned  it  and  politics  altogether,  and  has  since 
thrown  his  influence  in  favor  of  Prohibition.  He  has 
sought  no  office  in  any  way,  but  in  a  spirit  of  duty 
has  served  the  people  in  various  minor  places,  such 
as  School  Director,  Alderman  and  Justice  of  the 
Peace. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Kidder,  Anna  C.,  daughter  of 
John  Jacobs,  Esq.,  to  whom  he  was  married  at  Mon- 
rnouth, May  30,  1865,  died  Aug.  31,  r882,  leaving 
one  child,  Nina.  His  second  marriage  occurred  at 
Moline,  111.,  Oct.  18,  1883,  the  lady  being  Mrs.  Lucy 
E.  Folger,  nee  Mapes,  widow  of  Dr.  Folger,  of  Youngs- 
town.  Mr.  Kidder  devotes  his  time  to  his  profes- 
sion, although  he  has  various  outside  interests.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Monrnouth  Home- 
stead and  Loan  Association,  and  in  1870  he  found 
time  to  compile  and  systematize  the  Monrnouth  City 
Ordinances,  a  work  well  and  satisfactorily  done..  He 
is  considered  a  close  student,  known  to  be  a  sound 
lawyer,  and,  above  all,  a  gentleman. 

Mr.  Kidder  has  spent  his  leisure  moments  for  the 
last  ten  years  in  collecting  a  genealogy  of  the  Kid- 
der family,  which  has  occasioned  considerable  corre- 
spondence and  other  labor. 


.  ames  Bergen  Van  Arsdale  is  a  farmer  in 
the  township  of  Point  Pleasant.  He  was 
born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  Oct.  30,  1844. 
The  family  was  originally  of  Holland  origin, 
and  in  that  country  were  respected  members 
of  society.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Van 
Arsdale,  of  this  narration,  Abraham  Van  Arsdale, 
was  born  in  the  same  county  in  New  Jersey  in  which 
his  descendants  for  several  generations  were  also 
born.  His  farm  was  located  near  Harlingen,  in 
Somerset  County,  and  he  was  its  occupant  until  his 
death.  His  decease  took  place  June  22,  1836.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Beekman,  a  lady  likewise  of  Hol- 
land descent,  who  was  born  March  9, 1788,  and  died 


May  26,  1847.  Their  son  William  was  born  in 
Somerset  County,  Feb.  8,  i8rg.  Sept.  14,  1836,  he 
was  married  to  Johanna  V.  Bergen.  She  was  born 
June  7,  r8i3.  For  a  time  after  their  marriage  they 
remained  in  Somerset  County  and  rented  land.  Mr. 
Van  Arsdale  then  purchased  a  farm  near  the  home- 
stead and  was  there  a  resident  until  1850,  when  he 
sold  all  his  interests  in  the  State  of  his  nativity  and 
came  to  Illinois.  His  wife  and  three  children  ac- 
companied him.  They  crossed  the  mountains  of 
Pennsylvania  in  the  stage  and  arrived  at  Wheeling, 
W.  Va.  At  that  point  they  took  passage  on  the 
Ohio  River  and  made  the  journey  to  Illinois  on  the 
Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers.  They  landed 
at  Copperas  Creek,  in  Fulton  County,  and  the  father 
bought  land  near  Fairview  in  that  county.  No  im- 
provements had  been  made  on  it  and  the  new  pro- 
prietor erected  a  dwelling  and  other  needed  buildings 
of  good  style,  and  was  there  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  a  farmer  until  his  removal  to  Henderson 
County  in  1856.  He  sold  the  estate  in  Fulton 
County  and  made  a  purchase  of  land  in  the  county 
to  which  he  had  removed.  It  was  wholly  unim- 
proved and  was  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  Raritan. 
On  this  he  repeated  his  pioneer  experiences,  and 
was  there  a  resident  until  1869.  In  that  year  he 
made  an  exchange  for  another  farm  and  moved  to 
Raritan,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Three  of  the 
five  children  born  in  their  family  are  still  living. 
Abraham,  who  was  born  March  i,  1838,  lives  in 
Henderson  County.  Peter,  born  May  9,  1842,  be- 
came a  soldier  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  in 
the  Civil  War,  in  the  I4th  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  and  after  a 
term  of  active  military  life  of  nearly  three  years  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge.  He  now  lives  in 
Henderson  County. 

Mr.  Van  Arsdale,  of  this  narration,  is  the  youngest 
child.  He  was  hardly  six  years  of  age  when  his  pa- 
rents removed  to  Illinois,  and  he  reached  manhood 
in  Henderson  County.  He  received  the  training  com- 
mon to  the  children  of  farmers  and  a  common-school 
education. 

His  maniage  to  Anna  M.  Lewis  occurred  April  25, 
1868.  She  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  July  5,  1849. 
She  survived  her  marriage  but  a  short  time,  and  Dec. 
6,  1871,  Mr.  Van  Arsdale  was  again  married,  to 
Sarah  M.  Brokaw.  She  was  born  in  Somerset  Co., 
N.  J.,  Nov.  3,  1848,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  A. 
and  Mary  S.  (Baird)  Brokaw.  Her  parents  were  both 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


38' 


natives  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  came  to  Illinois 
in  1857  and  settled  in  Henderson  County.  In  1863 
her  father  entered  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States  and  died  at  Natchez,  Miss.  He  was  enrolled 
in  the  Fourth  111.  Cav.  Her  mother  is  living,  at 
Canton,  Fulton  Co.,  111. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Arsdale  have  had  three  chil- 
dren. Willie,  the  first-born,  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
weeks.  Nellie  was  born  May  20,  1876.  Paul  was 
born  Sept.  26,  1879. 


f  mos  Burford,  a  man  who  occupies  a  thor- 
oughly  representative  position  in   the  com- 
munity, and  whose   success   in  life  is  the 
outgrowth  of  his  own  energy  and  clear  judg- 
ment, is  a  resident  on  section  4,   Monmouth 
Township.     He  was  born  in  Donegal  Town- 
f  ship,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa..  Aug.  18,1829. 

His  father,  Jeremiah  Burford,  was  also  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  State,  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  the 
son  of  Robert  Burford,  an  Englishman,  who  came  to 
this  country  when  a  young  man  and  settled  at  his 
marriage  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  He  reared 
two  sons,  of  whom  Jeremiah,  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  the  eldest.  His  father  died  be- 
fore he  had  attained  the  age  of  manhood.  He  was 
first  married  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa,,  to  Lyda  Sterner, 
by  whom  he  became  the  father  of  two  children,  La- 
vina  and  Aaron,  both  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  and 
were  married  (the  former  of  whom  has  since  died). 
Of  the  second  marriage  of  Jeremiah,  to  Jane  Mont- 
gomery, a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  eight  children 
were  born,  of  whom  Amos,  the  subject  of  this  noiice, 
was  the  third.  Of  these  offsprings,  Margaret  becnme 
the  wife  of  John  Barton,  at  present  a  resident  of 
Erie,  Pa,;  Ann  was  united  in  marriage  to  James  E. 
McNair,  who  is  living  in  Prairie  City,  Iowa,  and  has 
accumulated  a  competency;  Amos,  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  was  next  in  order  of  birth  ;  Samuel  died 
at  St.  Joe,  Mich.,  in  the  fall  of  1883;  Mary  J.  formed 
a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Porter  Freborn,  who  is 
at  present  residing  in  Avon,  this  State;  she  died  in 
1868;  Eliza  was  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Smith,  who  fol- 
lows the  vocation  of  a  farmer  in  Kansas,  and  died 


Aug.  17,  1885;  Sarah  J.  is  single  and  resides  at 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  she  is  engaged  in  clerking; 
William  H.  is  deceased,  and  formerly  resided  in  Bos- 
ton, Mass.  He  followed  the  occupation  of  a  railroad 
conductor. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  our  sketch,  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education  and  resided  at 
home  with  his  parents,  assisting  in  the  maintenance 
of  the  family,  until  he  attained  the  age  of  28  years. 
Arrived  at  that  age,  he  left  the  parental  homestead 
and  came  West,  his  journey  terminating  in  Kansas, 
which  was  then  the  scene  of  free-soil  agitation.  He 
homesteaded  160  acres  of  land  in  Anderson  County, 
but  owing  to  the  pressure  of  hard  times,  he  removed 
to  Illinois  in  July,  1858,  and  located  east  of  Avon,  in 
Fulton  County,  where  he  rented  a  farm  and  lived 
on  it  about  three  years,  and  in  1861  rented  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  the  old  Kendall  homestead. 
He  finally  disposed  of  his  interests  in  Kansas  in 
1873.  His  marriage  took  place  in  this  county,  Oct. 
17,  1860,  the  lady  who  became  his  wife  being  Miss 
Margaret  Kendall,  the  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ann 
(McNair)  Kendall,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  of  Scotch  extraction,  her  father  being  a  farmer 
who  removed  to  this  county  when  Mrs.  Burford  was 
a  young  lady  of  15  years.  The  parental  family  at 
that  time  consisted  of  six  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Burford  was  the  third.  Her  parents  on  coming  to 
this  county  purchased  a  partly  improved  farm  of  250 
acres,  upon  which  they  continued  to  reside  until 
their  death,  the  demise  of  the  former  occurring  Jan. 
17,  1882,  while  in  his  82d  year,  and  that  of  the  lat- 
ter Feb.  14,  187  r,  in  her  7  rst  year,  both  parents  hav- 
ing been  born  in  the  first  year  of  the  present  century. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burford  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  deceased.  Anna  J.  became 
the  wife  of  George  Williams,  to  whom  she  bore  two 
children,  and  departed  this  life  in  Monmouth  Town- 
ship, in  February,  1884.  Mr.  Williams  at  present 
resides  in  Columbus,  Kansas,  his  daughters,  Stella 
and  Maggie  B.,  living  with  their  grandparents.  Park 
M.,  their  first  born  son,  lives  on  the  homestead, 
which  he  assists  in  cultivating.  William  R.  am! 
Frank  A.  are  also  living  at  home.  The  fifth  child 
died  in  infancy.  Upon  their  union  Mr.  Burford  and 
his  wife  settled  on  the  old  Kend.ill  homestead,  in 
this  county.  Our  subject  first  became  a  landed  pro- 
prietor in  1870,  and  he  has  since  added  to  his  orig- 
inal purchase  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  450  acres, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


all  lying  in  the  township  of  Monmouth  and  under  an 
advanced  state  of  cultivation.  There  are  two  good 
residences  on  the  place  and  the  farm  is  divided  into 
three  parts,  each  of  which  is  well  improved.  Mr. 
Burford,  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his  large 
farm,  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  Nor- 
man horses  and  other  stock  of  high  grades.  He  is 
at  present  Commissioner  of  Highways,  which  office 
he  has  held  consecutively  for  15  years.  He  has  also 
held  the  position  of  Assistant  Supervisor,  and  in  pol- 
itics votes  with  and  advocates  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Uni- 
ted Presbyterian  Church,  at  Gerlaw,  in  this  county. 
We  present  a  view  of  the  fine  home  of  Mr.  Burford 
on  another  page. 


)iss  Desire  E.  Mather,  a   retired    school 
teacher,  residing  in  Greenbush,  was  born 
July   23,  1810,  in   Brownsville,   Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.     She  acquired  a  good  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  her  native  State;   ma- 
triculated at  Belleville  College  and  followed  the 
entire   curriculum  of  that  college  from   which    she 
graduated  with  honors. 

From  her  native  State,  Miss  Mather  moved  to 
Ohio,  where,  in  the  vicinity  of  Sandusky,  at  the  early 
age  of  14  years,  she  first  began  the  profession  which 
she  followed  for  so  many  years  and  with  such  suc- 
cess. For  1 6  years  she  taught  in  that  section  of 
Ohio,  and  then  removed  to  Illinois,  coming  to  Green- 
bush,  this  county,  Sept.  8,  1850,  where  she  taught 
nine  terms  of  school.  She  then  went  to  Polk  City, 
Polk  Co.,  Iowa,  and  there  taught  three  terms.  In 
fact,  Miss  Mather  has  spent  her  life  time  in  the  in- 
terest of  education  and  as  late  as  1863  followed  her 
profession,  two  miles  west  of  Greenbush. 

Miss  Mather  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  old  and 
highly  respected  Mather  family  of  the  city  of  London, 
out  of  which  sprang  the  Mathers  famous  in  the  e;irly 
history  of  this  country.  Rev.  Richard  Mather,  who 
was  born  in  1596,  in  Lowton,  Lancastershire,  England, 
and  whose  old  residence  in  that  ancient  town  still  re- 
mains intact,  was  the  first  of  the  name  to  emigrate  to 
America,  coming  to  Boston  in  the  ship  "  James,"  in 


1635.  Timothy,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Mather, 
had  a  son,  Arthur,  who  in  turn  had  a  son  named 
Richard,  who  was  the  father  of  Cotton  Mather,  of  the 
seventh  generation,  who  died  at  Bridgewater,  where 
his  son,  Horace  Mather,  who  was  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  notice,  Miss  Desire  Mather,  was  born 
in  1775. 

Horace  Mather  was  first  married  in  1803,  to  Miss 
Desire  Emerson,  who,  in  1807,  passed  to  the  land  of 
the  hereafter.  Mr.  Horace  Mather  was  again  mar- 
ried, Oct.  i,  1809,  to  Miss  Hulda  Smith,  of  Sackett's 
Harbor.  She  was  born  in  February,  1786,  and  died 
of  quick  consumption  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  in  1836. 
Mr.  Mather  died  Aug.  2,  18215.  Of  his  two  marri- 
ages, the  following  named  children  were  born : 
Thomas  M.,  Feb.  2,  1804;  Horace  S.,  July  22, 1805  ; 
Zylla,  May  4,  1807,  died  May  6,  1807  ;  Desire  E., 
born  July  23,  1810;  Charles  W.,  June  4,  1812  ;  Min- 
erva, July  25,  1814,  died,  aged  19  months;  Jane, 
born  March  i,  1816;  Hulda,  April  3,  1818;  Sylvia 
M.,  Jan.  29,  1820;  Dr.  David  C.,  April  3,  1823; 
Sarah  Ann,  Aug.  2,  1824,  died  Nov.  4,  1846.  Mr. 
Horace  Mather  was  a  man  of  very  superior  mental 
capacity,  and,  though  a  farmer  by  occupation,  during 
the  last  ten  years  of  life  he  filled  several  offices  of 
public  trust  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  community  at  large.  There  was 
universal  mourning  throughout  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y., 
at  his  death. 


Clement  Pierce,  who  is  retired  from  active 
mercantile  pursuits  and  a  pioneer  of  the 
county,  is  a  resident  of  Roseville,  at  which 
place  he  was  engaged  as  a  merchant  for  some 
years.  He  was  born  in  Poultney,  Rutland 
Co.,  Vt.  Sept.  24,  1813.  Amos  and  Mary 
(Sandford)  Pierce,  his  parents,  were  also  natives  of 
the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  came  to  Ohio  from 
Vermont,  in  1823,  and  remained  there  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1834.  He  then  came  to 
this  State  and  purchased  with  his  son,  the  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  personal  sketch,  160  acres  of 
land  in  Greenbush  Township,  Warren  County,  upon 
which  he  remained,  engaged  in  its  cultivation  and 
improvement  for  nearly  three  years.  He  then  re- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


383 


turned  to  Ohio,  and  brought  his  wife  and  family 
to  this  State.  They  settled  upon  the  farm  which  he 
had  began  so  hard  and  industriously  to  cultivate. 
Here  he  remained  farming  and  also  blacksmithing 
until  1864.  The  death  of  the  father  occurred  July 
20,  1872,  and  that  of  the  mother  Sept.  30,  1845. 

Clement  remained  with  his  parents  until  1834, 
and  received  a  common-shool  education  while  under 
the  parental  roof-tree,  also  assisted  his  parents  in 
the  duties  of  the  farm.  Then  leaving  home,  he  came 
to  Illinois  and  in  September,  1834,  settled  upon  a 
tract  of  land  adjoining  that  he  and  his  father  had 
purchased.  Here  he  remained  improving  the  farm 
and  engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  March,  1845, 
when  he  purchased  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 35,  Roseville  Township,  and  moved  upon  it. 
Here  he  followed  farming  and  stock-raising  until 
June,  1864,  when  he  moved  into  the,  then,  little  ham- 
Jet  of  Roseville.  Here  he,  in  company  with  Dr. 
Ragon,  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business,  in 
which  they  continued  for  a  period  of  two  years,  when 
Mr.  Pierce,  the  gentleman  of  this  notice,  bought  out 
the  Doctor  and  conducted  the  business  himself  for 
••  about  seven  years,  when  he  sold  out.  At  that  time, 
1873,  he  retired  from  active  labors,  having  been  suc- 
cessful, the  result  of  an  energetic  and  progressive  life, 
•  which  enabled  him  to  have  a  sufficiency  laid  aside 
to  provide  for  himself  and  family  in  their  old  age. 
Mr.  Pierce  has  held  several  offices  within  the  gift  of, 
the  people,  for  instance,  in  1872,  he  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  held  that  position  until 
1885,  and  besides  has  served  in  the  office  of  City 
Council  and  School  Director.  He  is  the  owner  of 
500  acres  of  land  which  is  in  excellent  condition  and 
very  valuable.  He  also  owns  the  Pierce  Block  and 
several  houses  at  Roseville. 

Mr.  Pierce  and  Miss  Nancy  Farr  were  united  in 
marriage,  in  the  year  1834,  she  being  a  native  of 
Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.  Of  their  union  five  children  have 
been  born,  all  living  but  one, — Mary  M.,  born  Aug. 
2,1835;  Laura  A.,  Jan.  26,  1837;  Amos,  Dec.  10, 
1843;  and  Phebe  J.,  Oct.  to,  1845;  Zacharia  T., 
born  April  23,  1848,  died  Sept.  23,  1860.  Laura  A. 
married  Alexander  Bramhall,  and  resides  in  Rose- 
ville Village,  and  their  family  consists  of  seven  chil- 
dren— Nancy  E.,  Mary  E.,  Amos  E.,  Levi  A.,  Linnia 
B.,  Emma  and  Charles  VV.  Amos,  the  only  son  of 
our  subject,  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Baer,  and  they 
reside  in  Belleville,  Kan.,  and  have  two  sons — Har- 


ley  L.  and  George  C.  Phebe  J.,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter married  Thomas  J.  Newbern,  and  they  are 
residents  of  Wayne,  Kan.  Of  their  union  eight  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  namely  :  Mary,  Effa  J.,  Thomas 
M.,LilliaN.,  Phebe  G.,  Nancy  M.,  Archie  C.  and 
Pearly. 

Mr.  Clement  Pierce  has  five  great-grandchildren. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  religiously,  be- 
longs to  the  Universalist  Church.  He  is  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Warren  County  as  well  as  substan- 
tial and  solid  men. 


W.   Huston,  a  successful  farmer,  owning 
160  acres  of  land,  located  on  section    23, 
Tompkins  Township,  where  he  resides  and 
is  engaged  in  following  the  vocation  of  an  ag- 
riculturist, was    born  April  25,  1830,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, his  parents  being  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Weakley)  Huston,  natives  of  that  State. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Huston  of  this  notice  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  followed  his  chosen  voca- 
tion in  Pennsylvania  until  his  death.  His  son,  S. 
W.,  of  whom  we  write,  was  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  until  he  became  23  years  of  age,  having 
in  the  meantime  acquired  a  fair  education  in  the 
common  schools. 

After  leaving  home,  Mr.  Huston,  October  12, 
1853,  came  to  this  State  and  settled  in  Hale  Town- 
ship, arriving  in  Monmouth  on  the  evening  of  Oct. 
12,  1853.  Purchasing  80  acres  of  land,  he  .moved 
his  family  on  the  land  and  continued  to  cultivate  it 
until  1865,  when  he  sold  the  property  and  made  an- 
other purchase,  this  time  locating  in  Tompkins 
Township,  on  120  acres  on  sections  23  and  24.  This 
he  continued  to  cultivate  until  he  made  his  residence 
upon  the  160  acres  on  section  23,  which  he  now 
occupies  as  a  homestead.  The  occupation  of  his 
life  has  been  that  of  an  agriculturist,  and  by  ener- 
getically following  the  same  he  has  met  with  that 
success  which  a  life  of  labor  and  energy  are  so  sure 
to  bring. 

Mr.  Huston  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  E.  Woods,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1856, 
and  their  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 


384 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


three  children  (slill  living),  whose  names  are  Carrie 
S.,  James  W.  and  Robert  W.  Mr.  Huston  in  his 
political  views  coincides  with  the  principles  advocated 
by  the  Democratic  party.  In  religion,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


ames  P.  Firoved.  Every  village  and  city 
(•?  has  its  live,  go-ahead  and  enterprising  men, 
those  who  do  more  than  all  others  towards 
building  up  and  firmly  securing  the  pros- 
perity of  the  place.  Distinguished  among 
those  is  Mr.  Firoved,  of  Kirkwood,  who,  be- 
sides being  interested  in  various  other  enterprises, 
is  also  engaged  as  a  farmer  and  stock-dealer.  He 
was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  His  parents, 
Simon  and  Isabella  (Sprout)  Firoved,  were  also 
natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  were  living  there 
at  the  time  of  James'  birth,  which  occurred  Nov.  13, 
1843.  In  '853,  the  family  moved  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  from  there  to  Bloomingtor.,  111.,  and  in  1856  lo- 
cated in  Monmouth.  They  soon  secured  160  acres 
of  land  in  Hale  Township,  where  they  removed 
and  remained  for  seven  years,  when  the  elder  Firoved 
retired  from  active  labors  and  removed  into  the  city 
of  Monmouth.  He  has  since  lived  there  and  is  a 
highly  respected  and  venerable  old  gentleman  of  75 
years  of  age.  His  ancestors  came  from  Prussia  and 
settled  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  over  120  years  ago.  His 
father  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  with  an 
elder  brother,  who  was  wounded  at  Lundy's  Lane. 

James  P.  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois  and 
remained  with  them  until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  re- 
ceiving a  liberal  education.  His  first  business  enter- 
prise, after  leaving  home,  was  to  engage  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Monmouth.  He  subsequently 
moved  to  Rock  Island  and  later  came  to  Kirkwood, 
where  he  entered  into  the  boot  and  shoe,  l.at  and 
cap,  and  general  furnishing  goods  business,  carrying 
also  a  line  of  books  and  stationery.  For  ten  years 
he  remained  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  this 
part  of  the  county.  He  then  sold  out  and  engaged 
in  the  stock  business,  feeding  and  shipping  stock  ex- 
tensively. He  also  purchased  330  acres  of  land, 
lying  near  the  village  of  Kirkwood,  and  engaged  in 


farming.  This  highly  improved  farm  is  very  valu- 
able, lying  as  it  does  so  near  Kirkwood,  and  also 
contiguous  to  the  city  of  Monmouth.  Besides  this 
property,  he  also  owns  a  half  interest  in  the  Tre- 
niont  House  at  Kirkwood,  in  company  with  W.  K. 
Gamble;  owns  an  interest  in  the  Kirkwood  Mineral 
Spring  Company,  of  which  he  is -Vice-President ;  and 
has  been  a  stock-holder  and  one  of  the  directors  in 
the  First  National  Bank,  at  Kirkwood,  ever  since  its 
organization.  He  has  also  favored  every  enterprise 
that  had  for  its  object  the  welfare  of  the  community 
and  the  building  up  of  his  town.  It  is  certainly  a 
blessing  to  any  community  to  have  in  its  midst  such 
men  who  have  also  the  inclination  as  well  as  the 
ability  to  work  for  the  interests  and  welfare  of  the 
entire  people.  He  has  served  the  village  in  differ- 
ent official  positions,  always  giving  eminent  satisfac- 
tion. Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and,  socially,  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
Jan.  25,  1869,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Firoved  and 
Miss  Mattie  J.  Woods  occurred.  Mis9»Woods  was 
the  daughter  of  David  and  Nancy  (Ayres)  Woods, 
natives  of  Indiana,  born  of  parents  who  were  natives 
of  Kentucky.  They  were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Henderson  County,  and  prominent  and  representa- 
tive people  of  that  part  of  the  State.  Mrs.  Firoved 
was  born  Nov.  13,  1849,  and  has  become  the  mother 
of  two  children — M.  Mabel,  born  Nov.  n,  1869; 
and  James  Ralph,  Nov.  22,  1881. 


|£ugh  R.  Thomson,  one  of  the  successful 
farmers  of  Tompkins  Township,  this  county, 
residing  on  section  13,  and  a  gentleman 
possessing  more  than  ordinary  push,  tact  and 
energy  in  his  vocation,  was  born  in  Ohio,  Nov. 
22,  1838.  His  parents  were  John  and  Rachel 
(Francis)  Thomson,  natives  of  Ohio,  who  came  to 
this  State  in  1867,  and  settled  in  Warren  County, 
where  his  father  purchased  1 60  acres  of  good  farm 
land,  on  which  he  is  at  present  residing,  leading  the 
contented  life  of  an  agriculturist. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this  sketch,  remained  with  his  parents  until 
1862,  receiving  at  their  hands  a  good  common-school 
education.  During  that  year  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H 


f 


lp»l 


•"•"•* 


4- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


387 


1 26th  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.  With  his  Company  he  went 
through  the  entire  "  Campaign  of  the  Wilderness," 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Shenandoah  Valley, 
under  Gen.  Sheridan,  and  in  the  siege  of  Petersburg. 
He  was  once  struck  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell  and 
although  numerous  shots  penetrated  his  clothing,  he 
came  out  of  the  war  without  any  serious  wounds,  af- 
ter having  served  three  years,  lacking  two  months. 
After  receiving  an  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  Thom- 
son returned  home,  and  in  1866  came  to  this  State 
and  taught  school  at  Biggsville,  Henderson  County, 
after  which  he  was  employed  in  the  Circuit  Clerk's 
office  at  Oquawka.  Prior  to  teaching  school,  he  had 
purchased  an  undivided  half  interest  of  160  acres  of 
land,  located  on  section  13,  Tompkins  Township, 
this  county,  and  in  1881  he  purchased  the  remaining 
half  of  the  same  quarter,  which  constitutes  the 
farm  upon  which  he  to-day  resides,  and  where  he 
has  been  successfully  engaged  as  an  agriculturist 
since  locating  thereon. 

Mr.    Thomson   and    Miss    Sarah   J.    McNary,  a 

native  of  Ohio,  were  united  in  marriage  in    1867. 

She  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Maxwell) 

.-  McNary,  and  bore  her  husband  one  child,  Jessie  L. 

'  The  wife  and  mother  died  Feb.  2,  1882. 

Mr.  Thomson  votes  with  the  Republican  party. 
-  His  religious  views  coincide  with  the  tenets  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  denomi- 
nation, at  Kirkwood,  he  belongs  and  is  one  of  its 
Elders.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner three  years  and  is  rightly  regarded  as  one  of 
the  energetic  and  respected  citizens  of  Tompkins 
Township. 


I  homas  H.  Rice,  a  retired  farmer  and  resi- 
dent of  Monmouth,  was  born  in  Greenup 
County,  Ky.,  Oct.  14,  1810.  He  was  "de- 
scended from  a  Welsh  family,  and  the  first  an- 
cestor upon  this  continent  was  named  Thomas. 
He  was  a  wealthy  gentleman,  and  returned 
to  England  in  a  few  years  for  the  purpose  of  collect- 
ing his  property,  but  was  never  again  heard  of. 
Thomas  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  son  of 
James  and  Ann  (Hopkins)  Rice,  who  reared  five 
sons  and  one  daughter.  James  Rice  was  born  in 


Rockingham  County,  Va.,  and  removed  to  Greenup 
County  in  1807.  He  was  drowned  while  boating  on 
the  Ohio  River,  in  1814.  His  wife  was  of  Scotch 
ancestry  and  was  born  in  the  above  county.  Two  of 
Mr.  Rice's  uncles,  Thomas  and  John  Hopkins,  served 
in  the  War  of  1812,  while  Robert  Snead,  his  wife's 
father,  defended  the  colonies  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Thomas  H.  was  the  fifth  child  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  family  of  six  children  born  to  his  parents, 
and  was  brought  up  to  farming  and  came  to  Warren 
County  in  1835.  The  land  upon  which  he  located 
was  afterward  set  off  to  Henderson  County,  and  he 
resided  there  up  to  his  coming  to  Monmouth,  in 
1866. 

Mr.  R.  was  married  in  Henderson  County,  April 
12,  1849,  to  Mrs.  Mary  I.  Ellett,  a  native  of  Hanover 
County,  Va.,  where  she  was  born,  April  15,  1814. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Snead,  and  she  died  at  her 
home  in  Monmouth,  Feb.  3,  1883,  of  apoplexy.  The 
morning  following  her  death,  a  local  paper  published 
the  following: 

"  Mary  I.  Rice  was  born  April  14,  1814,  near  Rich- 
mond, Va.  She  married  Mr.  Thomas  Ellett  in  1834, 
and  moved  to  this  county  in  1836,  boarding,  on  their 
arrival,  at  the  old  house  of  Aunt  Betty  McNeil,  on 
East  Broadway,  where  now  stands  the  residence  of 
John  Carr,  Esq.  Afterward  they  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  the  building  now  known  as  Cowan's  black- 
smith shop,  on  West  Broadway.  The  family  lived  in 
Monmouth  only  a  short  time,  taking  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Henderson  County.  Mr.  Ellett  dying,  his 
widow  married  Mr.  Thomas  Rice  on  April  12,  1849. 
About  19  years  ago,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  moved  to 
Monmouth,  where  they  have  since  resided.  Of  the 
first  union,  the  deceased  mother  leaves  four  children 
—  one  son,  Virginius  C.,  living  in  Denver,  Col.; 
Thomas  F.  Ellett,  of  Red  Oak,  Iowa;  Edwin  H.  El- 
lett, of  Chicago;  and  Mrs.  Sophia  Mills,  of  Rosetta, 
111.  Those  named,  excepting  the  first,  were  present 
to  attend  the  funeral.  Of  the  second  union,  the  hus- 
band and  two  children  remain,  Mr.  William  A.  Rice, 
banker  at  Rockport,  Mo.,  and  Miss  Annie,  at  home. 
The  deceased  was  a  communicant  in  the  Baptist 
Church  since  1832."  The  funeral  services  were  con- 
ducted from  the  first  Baptist  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  had  born  to  them  five  children 
— James  Albert,  born  Jan.  7,  1850,  died  June  i, 
1856  ;  William  A.,  born  Dec.  13,  185 1,  died  at  Rock- 
port,  Mo.,  where  he  was  a  bank  cashier,  Dec.  5, 


1 


388 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


f> 


1883;  Annie  and  Minnie  were  born  July  5,  1856, 
and  the  latter  died  June  5,  1864;  Jessie  Jane  was 
born  July  5,  1858,  and  died  May  7,  1859.  Mr.  R. 
was  for  several  years  engaged  in  the  fruit  and  nur- 
sery business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  since  the  demise  of  the  old  Whig  party, 
has  been  a  Republican.  He  has  always  been  noted 
for  his  generosity,  his  integrity  and  an  unerring  de- 
votion to  the  best  interests  of  society,  and  as  one  of 
the  truly  representative  men  of  Warren  County,  the 
publishers  take  pleasure  in  presenting  his  portrait  in 
this  ALBUM,  accompanying  this  sketch. 


rs.  Flora  A.  Aylsworth,  widow  of  Dr. 
Homer  E.  Aylsworth,  residing  at  Rose- 
ville,  is  occupied  in  conducting  the  busi- 
ness left  by  her  husband.  The  latter  was 
born  Sept.  8,  1838,  in  Burlington  Green,  Otsego 
Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents  were  Perry  and  Luna 
N.  (Delong)  Aylsworth,  natives  of  Rhode  Island. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  his  fam- 
ily consisted  of  three  children, — Homer  E.,  Henry 
M.  and  Nelson  O. 

The  Aylsworths  are  of  English  and  Welsh  ances- 
try, and  came  to  America  in  the  iyth  century,  set- 
tling in  Rhode  Island,  and  from  that  State  emigrated 
to  New  York.. 

Homer  E.,  husband  of  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
lived  with  his  parents  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
1 6  years.  Previous  to  his  leaving  home  he  was  sent 
to  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y.,  where  he  acquired  a  thor- 
ough and  complete  knowledge  of  music.  He  then 
went  to  Michigan  and  was  engaged  in  teaching  vocal 
and  instrumental  music  in  that  State  for  some  time. 
In  1857  he  came  to  this  State  and  occupied  his  time 
by  teaching  school,  after  which  he  returned  East 
and  attended  the  Union  College,  at  Schenectady, 
and  in  1863,  after  following  the  entire  curriculum  of 
that  institution,  he  graduated.  He  then  returned  to 
Roseville,  this  county,  and,  under  the  instruction  of 
Dr.  Bradley,  commenced  the  study  of  medicine.  He 
was  under  Dr.  Bradley 's  instruction  for  three  years, 
during  which  time  he  attended  medical  lectures  at 
Michigan  University,  Ann  Arbor,  two  years,  and  re- 


ceived his  diploma  to  practive  medicine  from  that 
institution  in  1867.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Roseville,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  shortly  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
Jan.  30,  1885.  He  also  established  a  drug  store 
(the  first  one  in  the  village),  in  1868,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  conduct  until  his  death. 

Dr.  Aylsworth  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Flora  A.  Eldridge,  a  native  of  Stephentown,  Rensse- 
laer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  26,  1867.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Augustus  and  Maria  (Murray)  Jones,  who  were 
old  settlers  of  New  York,  and  was  born  Jan.  24, 
1845,  and  b°re  her  Irasband  three  children — Murray 
D.,  Mabel  W.  and  Ivan  S.  Since  the  death  of  her 
husband,  Mrs.  Aylsworth  has  continued  to  success- 
fully conduct  the  drug  business  which  her  husband 
had  established.  The  Doctor  in  his  political  belief 
was  a  Prohibitionist,  and  religiously  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  an  en- 
terprising man,  of  more  than  ordinary  business  abil- 
ity, and  a  respected  citizen  of  this  county.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  possessions  in  this  county,  he  was  inter- 
ested in  land  in  Dakota,  having  purchased  640  acres 
in  Clark  County  (now  a  part  of  Day  County),  located 
on  what  is  called  Aylsworth  Lake.  The  Doctor  left 
a  fine  home  at  Roseville,  costing  about  $4,000,  in 
which  his  wife  and  children  reside.  Prior  to  his 
death  he  was  engaged  in  compiling  a  biographical 
history  of  the  Aylsworth  family,  the  completion  of 
which,  however,  was  prevented  by  his  demise. 


horaas  M.  Hess,  M.  D.,  a  practicing  physi- 
cian residing  in  Berwick  village,  and  a 
graduate  of  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago, 
was  born  in  New  Albany,  Ind.,  Sept.  22,  1819. 
Dr.  Hess  read  medicine  in  Westfield,  Clark 
I  Co.,  111.,  with  Drs.  Moore  and  Briscoe,  and 
then  with  Dr.  Freeman.  He  entered  Stirling  Col- 
lege at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  then  settled  in  Homer, 
Champaign  County,  and  practiced  there  for  26 
years. 

The  first  marriage  of  Dr.  Hess  took  place  Jan.  24, 
1839,  to  Miss  Nancy  Button,  who  was  born  in  Preble 
Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  4,  1818.  The  Doctor  was  again 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


389 


married,  June  16,  i88r,  to  Mrs.  Martha  M.  Joyce, 
who  was  born  in  Delaware  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  28,  1843. 
Mrs.  Hess  is  the  daughter  of  Benj.  F.  Allen,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  who  was  born  in  1813,  and  died  in  1865, 
in  Maquon,  this  State.  He  was  a  stock-raiser  by  oc- 
cupation, and  married  Miss  Almira  Sweetzer,  in  1831. 
She  died  in  1845,  in  Delaware  Co.,  Ohio,  after  hav- 
ing borne  her  husband  six  children,  who  were  named 
Sarah  E.,  Ethan,  Benton,  Mary  D.,  Silas  W.  and 
Martha. 

Dr.  Hess  located  in  Berwick  village  in  1881,  and 
has  continued  to  follow  his  profession  there  until  the 
present  time.  He  is  the  father  of  nine  children 
— Apollos,  born  Feb.  17,  1840;  William  H.,  Jan.  n, 
1842;  Smith  H.,  Feb.  10,  1844;  Theodore,  Dec.  23, 
1851,  a  twin  brother  to  Ferdinand,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Allie  Belle,  Dec.  19,  1853;  Theophilus  M., 
Nov.  22,  1857.  The  above  children  were  by  the  first 
marriage  of  Dr.  Hess,  to  Miss  Nancy  Button.  Of 
his  second  union,  namely,  with  Mrs.  Joyce,  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  born:  Theo  Leota,  March  23, 
1883;  TheolaM.,  Jan.  14,  1885.  Three  of  the  above 
named  are  physicians,  namely,  William  H.,  Apollos 
and  Smith  H. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  has  preached  in  the  same  for  nearly  40  years. 
His  wife  is  also  a  member  of  the  same  denomination. 
The  Doctor  joined  the  Order  of  Masonry  in  1854, 
and  was  a  charter  member  of  Homer  Lodge,  No.  199. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Douglas  Democrat  and  has  always 
voted  that  ticket.  In  1879  he  occupied  the  pulpit  for 
some  four  or  five  meetings  in  the  Christian  Church  on 
Western  Avenue,  Chicago. 


[ndrew  Jackson  Ritchey  is  one  of  the  solid 
farmers  of  the  township  of  Spring  Grove, 
where    he  is    the   owner  of  a   fine     farm, 
containing    450    acres    of   excellent  land, 
all  of  which  is  in  the  best  possible  condition 
for  the  purpose  to  which  the  owner  has  de- 
voted it  since  it  became  his  property.    See  page  368. 
Mr.  Ritchey  is  a  settler  in  Warren  County  of  1854. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  was  born 
in  Decatur  County,  May  17,  1833.     He  is  the  son  of 


William  and  Martha  (Myers)  Ritchey,  who  were  na- 
tives respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  They 
were  pioneers  in  the  county,  in  which  their  son  was 
born,  and  the  father  was  the  owner  of  a  farm  there 
which  he  had  cleared  from  a  heavy  growth  of  tim- 
ber, it  being  at  the  time  of  its  purchase  in  its  native 
state.  The  senior  Ritchey  and  his  family  were  the 
occupants  of  the  farm  in  Indiana  until  1858.  In  that 
year  they  came  to  Warren  County  and  located  in  the 
township  of  Spring  Grove.  A  few  years  later  the  fa- 
ther and  mother  removed  to  Mercer  County  and  there 
were  resident  for  the  period  of  one  year.  They  went 
thence  to  Livingston  County,  and  from  there  to  Butler 
Co.,  Missouri.  There  the  father  died,  in  1875,  the 
widow  returning  to  Fairbury,  Livingston  Co.,  111., 
where  she  died,  Feb.  22,  1884.  The  family  in- 
cluded 12  children.  Mr.  Ritchey  was  the  second 
son.  He  was  reared  under  the  care  of  his  parents 
and  obtained  such  education  as  was  possible  in  the 
public  schools. 

In  1854  he  severed  the  ties  between  himself  and  •> 
his  boyhood's  home  and  associations  and  came  to 
Illinois  to  seek  an  opportunity  to  make  his  own  way  | 
in  the  world  unaided.  He  located  in  Warren  County  « 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  the  capacity  of  an  assist-  j 
ant  in  the  employ  of  his  uncle,  George  Myers.     He 
remained  with  him  18  months,  or  thereabouts.     In  J 
1855  he  bought  75  acres  of  unimproved  land  on  sec- 
tion 2,  of  Spring  Grove  Township,  for  which  he  paid 
at  the  rate  of  $6  per  acre.  In  the  succeeding  winter 
he  built  a  frame  house,  for  which  he  procured  the 
lumber  at  Oquawka.     In  March,  1856,  he  took  pos- 
session of  his  farm  and  new  house  and  prepared  to 
enter  at  once  upon  the  work  of  improving  the  place 
according  to  his   own  plans  and  ideas.       He  was 
prosperous  in  all  his  undertakings  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  the  fine  acreage  that  has  been  mentioned. 
Mr.  Ritchey  is  occupied  in  the  duties  of  mixed  hus- 
bandry and  devotes  much  attention  to  the  rearing  of 
stock  for  market.     He  exhibits  some  fine  specimens 
of  Durham  cattle  and   full-blooded    Poland-China 
swine.     In  political  persuasion  he  is  a  Democrat. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ritchey  and  Miss  Mary 
Lowe  took  place  Sept.  13,  1855.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  Lowe.  Her  father 
was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  her  mother  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Ritchey  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Pa.,  March  2,  1839.  They  are  the  parents 
of  seven  children.  Their  oldest  child,  John  William, 


i  i 


f 

-H- 


390 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


died  at  the  age  of  four  and  one-half  years.  He  was 
born  Sept.  12,  1856,  and  died  May  10,  1861.  Charles 
was  born  June,  i,  1858,  and  died  May  23,  1861. 
Sarah  F.,  born  Sept.  15,  1869,  died  May  9,  1861. 
The  parents  were  thus  bereft  of  three  children  in  the 
space  of  14  days,  their  deaths  occurring  from  a  com- 
bination of  measles  and  typhoid  fever.  Ida  is  the 
wife  of  William  W.  Rowe.  They  reside  on  a  portion 
of  the  old  homestead  in  the  township  in  which  her 
parents  reside.  Emma  —  married  Sept.  23,  1885, 
They  are  also  farming  on  section  12,  in  this  town- 
ship. Harry  and  Jessie  are  the  names  of  the  young- 
er of  the  surviving  children.  They  reside  at  home 
with  their  parents.  The  father  and  the  mother  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  Alexis. 


^sahel  D.  B.  Sisson,  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners (considering  his  acreage  in  Iowa) 
in  Swan  Township,  where   he   resides   on 
.,„,_    section  29,  was  born  in  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
>      JK      2,  1813.     He   is  a  son  of  Joseph  Sisson,  born 
in  Rhode  Island,  Oct.   20,  1789.     The  father 
came  to  this  State  in  1837,  and  here  resided,  engaged 
in  farming,  until  the  date  of  his  death,   June   12, 
1851.     He  was  married  to  Floretta  Frisbee,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1812.     She  died  in  1882,  in  Iowa,  in  her  92d 
year.     Of  their  union  ten  children  were  born — Asa- 
hel  D.  B.,  Cyrus  F.,  Emeline,  Rufus  K.,  Ann,  Augus- 
tine W.,  Marcus  F.,  Andrew  J.,  Mary  E.  and  Martin. 
The  latter  died  in  Henderson  County,  at  the  age  of 
five  years. 

Asahel  D.  B.  Sisson  came  to  Swan  Township  in 
1836,  being  attracted  hither  by  an  acquaintance. 
He  had  been  raised  on  a  farm,  and  before  leaving 
his  native  State  had  been  teaching  a  winter  school 
for  some  time.  After  his  arrival  here  he  became  the 
pedagogue  of  the  first  school  established  in  the  town- 
ship, giving  his  own  labor  also  in  the  erection  of  the 
building  in  which  he  was  to  instruct  the  youthful 
mind.  The  old  log  school-house  stood  on  section 
17.  The  next  winter  he  went  to  Greenbush  Town- 
ship and  taught  a  school  for  12  months.  He  con- 
tinued school  teaching,  at  different  times  for  about 
ii  years.  In  1838,  he  and  his  brother  Cyrus  bought 
a  half-section  of  unimproved  land  (one-quarter  of 
which  was  in  timber)  on  section  29,  but  no  building 
,  ' —  •  '. 


was  erected  upon  it  until  1841,  in  which  year  he  was 
married.  In  the  meantime  he  resided  with  his 
father,  who  had  removed  here  with  his  entire  family 
in  1837. 

Mr.  Sisson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Henrietta  Scott,  Aug.  22,  1841.  She  was  born 
in  1819,  in  the  State  of  Kentucky,  her  father  being 
Peter  Scott.  He  was  born  in  1795,  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  married  Miss  Nancy  Russell  in  1814; 
came  to  this  State  in  1824,  and  first  located  in  Taze- 
well  County.  His  wife  was  born  Dec.  10,  1793,  in 
Virginia,  and  died  in  California,  in  1875.  He  died 
in  Oregon,  in  1849.  They  had  six  children — James, 
Artemesia,  Henrietta,  Lemuel,  Norman  and  Lawson, 
all  of  whom  are  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sisson  of  whom  we  write,  had  but 
one  child — Lovina  C.  Sisson,  who  was  born  April 
10,  1843,  and  died  July  7,  1879.  She  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  A.  A.  Cornell,  Oct  16,  1864,  and  of  their 
union  there  was  no  issue.  Mr.  A.  A.  Cornell  was 
born  March  4,  1836,  came  to  this  State  in  September,' 
1857,  and  is  yet  living  here. 

Mr.  Sisson  devotes  his  time  exclusively  to  agri-j 
cultural  pursuits.  He  has  280  acres  of  good  land  in  _' 
Swan  Township,  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultiva-i 
tion,  and  is  also  the  owner  of  5 40  acres  in  Iowa.: 
He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years,  and  the  first- 
Treasurer  of  Swan  Township. 

Mr.  Sisson  voted  with  the  Republican  party  until 
1876,  when  he  joined  the  Greenback  party,  and 
since  that  time  has  continued  to  vote  with  and  work 
for  the  principles  it  advocates. 


H.  Sexton,  County  Clerk  of  Warren  Co., 
111.,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  where  it 
,,  appears  he  was  born  in  1837.  Of  his  pa- 
v  rentage  the  biographer  is  unable  to  write,  as 
like  the  exact  date  of  his  birth,  the  informa- 
tion upon  that  score  is  not  at  hand.  Shakes- 
peare says  something  about  some  men  being  "  born 
great;  some  achieving  greatness,  and  some  having 
greatness  thrust  upon  them."  It  would  be  hardly 
correct  to  paraphrase  by  saying  that  "  some  are  born 
to  office  ;  some  achieve  office,  and  others  have  office 
thrust  upon  them; "  for  an  encyclopedia  of  American 


•  - 


OLD    ROCKWELL  MILL. ON     CEDAR    C  ff  EEK.  £  RECTED    1837 


ESIDENCE  AND  MILL  PROPERTY  OF  A.  H.  ROCKWELL/SEC. 35.SUMNER  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OFMRS.ANNAC.SYKES.SEC.S.  MONMOUTH TOWNSHIP. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


393 


office-holding  would  plainly,  if  honestly  compiled, 
teach  that  the  second  proposition  only  bore  upon 
truth.  But  to  say  that  some  men  are  born  to  "  soft 
things;  "some  achieve  "soft  things"  and  others 
have  "  soft  things  "  thrust  upon  them,  would  seem  to 
be  very  nearly  borne  out  by  the  record. 

Mr.  Sexton  entered  the  army  of  the  United  States 
in  the  late  war  as  a  Quartermaster  Sergeant ;  from 
this  not  very  hazardous  position,  he  rose  in  due  time  to 
Quartermaster  of  the  regiment;  from  this  position  he 
left  the  army  at  the  close  of  the  war  and  came  into 
Warren  County  to  take  charge  of  the  office  of  City 
Clerk  of  Monmouth.  From  City  Clerk  he  rose  tb 
Deputy  Circuit  Clerk,  and  from  that  again  to  Deputy 
County  Clerk  and  finally  to  County  Clerk.  This 
office  he  has  held  on  to  with  great  skill ;  and  as  Mr. 
Sexton  has  not  said  anything  about  abandoning  the 
office,  there  appears  to  be  very  healthy  indications 
that  the  good  people  of  Warren  County  need  not 
have  their  best  office  become  unoccupied  for  want  of 
a  competent  office-holder,  for  at  least  some  consider- 
able time.  We  regret  that  we  are  unable  to  say 
more  of  Mr.  S.,  but  the  truth  is  he  has  been  so  busy 
serving  the  people  by  holding  their  offices,  and  in- 
deed holding  them  with  a  skill  that  approaches  the 
professional — that  he  has  had  no  time  for  compiling 
data  for  the  historian. 


^apt.  Alfred  H.  Rockwell,  a  resident  on 
section  35  in  the  township  of  Sumner,  is 
the  son  of  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
the  county,  having  come  hither  in  1832  with 
his  parents.  Lovett  P.  Rockwell,  his  father, 
was  born  in  Connecticut,  Jan.  31,  1798. 
Joshua  Rockwell,  who  was  the  grandfather  of  Mr. 
Rockwell  of  this  narrative,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
State  and  was  born  Aug.  19,  1774.  The  former 
married  Nabbie  Partridge,  who  was  born  Feb.  27, 
1775.  They  left  the  land  of  "  wooden  nutmegs  "  for 
Ohio  soon  after  the  War  of  1812,  and  located  in 
Ashtabula  County.  They  were  members  of  the 
pioneer  element  of  the  Buckeye  State  and  there  the 
mother  died,  Aug.  10,  1843.  The  son,  Lovett,  had 
come  to  Warren  County  in  1832,  and  after  the  death 


of  his  wife  he  joined  his  children  in  Illinois.  His 
life  terminated  in  Sumner  Township,  Aug.  25,  1866. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Rockwell  was  a  very  young  man 
when  his  parents  went  to  Ohio.  He  was  married  in 
Ashtabula  County,  Dec.  19,  1819,  to  Mary  E.  John- 
son, a  native  of  the  State  of  New  Yoak.  She  was 
born  in  Medina  in  that  State,  Nov.  23,  1803.  Until 
1831  the  senior  Rockwell  was  variously  occupied  in 
Ohio.  In  that  year  he  made  a  journey  to  Warren 
County  on  a  prospecting  tour.  He  was  satisfied 
with  the  apparent  prospects  and  bought  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  25  in  township  12.  The 
troubles  that  culminated  in  the  Black  Hawk  War 
were  felt  in  this  county,  and  the  terrified  settlers  had 
built  a  fort  and  block-house  for  mutual  protection  in 
what  was  afterward  Sumner  Township.  Soon  after 
securing  his  claim,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1832  sought  again  the  site  he  had  selected 
for  a  new  home,  accompanied  by  his  family.  His 
household  included  his  wife  and  three  children,  and 
they  came  by  the  river  route  to  Illinois.  They  came 
from  the  Mississippi  River  by  the  Illinois  River  to 
Fulton  County,  and  from  there  to  their  destination, 
arriving  in  June.  The  dangers  from  the  Indians 
made  it  necessary  for  them  to  move  into  the  block- 
house. The  property  Mr.  Rockwell  had  bought  was 
under  some  improvements,  and  a  saw -mill  with  an 
outfit  of  burr-stones  for  grinding  corn  had  been 
erected  on  the  place.  The  new  proprietor  improved 
the  land  of  which  he  had  become  the  possessor  and 
operated  the  mills  on  it  for  some  years.  In  1837  he 
built  a  grist-mill,  and  not  long  after  still  further  in- 
creased his  business  relations  by  opening  a  mercan- 
tile establishment  for  the  sale  of  general  merchandise, 
such  as  was  required  in  a  pioneer  community.  His 
enterprise  resulted  in  the  place  being  made  a  postal 
station  and  he  was  appointed  to  manage  its  connec- 
tions in  behalf  of  the  Government.  He  conducted 
the  affairs  of  his  several  occupations  until  failing 
health  admonished  him  that  a  change  was  impera- 
tive. The  gold  fever  afforded  a  resort  and  he  crossed 
the  plains  to  the  El  Dorado  of  the  West,  whither  he 
went  in  1850.  In  the  year  following  he  bought  a 
ranch  in  what  was  known  as  the  Napa  Valley.  He 
remained  in  California  a  few  years,  returning  in  1853. 
On  his  way  homeward  he  was  taken  sick,  and  never 
fully  recovered  from  that  illness.  He  was  well 
enough  to  resume  his  business,  which  he  did,  and 
continued  to  manage  his  interests  two  years.  In 


394 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1857  he  went  back  to  California,  but  remained  there 
only  until  the  next  year.  In  1858  he  came  back, 
but  in  no  better  health  than  when  he  went  away, 
and  he  never  again  gave  his  attention  to  business. 
His  death  occurred  May  17,  1860.  His  wife  was 
his  survivor  until  Sept.  15,  1884.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  family  of  her  son  Alfred  as  long  as  she 
lived  after  the  death  of  her  husband.  Six  of  their 
eight  children  lived  to  mature  life, — Albert  J.,  Clar- 
issa, Alfred  H.,  Maria  L.,  Sarah  A.  and  Edward  W. 
Mary  E.  and  Nancy  died  young.  Only  three  are 
now  living.  Alfred  H.  is  a  resident  on  a  part  of  the 
homestead  property.  Maria  L.  is  the  survivor  of 
her  husband — W.  W.  Still  wagon,  of  California.  Sarah 
A.  is  the  widow  of  Theodore  Hofies.  She  lives  in 
Chicago.  Edward  W.,  the^youngest  son,  was  born 
in  Sumner  Township,  Aug.  4,  1840.  He  enlisted  in 
1862  in  Co.  B,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  received  a 
fatal  wound  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  3, 
1863,  from  which  he  died  on  the  27th  of  the  same 
month. 

Mr.  Rockwell  was  in  the  first  year  of  his  life  when 
his  father  removed  to  Warren  County  with  his  family. 
He  was  born  in  1831  in  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  Until 
he  was  large  enough  to  be  useful  on  the  farm,  he 
was  a  pupil  in  the  common  schools.  After  arriving 
at  a  suitable  age,  he  acted  as  assistant  in  the  mill 
and  on  the  farm  until  he  reached  the  period  of  his 
legal  freedom — baring  the  time  he  was  in  California. 
At  the  age  of  21  his  father  made  him  a  partner  in 
his  business  relations  and  they  operated  jointly  un- 
til 1857.  He  then  leased  the  entire  property  and 
was  its  sole  manager  until  1862.  The  Civil  War 
was  then  the  engrossing  topic,  and  Mr.  Rockwell 
was  too  good  a  patriot  to  permit  the  defense  of  his 
interests  by  others  altogether,  and  in  August  of  the 
second  year  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  83d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.  He  enrolled  in  Company  I,  and  was  in 
active  service  from  that  time  until  soldiers  were  no 
longer  a  necessity  in  the  United  States.  He  served 
with  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and  was  discharged 
with  his  regiment  in  June,  1865.  On  his  return  he 
bought  the  homestead  with  his  older  brother  (since 
deceased).  The  estate  contained  720  acres,  and 
when  they  made  their  division  Mr.  Rockwell  took 
2ii  acres  on  sections  35  and  36,  including  the  grist- 
mill. He  is  still  managing  the  mill  and  farm. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Rockwell  took  place  Nov. 
15,  1854,  his  wife  being  Martha  P.  Crawford,  the 


daughter  of  James  C.  and  Esther  (Sloan)  Crawford, 
who  emigrated  from  Ohio  to  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  in 
1833 — theirs  being  the  seventh  family  to  settle  in 
that  county.  Two  years  after  they  moved  into  War- 
ren County.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Rockwell  was  born 
in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  the  mother  in  Blount 
Co.,  Tenn.,  the  marriage  of  the  parents  occurring 
Jan.  27,  i83r.  The  mother  died  May  9,  1882,  but 
the  father  is  still  living  at  this  writing  (Dec.  22,  1885) 
in  Henry  Co.,  Mo.  Mrs.  Rockwell  was  born  in 
Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  March  20,  1832,  being  only 
about  one  year  of  age  when  her  parents  removed  to 
Illinois.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rockwell  were  born  eight 
children,  of  whom  six  are  yet  living.  They  are 
named  William  Elmer,  Frank  D.,  Clara  A.,  Alma 
E.,  Mary  E.  and  J.  Lovett.  Wm.  E.  married  Miss 
Lou  Louis  and  resides  in  Omaha.  Their  other  chil- 
dren reside  at  home. 

His  wife  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church.      Mr.   Rockwell,  in  politics,  votes 
as  he  fought,  for  the   precepts  of  the   Republican  , 
party. 

An  excellent  view  of  the  old  mill  and  residence  of 
Capt.  Rockwell  is  presented  in  the  accompanying 
pages. 


H- 


S.  Douty,  a  well-to-do  and  respected  farm- 
er of  Tompkins  Township,  where  he  owns 
231  acres  of  land,  located  on  section  30. 
Here  he  resides  in  the  prosecution  of  his  voca- 
tion.    He  was  born  Feb.  16,  1832,  in  Maine. 
His  parents,  Oakesman   and  Mercy  (Coulton) 
Douty,  were  natives  of  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Douty  of  this  notice  remained  under  the  par- 
ental roof  until  he  was  16  years  of  age.  He  had  the 
misfortune  to  lose  his  father,  he  having  died  in  1844, 
and  his  mother  in  1853.  He  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  after  leaving  home  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business,  which  he  followed  for  several 
years.  In  1857  he  came  to  this  State,  and  passed 
the  winter  in  Galesburg,  Knox  County.  He  then 
rented  a  farm  in  Henderson  County,  and  for  six 
years  was  engaged  in  farming  in  that  manner,  meet- 
ing with  some  success.  In  1865  he  purchased  a, 


WARREN  COU-NTY. 


395 


farm  near  Roseville,  consisting  of  80  acres,  on  which 
he  moved  and  labored  for  one  year,  when  he  sold  it. 
At  that  time  he  purchased  80  acres  on  section  30, 
Tompkins  Township,  and  has  there  resided  ever 
since.  Soon  after  purchasing  this  land,  with  his 
family  he  located  thereon,  and,  by  hard  labor  and 
economy  on  the  part  of  both  heads  of  the  family,  he 
has  been  enabled  to  add  151  acres  to  his  original 
purchase,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  231 
acres,  where  he  lives  and  is  engaged  in  its  cultiva- 
tion and  improvement.  In  addition  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  his  land,  he  is  engaged  to  no  inconsiderable 
extent  in  stock  raising,  and  by  combining  both 
branches  of  his  avocation  in  life,  he  is  meeting  with 
success. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Douty  to  Miss  Sarah  Stewart, 
a  native  of  Clinton  Co.,  Pa.,  took  place  Sept.  19, 
1861.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Michael  and  Eliza- 
beth (Hunt)  Stewart,  who  came  to  this  State  in  1859 
and  located  in  Henderson  County,  where  they  both 
died,  her  father  in  1869,  and  her  mother  in  1865. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douty  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
— Ida  B.  and  Wilbur.  They  also  have  an  adopted 
daughter,  Eva  (Shriner)  Douty. 

In  politics.  Mr.  Douty  is  a  Republican.  He  is 
also  School  Director  of  his  district  and  one  of  the 
respected  as  well  as  representative  citizens  of  the 
township. 


lames  E.  Amos,  farmer,  residing  on  section 
n,Greenbush  Township,  was  born  in  Ver- 
million  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1833.  He  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  attained  the  age  of  21 
years,  receiving  such  advantages  as  were  ob- 
tainable at  the  common  schools,  and  assisting 
in  the  labors  in  the  cabinet  shop  and  finishing  the 
carpenter's  trade  in  Perrysville,  Ind.  His  father, 
Nathaniel  Amos,  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1802,  and  married  Miss  Jane  Evans,  in 
1824.  She  was  born  Feb.  29,  1808,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  bore  her  husband  eight  children,  viz. : 
Benjamin,  Joanna,  Kittie  J.  (deceased),  James,  Wil- 
liam and  George.  John  W.  and  an  infant  unnamed 
are  deceased. 

James  E.  Amos,  of  whom  we  write,  formed  a  mat- 


X-1- 


rimonial  alliance  with  Miss  Nancy  M.  Baughman, 
April  22,  1856.  The  Baughman  family  were  early 
settlers  in  Fulton  County,  this  State,  her  father  be- 
ing among  the  number.  She  was  born  March  21, 
1842,  and  died  May  5,  1877.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  Of  their  union  five  children 
were  born — Amanda  J.,  Nov.  3,  1857  ;  Mary  E.,  Feb. 
17,  1860;  William  F.,  Sept.  15,  1864;  Minnie  A., 
Aug.  19,  1869;  Iva  V.,  Feb.  16,  1877,  all  of  whom 
are  living. 

March  30,  1882,  Mr.  Amos  was  again  married,  to 
Mrs.  Josephine  Lloyd.  Her  first  husband's  name 
was  John  J.  Butler,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  1836,  and  died  in  1863;  they  were  married 
Dec.  29,  1860.  The  second  husband  of  Mrs.  Amos, 
James  R.  Lloyd,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1831,  and 
died  Nov.  21,  1879.  They  were  married,  Jan.  25, 
1866,  in  this  county.  Mrs.  Amos  had  two  children 
by  her  first  husband,  namely :  Mary  E.,  born  Oct. 
24,  1861,  and  Isaac  L.,  born  Jan.  16,  1863.  The 
latter  died  in  May,  same  year.  By  her  second  mar-  • 
riage,  five  children  were  born — Eliza  L.,  Nov.  28, 
1866;  died  Nov.  15,  1876;  Nellie,  born  May  3r, 
1869;  Rosa,  April  4,  1871,  and  an  unnamed  infant  •"" 
born  Feb.  4,  1875;  died  May  7,  same  year,  and 
Joseph  R.,  born  Jan.  28,  1878.  Mr.  Lloyd,  second 
husband  of  Mrs.  Amos,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  Greenbush  Township.  His  mother  was  born  in 
1801,  in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,and  died  Nov.  10, 1884. 
She  once  attended  a  reception,  given  in  honor  of 
Gen.  LaFayette.  William  Lloyd,  the  father  of  Mr. 
James  R.  Lloyd,  was  born  Dec.  5,  1802;  was  married 
to  Eliza  W.  Traulliar  in  1825  ;  was  the  father  of  six 
children — Lucinda  F.,  born  Sept.  15,  1828:  James 
R.,  Feb.  16,  1831;  Charles  W.,  June  17,  1833; 
Sarah  E.,  Dec.  9,  1836,  Martillus,  July  14,  1839; 
Thomas  J.,  Feb.  16,  1841  ;  James  R.  was  the  only 
one  that  was  married.  Sarah  E.  is  the  only  one  of 
the  children  living. 

Mr.  Amos,  of  this  sketch,  and  Mrs.  Lloyd  were 
married  March  30,  1882.  They  have  200  acres  of 
good  land  in  this  county,  which  is  particularly  suited 
for  the  raising  of  stock.  On  their  place  they  have  a 
good  dwelling  26  x  36  feet  and  two  stories  in  height; 
also  a  barn  30  x  42  feet,  with  a  basement.  Her 
former  husband,  Mr.  Butler,  belonged  to  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  as  likewise  does  her  third  husband,  Mr. 
Amos.  The  latter  is  an  ordained  minister  and  has 
occupied  the  pulpit  in  the  Christian  Church  for  the 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1 


past  24  years.  He  is  a  temperance  man  and  votes 
with  the  Prohibition  party.  He  is  also  President  of 
the  Western  Illinois  Christian  Conference  and  Secre- 
tary of  the  Illinois  State  Conference.  In  his  early 
life  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  assisted  to 
build  the  first  house  that  was  erected  in  the  city  of 
Bushnell.  He  also  erected  56  buildings  in  Fulton 
County.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Amos,  Joseph  L.  Park, 
was  born  in  November,  1810;  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church;  married  Miss  Mary  McDonald 
in  1833,  and  died  in  1852.  She  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, in  1816,  and  is  still  living,  residing  in  Green- 
bush  village.  Of  their  union  seven  children  were 
born:  William  B.,  who  died  in  the  army,  was  born 
in  1835;  Columbus,  in  1837;  Josephine,  Sept.  17, 
1839;  John,  Jan.  9,  1842;  Wallace,  June  19,  1844; 
Marion,  Sept.  17,  1849,  ar>d  Sarah  E.,  May  8,  1852. 


-43- 


-ames  F.  Thomson,  an  agricuturist  of  this 
county,  which  vocation  he  has  followed  the 
major  portion  of  his  life,  is  a  resident  of 
section  10,  Tompkins  Township.  He  was  born 
in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  20,  1844,  of  pa- 
rents who  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and  named  re- 
spectively John  and  Rachel  (Frances)  Thomson. 
They  came  to  this  State  in  1867,  and  settled  upon 
the  same  section  where  James  F.,  of  this  sketch,  at 
present  resides,  and  where  the  father  purchased  160 
acres  of  land  on  which  he  is  at  present  residing. 

The  gentleman  we  name  at  the  commencement  of 
this  biography,  was  an  inmate  of  his  parent's  family 
until  one  year  after  attaining  his  majority.  His  years, 
prior  to  that  time,  were  passed  in  acquiring  a  rudi- 
mentary education  at  the  common  schools,  which  he 
supplemented  by  a  course  of  study  at  a  Normal 
school.  On  attaining  the  age  of  22  years,  Mr. 
Thomson  engaged  in  teaching,  and  was  thus  occu- 
pied for  three  years,  one  year  in  Ohio  and  two  years 
in  Henderson  County,  this  State.  In  1870,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother,  he  purchased  the  undivided 
half  interest  to  160  acres  of  land  on  section  13, 
Tompkins  Township.  They  jointly  cultivated  the 
same  until  1881,  when  Mr.  Thomson,  of  this  notice, 
sold  his  interest  to  his  brother  and  purchased  the  80 


acres  on  which  he  at  present  resides.  He  located  on 
his  land  and  began  the  active  labor  of  an  agricul- 
turist, which  he  has  continued,  with  success,  until 
the  present  time.  By  energetic  labor  and  economy 
he  succeeded  in  accumulating  sufficient  to  make  an 
additional  purchase  of  80  acres,  and  at  present  is  the 
proprietor  of  160  acres  of  good  farming  land,  all  in  a 
body  and  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

Sept.  3,  1873,  Mr.  Thomson  was  married  to  the 
lady  of  his  choice,  Miss  Mary  E.  Norcross.  She  is 
a  native  of  this  State,  and  a  daughter  of  Hamlin 
and  Clarinda  (Hoge)  Norcross.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  children,  whom 
they  named  Carl  H.,  Frank  N.  and  Maggie  F.  The 
political  views  of  Mr.  Thomson  coincide  with  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party,  with 
which  he  always  casts  his  vote.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Thomson  was  a  soldier  for  the  Union  in  the 
late  War,  having  enlisted  in  the  i57th"Ohio  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  five  months,  having  engaged  in  no  con- 
flict, but  being  actively  occupied  in  guarding  prison- 
ers during  that  time.  He  received  an  honorable 
discharge  in  September,  1864.  He  is  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  Tompkins  Township  and  a 
successful  and  progressive  follower  of  his  vocation. 


arzillai  Parker,  deceased,  was  a  pioneer 
of  Warren  County,who  located  in  the  town- 
ship of  Spring  Grove  rather  what  is  now 
known  as  such,  in  1835.  He  was  born  at 
Snow  Hill,  Worcester  Co.,  Md.,  April  18, 
1808.  His  home  was  there  until  he  was 
nine  years  of  age,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Ken- 
tucky, in  which  State  he  remained  until  his  removal 
to  Warren  County,  in  the  year  stated.  His  father 
died  in  Kentucky  soon  after  the  family  removed  to 
that  State.  Mr.  Parker  was  accompanied  to  Warren 
County  by  his  mother  and  sister.  The  journey  from 
Ohio  was  made  overland,  they  bringing  with  them 
their  household  furniture  and  also  what  stock  they 
owned.  Mr.  Parker  built  a  log  house  and  rived  the 
shingles  to  cover  the  roof.  After  making  provisions 
for  shelter  he  commenced  improving  the  land  which 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


399 


he  had  pre-empted.  He  placed  in  order  for  success- 
ful farming  about  100  acres  of  the  tract  that  he  at 
first  pre-empted  and  from  time  to  time  continued  his 
purchases  of  real  estate  until  he  was  at  the  time  of 
his  death  the  possessor  of  upwards  of  1,000  acres. 
He  had  at  various  times  visited  Nebraska  and  Iowa 
and  made  large  pm chases  of  land  in  both  States. 

Mr.  Parker  was  a  man  of  zeal,  energy  and  indus- 
try and  was  prominent  in  his  method  of  pushing 
such  projects  as  he  was  interested  in  to  a  successful 
termination. 

Politically,  he  was  a  Republican  in  later  days.  In 
the  early  times,  when  he  was  first  interested  in  poli- 
itics,  he  was  a  Whig.  He  joined  the  ranks  of  the 
"Grand  Old  Party  '1  when  it  was  organized. 

He  was  twice  married.  Kllen  D.  Pease  became 
his  wife  in  1843.  She  was  born  near  Rockland, 
Maine,  and  her  parents  were  pioneers  in  Mercer  Co, 
111.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  there  were  five  chil- 
dren born.  Henry  C.  is  a  citizen  of  Monmouth 
"  Township.  Adda  P.  is  married  to  P helps  Paine,  a 
resident  of  Lincoln,  Neb.  Rhoda  H.Js  the  wife  of 
j  George  Herbert,  of  Spring  Grove  Township.  Barzil- 
"_  lai  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Sarah  is  deceased. 
Mrs.  Parker,  the  mother  of  the  children  just  enumer- 
ated, died  in  1851.  In  1854  Mr.  Parker  formed  a 
second  matrimonial  relation  with  Mrs.  Zoa  Ulmer. 
There  were  two  children  from  this  union.  Mary  W. 
is  married  to  George  F.  Miner,  of  Monmouth.  Eva 
is  deceased.  Mr.  Parker  died  May  19,  1884. 


,on.  James  H.  Stewart,  Judge  of  War- 
ren County  Court,  was  born  Jan.  5,  1818. 
at  Elkton,  Todd  Co.,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son 
of  R.ev.  W:n.  K.  and  Lucretia  P.  (Moore) 
Stewart,  natives  of  North  and  South  Carolina 
respectively,  and  descended  from  Scotch  and 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  They  were  married  in  Chris- 
tian Co.,  Ky.,  April  i,  1817,  and  at  once  repaired  to 
Elkton,  where  their  three  sons  and  two  daughters 
were  born. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart  was  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church;  came  to  Illinois  in  1830:  had  charge  of  a 
congregation  at  Vandalia  five  years;  there  buried  his 
wife  in  1831  :  removed  to  Macomb  in  1836,  where 


he  preached  to  his  people  as  long  as  health  per- 
mitted, and  died  April  [5,  '852,  in  the  6ad  year  of 
his  life.  He  was  a  ripe  scholar,  a  graduate  of  Hamp- 
den-Sidney  College,  of  Virginia,  and  was  a  preacher 
of  recognized  force  and  merit  from  the  time  he  was 
21  years  of  age. 

Judge  James  H.  Stewart  was  the  eldest  son  and 
was  educated  at  Hanover  College,  Ind.,  from  whence 
he  graduated  in  1836,  and  at  once  began  the  study 
of  law,  under  James  Allen,  and  completing  his 
course  of  reading  in  the  office  of  Cyrus  Walker,  of 
Macomb,  III.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Spring- 
field, Jan.  i,  1840,  and  immediately  commenced  to 
practice  at  Lewistown,  Fulton  County,  this  State. 
From  there,  at  the  end  of  a  year,  he  removed  to  Mil- 
lersburg,  Mercer  County,  where  he  remained  in  close 
practice  four  and  a  Half  years.  He  then  hung  out 
his  shingle  at  Oquawka,  and  there  added  15  years  to 
his  life  and  much  to  his  knowledge  of  the  law.  He 
was  then  at  Knoxville  about  a  year  and  first  came  to 
Monmouth  in  the  spring  of  1861.  Here  he  has  spent 
the  matured  years  of  his  life.  Judge  Stewart,  the 
Nestor  of  the  Warren  County  Bar,  has  a  reputation 
as  wide  as  the  borders  of  the  State  in  which  he  re- 
sides. His  name  will  be  transmitted  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  community  with  whose  interests  he  has 
been  so  long  identified,  and  the  posterity  of  those 
whose  lives  we  chronicle  to-day,  will  know,  him  as  a 
man  honored  among  men  and  worthy  of  their  emula- 
tion. 

fudge  Stewart's  official  career  began  at  Oquawka, 
in  185  i,  when  he  was  elected  State's  Attorney,  for 
the  isth  Judicial  Circuit.  In  1856,  after  a  division 
of  the  district,  he  was  twice  re-elected  to  the  same 
position  for  the  tenth  circuit.  In  1881  he  was  chosen 
County  Judge  of  Warren,  to  fill  out  the  unexpired 
term  of  Judge  Willets,  deceased,  and  in  1882, 
regularly  elected  for  the  ensuing  term  of  four 
years.  The  Judge  is  a  Democrat  in  whom  there  is 
no  guile,  and  that  he  is  fully  appreciated  by  his  party 
is  attested  by  his  record.  He  has  twice  been  its 
candidate  for  Representative  from  this  county,  but 
that  body  being  notorious  as  a  Senatorial  Manufac- 
turing Machine,  the  good  people  usually  select  men 
especially  gifted  (?)  for  that  important  duty  rather 
than  men  possessed  of  knowledge  as  law-makers. 
The  Judge  was  alternate  delegate  to  the  St.  Louis 
National  Democratic  Convention  of  1876,  and  dele- 
gate to  that  body  at  Cincinnati,  in  1880. 


—•A' 


400 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Beginning  as  a  |>oor  boy,  Judge  Stewart  rounds 
life  at  a  ripe  age  possessed  of  a  handsome  competency. 
He  is  largely  interested  in  agriculture  and  banking, 
which  receives  much  of  his  personal  attention.  He 
was  married  in  McDonough  County,  this  State,  June 
30,  1842,  to  Isabella  C.  McKamy,  who  was  born  in 
Roane  Co.,  Tenn.,  Jan.  22,  1824,  and  has  borne  to 
him  ten  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  living — 
William  K.,  whose  biography  appears  in  this  volume; 
Isabella,  wife  of  D.  M.  Hammack,  an  attorney  at 
Burlington,  Iowa,  and  Mary  M.  Lucretia  P.  was 
born  Aug.  18,  1862,  and  died  Nov.  24,  1878;  the  rest 
of  his  children  died  in  infancy.  We  felicitate  our- 
selves on  being  enabled  to  add  to  this  biographical 
notice,  as  well  as  to  the  portrait  feature  of  our  work, 
a  reproduction  of  a  life-like  photograph  of  Judge 
Stewart,  which  was  recently  taken. 


Bennett,  owning  67  acres  of  good   tillable 
land  in  Tompkins  Township,  and  also  480 
acres  in  Boone  Co.,  Neb.,  and  residing  upon 
)tj    section  19,  of  the  township  named,  where  he  is 
engaged  in    the    pursuits  of    an   agriculturist, 
•  _     was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April   8,  1829, 
his  parents  being  Jacob  and    Elizabeth    (Coss)   Ben- 
nett, natives  of  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  biographi- 
cal notice,  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  was  eight 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  his  father  died.  He  was 
then  absent  from  his  mother  until  he  was  14  years 
old,  when  he  returned  and  resided  with  her  for  four 
years,  receiving  at  her  hands  a  good  common  school 
education.  He  t'.ien  left  home  and  worked  out  for 
five  years  by  the  month,  [n  1854  he  _came  to  this 
State,  and  became  a  citizen  of  this  county,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  working 
for  others  and  doing  odd  jobs  for  one  season.  Dur- 
ing that  year  he  purchased  the  8o-acre  tract  of  land 
on  which  he  is  at  present  residing,  moved  upon  it 
with  his  family  and  at  once  engaged  in  the  vocation 
which  he  had  followed  more  or  less  all  his  life.  He 
erected  a  fine  residence  upon  his  farm,  together  with 
a  good  barn  and  necessary  outbuildings  and  set  out 
trees,  ornamental  and  fruit,  and  cultivated  and  im- 


proved the  place,  until  it  presents  a  fine  appearance 
to  the  passer-by  of  to-day.  In  his  chosen  vocation, 
Mr.  Bennett  is  meeting  with  that  success,  which 
push,  perseverance  and  energy  are  sure  to  bring. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Bennett  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Liza  Thorp,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Thorp.  Her  father  came  to  this  State 
in  1854,  settling  in  this  county,  where,  with  his  wife, 
he  lived  until  their  death.  In  politics,  Mr.  B.  votes 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  leading,  representatives  of  his  vocation  in  his 
township. 


(avid  Allard  is  a  farmer  in  the  township  of 
Point  Pleasant  and  is  the  owner  of  240 
acres  of  land  situated  on  section  8.  He 
was  born  April  6,  1824,  in  the  town  of  Eaton, 
Carroll  Co.,  N.  H.,  of  which  State  his  father, 
$  Jacob  Allard,  was  also  a  native.  Job  Allard,  his 
grandfather,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the 
"  Granite  State,"  where  he  took  up  a  tract  of  land  all 
in  timber,  which  was  located  18  miles  from  any  set- 
tlement of  whites.  It  was  in  Carroll  County,  and 
he  cleared  a  farm,  on  which  he  resided  until  his 
death.  His  son  Jacob  was  born  on  the  same  farm, 
and  was  the  heir  to  the  estate  of  the  father  who  had 
done  the  work  of  the  pioneer  on  it.  Sally  (Thurs- 
ton)  Allard,  the  wife  and  mother,  was  also  a  native 
of  Eaton  in  the  same  county.  To  her  and  her  hus- 
band ten  children  were  born,  of  whom  six  are  now 
living:  David  is  the  eldest;  Jane  is  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Young,  and  they  are  living  in  Freedom,  Car- 
roll Co.,  N.  H. ;  Joseph  S.  is  married  to  Miss  Fannie 
Wornom  and  is  a  farmer  in  this  county  ;  Eliza  is  Mrs. 
Bradley  Davis,  and,  with  her  husband,  resides  in 
Stockton,  Cal. ;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Davis 
and  lives  in  Iowa;  Rose  A.  is  the  youngest  member 
of  the  family  living,  and  is  married  to  F.  H.  Baldwin. 
They  live  in  Oregon. 

Mr.  Allard  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  town 
where  he  was  born.  At  the  age  of  20  he  went  to 
Belfast,  Maine,  and  there  passed  two  years  in  ac- 
quiring a  knowledge  of  blacksmithing  He  returned 
to  his  native  State  and  operated  as  a  "jour"  one 


' 


-4 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


401 


year.  July  2,  1846,  Mr.  Allard  was  married  to  Miss 
Harriet  Patch.  "She  was  born  in  Eaton,  N.  H.,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Dennis  and  Susan  (Drew)  Patch. 
He  then  purchased  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old 
homestead,  and  there  opened  a  shop  in  his  own  inter- 
est. He  managed  the  farm  and  the  shop  together 
until  1855,  when  he  sold  both,  preparatory  to  moving 
to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  Warren  County  and  bought 
a  farm  near  Jackson  Corners,  in  the  township  of 
Ellison.  On  this  he  resided  until  1864,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Monmouth,  to  secure  for  his  children  the 
advantages  of  the  schools  of  that  place.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  his  trade  in  the  C;irr  Plow, 
Shops  there  two  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Point  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, on  which  he  has  since  resided.  It  has  the  usual 
complement  of  trees  and  farm  buildings.  It  has 
also  a  grove  of  forest  trees,  including  white  ash,  wal- 
nut, butternut,  ash-leaved  maple,  white  maple,  cot- 
tonwood,  willow  and  chestnut.  These  cover  six  acres, 
and  are  situated  on  a  mound  which  is  said  by  survey- 
ors to  be  the  highest  point  between  the  two  rivers 
east  and  west. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allard  were  born  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  now  living :  Frank,  Vina,  Rose, 
Josephine,  Orrin,  Charles,  William  and  Elgena. 


Jewell,  an  energetic  and  industrious 
farmer,  residing  on  section  33,  of  Lenox 
Township,  is  a  son  of  Lemuel  and  Jane 
(Cole)  Jewell,  natives  of  York  State,  and  who 
settled  there  until  185  t,  when  they  came  West- 
ward, located  in  Lenox  Township,  Warren 
County,  this  State.  At  the  latter  place  they  made 
their  permanent  abiding  place  until  taken  to  their 
eternal  homes.  Of  their  union  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren— Abel,  Jacob,  Halsey  T.,  Harriet,  Henry,  Ira 
and  John  being  their  names. 

John  Jewell,  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  in  Rome, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  4,  1830,  and  in  1851  came 
to  Warren  County,  this  State.  While  residing  under 
the  parental  roof-tree  heattended  the  district  schools 
in  the  acquisition  of  an  English  education  and  as- 
sisted his  parents  in  the  duties  of  the  farm  After 
...  ,  '  '  A 


his  departure  from  home  in  the  year  above  men- 
tioned, he  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section  33,  his 
present  site,  which  he  has  made  his  home  ever  since. 
His  farm  has  been  put  under  excellent  improvement 
and  cultivation  and  he  has  erected  suitable  buildings 
thereon. 

Mr.  Jewell  and  Miss  Juliet  A.  Smith  were  united 
in  marriage  in  Warren  County,  Sept.  30,  1852.  She 
was  born  in  Virginia,  Sept.  10,  1820,  and  bore  her 
husband  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  She  died 
April  15,  1880,  and  he  was  again  married,  Feb.  24, 
1881,  to  Flora  L.  Crosier,  a  native  of  Ellison  Town- 
ship, Warren  County,  where  she  was  born  March  3, 
1859.  She  has  become  the  mother  of  two  children 
by  Mr.  Jewell — Rodney  C.  and  Rosa.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jewell  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
In  politics,  Mr.  J.  is  identified  with  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party. 


illiarn  P.  Smith,  retired  merchant  at  Mon- 
mouth, was  born  Feb.  22,  1815,  in  Louisa 
«._  Co.,  Va.  His  parents,  Barnett  and  Mary 
1>  (Grayson)  Smith,  were  of  Virginia  and  de- 
scended from  English  ancestors.  Of  their 
five  sons  and  four  daughters,  five  of  whom  are 
still  living,  William  F.  was  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 
At  the  age  of  15  years,  Mr.  Smith  began  clerking  in 
a  store  at  Glasgow,  Ky.,  the  family  having  removed 
into  Barren  County,  that  State,  in  1820.  The  Ken- 
tucky farm  upon  which  the  old  people  spent  their 
lives  is  yet  owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The 
father  died  in  1847,  'n  n's  &9th  year,  and  the  mother 
in  1884,  aged  95.  Both  died  in  Kentucky. 

William  F.  Smith  came  to  Monmouth  in  Novem- 
ber, 1835,  and  opened  a  variety  store.  He  had 
only  $t,ooo  in  money,  but  he  was  well  backed  by  a 
Louisville,  Ky.,  firm,  for  whom  he  had  clerked  some 
time,  and  after  realizing  upon  his  first  cargo  of  goods 
he  had  cleared  about  $1,500.  With  this  he  re- 
turned to  Louisville,  as  the  weather  promised  to  be 
too  cold  for  him  up  here,  but  his  old  backers  induced 
him  to  return.  He  next  embarked  in  the  dry-goods 
business  with  an  employe  named  B.  C.  Hord  as  his 
partner.  In  1838,  the  Louisville  firm  took  an  inter- 


402 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


est.  In  1844,  having  sold  out  to  the  firm,  Mr. 
Smith  opened  a  drug  store  and  continued  in  that 
line  of  business  until  1868. 

Politically,  Mr.  Smith  was  originally  a  Democrat, 
and  as  such  was  elected  Probate  Justice  in  1844-5. 
Mr.  Polk  appointed  him  Postmaster  to  fill  out  an 
unexpired  term  of  a  predecessor,  but  Zachary  Tay- 
lor, though  Mr.  Smith  had  500  signers  to  his  peti- 
tion while  his  competitor  had  only  13,  ousted  him. 
In  1849,  however,  the  citizens  of  the  county  felt  out- 
raged, and  though  the  Democrats  to  whom  he  had 
belonged  were  greatly  in  the  minority,  he  was  elected 
to  the  County  Clerkship  by  a  large  majority,  and 
held  the  office  tour  years,  ending  in  1853.  In  1856, 
he  became  a  Republican,  and  has  affiliated  with  that 
party  to  the  present. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Smith  took  place  April  12, 
1838,  at  which  time  Miss  Margaret  Bell,  the  ac- 
complished daughter  of  Rev.  L.  G.  and  Margaret 
(Beard)  Bell,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  became 
his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Leesburg,  Va.,  April  18, 
1817.  She  bore  him  ten  children — Charles  (de- 
ceased), Edwin  R.  (deceased),  Mary,  Inez  B.,  Will- 
iam B.,  Lancelot  G.,  Carrie  K.,  Lizzie  A.,  Ella  and 
Harry  B.  All  are  grown,  and  the  boys  are  in  bust-' 
ness. 


lohn  Barnes,  owning  200  acres  of  good 
farm  land  on  section  24,  Tompkins  Town- 
ship, where  he  lives  and  is  engaged  in  its 
cultivation,  was  bom  in  West  Virginia,  Jan.  10, 
1820.  His  father,  Henry  Barnes,  was  a  native 
of  the  same  State,  and  the  mother  of  Mr. 
Barnes,  of  this  notice,  Catherine  Barnes,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Cunningham,  was  also  a  native  of 
Virginia. 

Mr.  Barnes  resided  with  his  parents  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  when  he  moved  to  Indiana,  and 
having  been  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  becoming 
familiar  with  agricultural  pursuits,  he  purchased  land 
in  the  latter  State,  and  followed  the  vocation  which 
he  had  chosen  in  early  manhood,  at  that  place,  until 
1856.  During  the  year  last  named,  Mr.  Barnes 
came  to  this  State,  and  purchased  the  farm  on  which 
he  is  at  present  residing.  His  farm  comprises  200 


acres  of  land  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation, 
and  its  appearance  is  indicative  of  the  push  and 
energy  which  Mr.  B.  possesses. 

Mr.  Barnes  become  the  husband  of  Miss  Elvira 
Love,  in  1843,  and  by  her  has  had  four  children,  as 
follows :  George,  Ansell,  Cynthia  J.  and  Charles 
W.  The  wife- and  mother  died  in  1857,  and  Miss 
Elizabeth  Monroe  became  his  wife.  Of  the  latter 
union,  three  children — John  F.,  Alice  and  Eddy, 
have  been  born.  Mr.  Barnes  votes  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  he  and  his  wife  and  five  children  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Soci- 
ally, Mr.  Barnes  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and 
of  the  Order  of  Masonry,  and  is  one  of  the  pushing, 
go-ahead  representatives  of  his  vocation  in  Tomp- 
kins Township. 


F.  Trulock,  one  of  Warren  County's 
energetic  ;md  successful  farmers  and  large 
land-owners,  and  who  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  development  of  the  county 
since  1850,  resides  on  section  36,  Berwick 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Scot  Co.,  Ind.,  in 
December,  1815,  and  is  a  son  of  Parker  Trulock,  a 
native  of  Maryland.  The  father  moved  to  Indiana 
in  1815,  and  there  resided,  engaged  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  farmer  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
about  1854.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Terrel,  in  Virginia,  and  by  her  had  1 1  .children,  as 
follows:  John,  William.  Isaac,  Mary,  Sarah,  Char- 
lotte, Esther,  Samuel  M.,  James  W.,  Parker  L.  and 
Henry. 

Henry  F.  Trulock  has  passed  the  years  of  his  life 
until  the  present  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Reared 
on  the  parental  homestead,  he  there  first  learned  the 
lessons  of  an  agriculturist  and  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  county  acquired  his  education,  and  there  lived 
and  developed  into  manhood. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Trulock  took  place  Jan.  30, 
1845.  at  which  time  Miss  Margaret  Peacock  became 
his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Devonshire,  Eng.,  Jan. 
28,  1818,  and  has  borne  him  six  children — Sarah  E, 
and  Catherine,  twins,  born  May  10  ,1847  ;  Nancy  A., 
July  8,  1849;  James  M.,  Jan.  21,  1852;  Frances 


THORNDALE  FARM"  RES. or  J.  F.OWEN s.  SEC.  2..  MONMOUTH  TOWNSHIP 


RESIDENCE  OF  HENRY  u.  JEWETLL.  SEC.  24.  LENOXTOWNSH  IP. 


RES. OF  WILLIAM  EDWARDS, SEC. 35.  HALETOVYNSHIP. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


4°5 


M.,    March    i,    1853;  W.   H.,  Oct.   28,   1854;  and 
Harriet  J.,  April  28,  1856. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Trulock,  Wm.  Peacock,  was 
born  in  England,  from  which  country  he  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Indiana,  in  1819. 

In  England,  he  married  Nancy  Davidson,  and  of 
their  union  six  children  were  born,  namely :  Mar- 
garet, William,  Robert,  Frances,  Mary  and  John. 

Mr.  Trulock,  on  coming  to   this  county,  at  once 
engaged   in  agricultural  pursuits.     He  came  here  in 
1850,   and  located  in    Berwick  Township,  and  has_ 
here  resided   until   the    present  time.     Considering 
that  on  his  arrival  in  Warren  County,   lie   was  only 
the   possessor  of  a    span  of    horses    and    $^50    in 
money,  and  has  since  accumulated   his   handsome 
property,  he  certainly  deserves  mention  in  this  work, 
at  least  as  a  man  of  energy,  pluck  and  perseverance. 
That  he  has  done  a  large  amount  of  hard  work   and 
a  good  deal  of  thinking,  and   passed  through  many 
trials,  cannot  be  denied,  and  his  accumulations  are    ; 
'  but  the  outgrowth  of  the  same,  for  he  was  never  the 
recipient   of  any  legacy,  and  what  he   has   he  has 
made  for  himself.  His  landed  interests  in  the  county 
,>•  are  upwards  of  800  acres,  on  which  he  has  five  farm 
houses,   and   in  the  vocation  which   he   is  following 
and   has  followed  for  .so  many  years,  he  is  meeting 
with  that  success  which  energy  and  'good  judgment   ! 
are  sure  to  bring.     In  politics,  he  votes  with  and  en-    '• 
dorses  the  principles  advocated   by  the   Republican    | 
party.     In  this   the  sunset  of  his  life,  he  is  living  in    j 
the  enjoyment  of  that  competency  obtained  througli 
years  of  honest  and  laborious  toil. 


'l>  ei  V  = — 


\  ames  F.  Owens,  is  of  more  than  ordinary 
|j|-  reputation  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and 
'  is  a  resident  on  section  2,  Monmouth  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  May 
1^  8,  1829.  His  father,  John  Owens,  was  born 
in  Conway  Castle,  Wales,  March  18,  1793, 
and  in  his  early  life  was  a  shoemaker,  and  later  a 
merchant  at  Davenport,  Iowa.  He  was  only  six 
weeks  old  when  his  parents  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  located  in  New  York  City.  His  father 
and  mother  lived  in  that  city  for  some  years,  when 


they  moved  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  there  resided 
until  their  deaths.  John  Owens,  when  a  young  man, 
engaged  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker,  which. 
after  having  mustered  it,  he  continued  to  follow  until 
his  enlistment  as  private  in  the  War  of  1812.  At 
the  close  of  that  war,  John,  being  yet  a  single  man 
and  having  no  means,  set  out  alone  and  on  foot,  to 
cross  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  and  then  returned 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  arrived  in  the  Queen  City 
in  1816,  when  that  now  populous  and  busy  city  had 
but  8,000  inhabitants.  On  rrriving  in  that  city  he 
engaged  in  working  at  his  trade,  which  he  followed 
until  his  marriage  to  Mrs.  Eunice  Meeker,  nee 
Kent,  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  She  was  a  descend- 
ant of  Anneke  Jans,  of  the  famous  estate  of  that 
name,  and  of  whom  Rev.  Bogardus,  whose  history 
was  closely  connected  with  that  of  New  York,  was  a 
member,  who  was  followed  by  a  Spears,  then  an  Ed- 
ward, and  finally  a  Kent,  of  whom  Mrs.  Owens,  the 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  descended. 
The  parents  were  married  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  ^ 
there  the  father  followed  his  trade  until  1838.  At 
that  time  eight  children  had  been  born  to  them,  four  . 
sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  James  Owens,  the 
subject  of  this  notice,  was  fifth  in  order  of  birth  The 
parents  then  came  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  in 
which  he  met  with  financial  success.  He  was  the 
first  Director  of  the  first  State  bank  of  that  city. 
After  the  law  was  changed  and  State  banks  went  out 
of  existence,  national  banks  taking  their  place,  Mr. 
Owens  became  Director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Davenport,  it_being  known  at  the  present  as  the 
Davenport  National  Bank.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
foresight,  sound  business  judgment  and  possessed  of 
that  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance  that  is  so 
necessary  to  success  in  life.  In  addition  to  his 
banking  business  at  Davenport,  he  continued  his 
mercantile  pursuits  and  became  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous and  well-to-do  citizens  of  that  city,  in  which  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
Sept.  24,  1876,  aged  84  years.  His  wife,  the  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  died  in  July,  1884,  aged 
9  r  years. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  notice,  was 
ten  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  from  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  to  Davenport,  Iowa.  He  resided  at  home, 
attending  the  public  schools  at  Davenport  and  act- 
ing as  clerk  iu  his  father's  store,  until  1855.  August 


406 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


22,  of  that  year,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  at  the 
residence  of  the  bride's  parents  in  Monmouth  Town- 
ship, with  Mary  T.  Hopper,  daughter  of  William 
and  Edith  (Hirrison)  Hopper,  the  latter  being  a 
cousin  of  the  hero  of  Tippecanoe,  William  Henry 
Harrison.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Bourbon  Co., 
Ky.,  her  mother  cf  Rockingham  Co.,  Va.  They 
were  married  in  Todd  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  27,  1818.  The 
wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  July  20, 
1834.  She  was  only  an  infant  when  her  parents 
came  to  this  State,  the  date  thereof  being  1837. 
Her  parents  located  on  land  which  was  in  its  natural 
condition,  in  Monmouth  Township,  few  families 
having  located  there  at  that  time.  They  brought 
with  them  a  cooking-stove,  which  was  the  first  ever 
brought  into  the  county.  They  located  on  their 
land,  and  her  father  engaged  actively  and  ener- 
getically in  its  cultivation,  and  by  laborious  toil  be- 
came a  well-to-do  farmer  of  that  township.  While  a 
resident  of  Kentucky  he  followed  the  occupation  of 
a  tanner  and  was  the  owner  of  slaves,  but  his  con- 
science taught  him  that  to  deal  in  human  flesh  was 
wrong.  He  consequently  liberated  his  slaves  and 
came  to  this  county,  determined  to  rear  and  educate 
his  children  in  a  State  where  the  doctrine  of  slavery 
did  not  exist.  He  and  his  wife  continued  to  reside 
on  the  original  homestead  upon  which  they  first  lo- 
cated in  this  county  until  their  deaths,  that  of  the 
mother  occurring  Dec.  11,  1865,  and  the  father  May 
10,  1877. 

Mrs.  Owens,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  re- 
mained under  parental  influence  until  her  marriage, 
her  education  having  been  a:quired  in  the  schools 
of  Galeiburg,  Knox  Coun'y,  this  State.  She  is  a 
lady  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  is  re- 
spected and  honored  in  the  community  in  which  she 
resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owens  are  the  parents  of  six 
children,  viz. :  Maria  F.,  who  became  the  wife  of 
H.  M.  Chamberlain,  a  resident  of  Greeley,  Col.  ; 
Anna  B.,  who  resides  at  home;  Eunice,  a  teacher  by 
profession,  and  who  is  at  present  in  Atchison  Co.. 
Mo. ;  Edith,  wife  of  T.  B.  Rankin,  who  resides  on  a 
farm  in  Atchison  Co.,  Mo.;  Maggie  B.  and  Charles 
O.  reside  at  home. 

Since  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owens,  they 
have,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  1859-60, 
when  Mr.  O.  was  in  the  "  Rockies,"  made  their 
home  in  Monmouth  Township.  Mr.  Owens  is  at 
present  the  proprietor  of  260  acres  of  good  farm  land 


in  that  township,  which  is  finely  improved.  A  view 
of  his  premises  is  given  on  page  404.  In  addition 
to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  he  is  to  a  considerable 
extent  engaged  in  stock-raising  of  a  general  charac- 
ter. Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  located  at  Monmouth. 

Politically,  Mr.  Owens  is  a  believer  in  and  a  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  of  his  township 
for  some  years,  and  has  also  been  the  incumbent  of 
the  office  of  Road  Commissioner. 


illiam  Edwards.  Many  of  the  most  thrifty 
and  intelligent  agriculturists  of  this  section 
of  Illinois,  were  born  and  reared  upon  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  to  England 
especially  is  Warren  County  indebted  for 
some  of  her  most  enterprising  and  prosperous 
citizens.  Prominent  among  the  latter  class  is  Wil- 
liam Edwards,  who  is  residing  upon  his  splendid 
farm  on  section  34,  of  Hale  Township.  He  is  the 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Williams)  Edwards,  and 
was  born  in  England  about  1830,  where  he  was  reared 
and  lived  until  May,  1849.  There  were  five  chil- 
dren in  his  father's  family,  of  whom  the  following  is 
a  record :  George,  Eliza,  Fannie,  William  and  Jane. 
George  and  Fannie  are  deceased.  Eliza  married 
Richard  Morgan,  and  lives  in  Monmouthshire,  Eng- 
land. There  were  born  of  this  marriage  six  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  deceased.  Jane,  the  youngest, 
is  living  with  her  brother,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
The  demise  of  his  parents  occurred  in  England. 

As  alrjady  stated,  William  Edwards  was  a  young 
man  of  not  20  years  of  age  when  he  bid  adieu  to  the 
shores  of  his  native  Isle,  to  seek  a  new  home  in 
America.  He  found  a  location  in  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  two  years,  when,  in  August,  1852, 
he  came  West  to  the  fertile  prairies  of  the  Military 
Tract,  which  were  being  then  opened  up  by  the 
Peoria  &  Oquawka,  the  NorthernCross  and  the  Mili- 
tary Tract  Railways.  He  found  a  desirable  location 
in  Warren  County,  where  he  has  since  been  a  resi- 
dent. He  is  the  owner  of  240  acres  of  well  improved 
land,  on  sections  34  and  35,  of  Hale  Township. 


. 


WARRRN  COUNTY. 


407 


Upon  this  he  erected  a  fine  set  of  farm  buildings  and 
entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon  the  task 
of  its  cultivation  and  improvement,  until  at  present 
it  presents  the  appearance  of  thrift  and  energy.  A 
view  of  the  residence  and  farm  buildings  of  the 
homestead,  are  represented  in  the  pictorial  depart- 
ment of  this  work  on  page  404. 

Mr.  E.  generally  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and 
with  his  sister,  advocates  the  doctrines  of  the  Church 
of  England. 


r.  J.  Lee,  one  of  the  well-known  and   suc- 
cessful   physicians    of    Roseville    village, 
Warren  County,  this  State,  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  where  he   was   born   in   the  year 
1818,  and  is  a   son  of  Stephen   and   Elizabeth 
(Mcponald)  Lee,   natives  respectively  of  East 
Tennessee   and    Virginia.     The  Lee  family  of  this 

•  sketch  are  of  the  same  family  of  whom  Gen.  Robert 
f  Lee,  the  famous  General  in  the  late  Confederacy  was 

a  member.  They  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the  time 

•  of  Charles  II.,  of  England,  one  of  whom  married  a 
daughter  of  that  monarch.     They  came  to  Virginia  at 
an  early  day  and  their  descendants  composed  many 
men  of  note  and  prominence  in  the  history  of  that 
State,  and  the  father  of  the  Doctor  was  a  full  cousin 
of  Gen.  Robert   E.   Lee. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Lee  came  to  Illinois  in  1827 
and  located  in  Morgan  County,  where  they  bought  a 
considerable  body  of  land  and  remained  in  the  State 
of  Illinois  until  their  death.  At  that  time  no  settlers 
had  ventured  farther  north  than  Morgan  County, 
and  even  in  that  section  there  were  but  a  few  fami- 
lies. Many  of  the  pioneers,  who  finally  located  in 
Northern  Illinois,  stopped  for  a  year  or  two  in  Mor- 
gan County,  as  a  few  men,  like  the  elder  Lee,  had 
moved  there  at  a  very  early  day  and  had  raised 
crops  and  thus  made  provisions  for  the  incoming 
pioneer.  Stephen  Lee  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
as  follows:  Thomas,  Joseph,  Nancy,  Stephen,  Wil- 
liam and  John. 

The  Doctor  is  the  second  son  of  the  family,  and 
spent  the  first  25  years  of  his  life  under  the  protec- 
tion of  his  parents  He  attended  the  customary 


common  district  schools,  where  he  received  a  fair 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  16  years,  while  engaged 
in  farming,  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  Charles  Chandler,  of  Cass  Co.  He  also  read 
with  Dr.  Schooley,  of  the  same  county.  He  finally 
became  a  faithful  student  of  Rush  Medical  College, 
Chicago.  He  was  in  the  drug  business  several  years 
at  Virginia,  111.,  and  since  1864  has  been  in  active 
prac'ice  at  Roseville.  He  is  thus  one  of  the  oldest 
physicians  in  the  place  and  has  as  his  associate  coun- 
sel, Drs.  Webster  and  Crawford,  of  Monmouth. 

Politically,  the  Doctor  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party  and  religiously  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church.  He  has  been 
quite  successful  both  in  his  practice  and  in  liis  ac- 
cumulations and  to-day  owns  a  good  farm  of  160 
acres  near  Hancock  Station,  Pottawatamie  Co.,  Iowa, 
and  has  a  fine  residence,  with  office  attached,  at 
Roseville. 

His  first  marriagi  was  with  Miss  Sarah  Eliza 
Campbell,  a  daughter  of  Judge  P.  W.  Campbell  of 
Mason  County,  this  State,  on  April  1 1,  1842,  her  igth 
birthday.  She  died  Feb.  10,  1845,  leaving  two  sons, 
Stephen  W.  and  Joseph  N.  Stephen  W.,  was  a 
student  and  graduate  of  Rush  Medical  College; 
practiced  medicine  in  Chicago  about  14  years  ;  died  " 
Feb.  22,  1880,  of  an  injury  received  while  in  the 
army,  aged  36  years.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Sec- 
ond 111.  Cav.  Joseph  N.  Lee  is  farming  in  Wash- 
ington Territory  at  present,  and  has  been  in  the 
territory  for  the  past  five  years. 

The  Doctor  was  married  to  Miss  Minerva  Gord- 
ley,  his  present  wife,  in  March,  1858. 


Ptiine, 
1788, 
latter 
settler 


£  ohn  Edward    Paine  is  the   Supervisor  of 
Sumner   Township,    in   the    current   year 
(1885).      He  is  a  member  of  the  agricultu- 
ral class  of  Warren  County,  and   is  located  on 
section  27.       He  was  born   in  Lake  Co.,  Ohio, 
Oct.  2,  1834.      He  is  the  son  of  Charles  Henry 
who  was  born  in  CayugaCo.,    N.  Y.,  Feb.    13, 
and  was  a  soldier  in  the   war  of  1812.      The 
is  the   son  of  Gen.  Edward  Paine,  who  was  a. 
in  Ohio   when  it    was    still    a  territory.       He 


* 

f  » 


408 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


owned  the  site  of  the  city  of  Gainesville,  which  per- 
petuates his  name.  He  purchased  a  considerable 
tract  of  land  when  he  located  in  what  was  Lake 
County,  after  the  municipal  divisions  had  been  made. 
He  improved  a  farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  his 
death,  at  the  age  of  96.  He  was  a  Captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  under  immediate  command  of 
Gen.  Washington.  After  the  war  he  was  commis- 
sioned General  of  the  State  Militia  in  Ohio.  His 
son,  the  father  of  Mr.  Paine,  of  this  account,  was 
reared  in  Lake  and  married  in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio. 
Parthenia  Mason  became  his  wife  May  19,  1817. 
She  was  born  Sept.  7,  1798,^1  Connecticut.  She  was 
aunt  to  the  wife  of  the  lamented  President  Garfield, 
consequently  Mrs.  Garfield  and  Mr.  Paine  are  first 
cousins.  Mr.  Garfield  and  his  wife  were  at  Mrs. 
Paine's  residence  visiting.  He  arrived  there  several 
days  before  the  memorable  battle  of  Bull  Run. 
Upon  receiving  the  news  of  the  battle,  his  feelings 
were  so  worked  up  he  could  not  continue  his  visit 
any  longer ;  so  Mr.  Paine  took  him  with  a  team  to 
Monmouth,  in  order  to  catch  the  first  train  to  take 
him  to  Ohio.  As  soon  as  he  could  make  the  neces- 
sary arrangements,  he  then  enlisted. 

After  their  marriage,  John  Edward  Paine  and  his 
wife  reu  oved  to  Portage  County,  in  the  Buckeye 
State,  and  located  on  a  timber  tract,  where  the  pro- 
prietor improved  a  farm.  After  a  term  of  years  they 
returned  to  Lake  County,  where  they  continued  to 
reside  until  1835.  They  removed  in  that  year  to  In- 
diana, where  they  passed  a  year,  in  Porter  County. 
In  1 836  they  came  to  Warren  County.  The  family 
at  the  time  included  five  children.  The  trip  hither 
was  made  by  the  conveyance  commonly  used  by  the 
emigrants  of  that  period  and  their  method  of  manage- 
ment was  also  the  same,  and  consisted  of  domestic  ar- 
rangements of  about  the  same  character  as  they  were 
accustomed  to  at  home,  with  the  different  surround- 
ings of  a  house  and  home  on  wheels  and  the  lack  of 
locality,  as  every  morning,  noon  and  night  found 
them  fn  a  new  place.  It  should  have  been  stated 
that  Mr.  Paine  had  made  the  selection  of  his  loca- 
tion on  a  previous  visit  to  the  county,  and  after  tak- 
ing possession  he  resided  there  until  his  death.  A 
log  cabin,  belonging  to  Mr.  Rockwell  (see  sketch), 
stood  adjacent,  and  Mr.  Paine  rented  it  for  the  shel- 
ter of  his  family  through  the  first  winter  after  their 
arrival.  During  the  winter  season,  Mr.  Paine  made 
haste  to  build  his  own  house,  which  was  of  hewn 


logs.  It  was  double,  and  well  adapted  to  the  comfort 
of  the  household  of  that  period.  He  made  the  first  im- 
provement on  the  place  in  the  spring  of  1837.  After 
getting  settled,  he  gave  his  undivided  attention  to  the 
work  of  improvement,  and  soon  put  his  entire  acre- 
age in  valuable  condition.  His  life  continued  until 
Warren  County  was  in  a  well  developed  and  prosper- 
ous condition.  His  death  transpired  April  5,  1859. 
His  wife  died  Jan.  27,  1877.  Following  is  the  brief 
history  of  their  children:  Emmeline  died  at  the  age 
of  three  years;  Amanda  lives  at  Monmouth  and  is 
the  wife  of  R.  A.  Gibson;  Emily  became  the  wife  of 
Nathaniel  Brownlee,  and  is_  his  survivor;  Lucretia 
married  F.  H.  Merrill,  and  they  live  in  Fulton  Co. ; 
Charles  H.  is  a  resident  of  Washington  Territory  ; 
the  subscriber  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth ;  Eliza 
Arabella  is  married  to  C.  M.  Rogers,  of  Hale  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Paine  arrived  in  Warren  County  on  his  sec- 
ond birthday.  After  attending  the  common  schools 
until  he  had  somewhat  advanced  toward  the  period 
of  his  youth,  he  passed  one  winter  attending  school 
at  Galesburg.  July  26,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.,  B,  ; 
83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  remained  in  the  military  ser- 
vice until  the  war  closed.  His  command  was  sta- 
tioned for  a  long  time  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  while 
there  on  duty  repulsed  an  attack  from  a  force  of  ' 
Rebels  of  greatly  surpassing  numbers.  Mr.  Paine 
received  an  honorable  discharge  with  the  regiment  in 
June,  1865.  He  returned  to  the  homestead  of  his 
parents,  which  is  his  property,  and  on  which  he  has 
since  resided.  The  farm  of  which  he  is  the  owner 
contains  630  acres.  It  is  under  excellent  improve- 
ments and  is  exceptional  in  the  manner  in  which  it 
is  watered.  Two  never-failing  streams  flow  through 
it,  and  it  is  also  well  supplied  with  a  growth  of  natu- 
ral timber.  The  latter  is  situated  on  the  banks  of 
Cedar  Creek.  The  farm  residence  is  of  brick  and 
the  other  buildings  are  frame  structures. 

Ann  E.  Turnbull  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Paine 
May  17,  1860.  She  is  the  daughter  of  David  and  Nan- 
cy (Mitchel)  Turnbull.  Her  birth  took  place  March 
13,  1835,  in  Warren  County.  Nine  of  their  children 
are  living — Olive  P.,  John  M.,  Mary  E.  (who  is  the 
wife  of  Delavan  Frantz,  a  citizen  of  Monmouth),  Wil- 
liam T.,  Nancy  M.,Charle.,  H.,  Anna  Belle,  Freder- 
ick C.,  Frank  M.  David,  the  seventh  child,  was 
born  June  22,  187 1,  and  died  Oct.  14,  1875.  Mr. 
Paine  is  an  Elder  in  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


411 


His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  same  denomination. 
Politically,  Mr.  Paine  is  a  believer  in  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party. 


1807, 


acob  Baldwin,  who,  in  his  7 8th  year,  is 
passing  the  evening  of  his  life  in  quiet  re- 
tirement on  his  little  farm  of  83  acres,  on 
section  17,  Tom pk ins  Township,  is  a  native  of 
York  State,  having  been  born  in  Fishkill,  on 
the  Hudson,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  25, 
and  was  consequently  a  Christmas  gift  to  his 
parents,  Elisha  and  Jemima  (Ryder)  Baldwin,  natives 
of  that  State. 

Jacob  Baldwin,  the  gentleman  whose  name  ap- 
pears at  the  head  of  this  biographical  notice,  remain- 
.  ed  with  his  parents  until  three  years  after  he  had 
attained  his  majority,  in  the  meantime  attending  the 
common  schools  and  assisting  his  father  in  the  labors 
on  the  farm.  Arriving  at  the  age  named,  he  bid 
adieu  to  his  father  and  mother,  and  went  forth  into 
the  cold  and  unfriendly  world  to  do  for  himself.  He 
purchased  land  and  for  five  years  followed  the  call- 
ing of  a  farmer,  when  he  sold  this  place  and  pur- 
chased another  farm  of  200  acres,  in  Cayuga  County, 
his  native  State,  on  which  he  located  and  for  18 
years  was  actively  and  laboriously  occupied  in  its 
cultivation  and  improvement.  He  then  sold  his 
landed  interests  in  York  State  and  in  1858  came  to 
this  State,  and  for  two  years  followed  his  chosen  av- 
.  ocation,  on  rented  land,  in  Tompkins  Township,  this 
county.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  bought  83 
acres  on  section  17,  where  he  is  living  to  day,  retired 
from  the  active  labors  of  a  vocation  he  has  followed 
more  or  less  all  his  life. 

On  the  lotli  day  of  January,  1833,  Mr.  Baldwin 
was  married  to  the  lady  of  his  choice,  Miss  Abigail 
Brigg.  a  native  of  York  State  and  a  daughter  of  Elias 
and  Catherine  (Campbell)  Brigg,  natives  of  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  her  father  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bald- 
win, 13  children  have  been  born,  whose  names  are, 
Elias  B.,  Elisha  J.,  Philetus  R.,  Charlotte  J.,  Frances 
J.,  Oscar,  Charles  H.,  Nora  A.,  George  W.,  Hattie 
M.  and  Elmer  R.  Daniel  P.,  the  sixth  child  in  or- 


der of  birth,  was  a  veteran  in  the  late  war,  and  was 
shot  on  the  breast-works  at  Resaca,  from  which 
wound  he  died.  Nine  of  the  children  named  are 
married  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  have  26  grand- 
children and  one  great  grandchild. 

Mr.  Baldwin,  in  politics,  is  a  Greenbacker.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  township  and  is  re- 
spected for  his  straightforward,  manly  dealings  with 
his  fellow  men.  His  wife  has  been  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  40  years.  Sarah 
M.  Baldwin,  the  seventh  child  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.,  died  at  the  age  of 
one  year  xnd  six  months.  Of  their  children,  three 
boys  were  soldiers  in  the  war  for  the  Union  and  in 
fighting  for  which,  as  we  have  already  stated,  one 
gave  up  his  life. 


Ibert  J.  Rockwell,  deceased,  was  the  sou 
of  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  town- 
ship of  Sumner,  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  after  the  removal  ot  his  parents  to 
Warren  County,  in  that  township.  He  was 
prominent  in  his  business  relations,  combining 
the  vocations  of  merchant  and  farmer,  the  latter  oc- 
cupying the  greater  portion  of  his  life. 

He  was  born  in  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  16, 
r823,  and  the  eldest  child  of  his  parents,  his  father 
being  the  lineal  descendant  of  a  Rockwell  who  came 
to  this  country  in  1630.  The  subject  of  this  notice 
was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Warren 
County.  (An  account  of  the  lives  of  the  parents  is 
presented  in  connection  with  the  personal  narration 
of  Mr.  A.  H.  Rockwell,  to  be  found  on  another  page 
of  this  work.)  Our  subject  was  a  pupil  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Ohio  while  his  family  were  there  res- 
ident, and  when  a  High  School  was  established  in 
Hendersonville,  Knox  Co.,  111.,  he  attended  it  and 
thus  acquired  a  good  and  thorough  education.  His1 
father  was  engaged  in  a  multitude  of  business  rela- 
tions, and  the  son  early  developed  unusual  ability  as 
a  book-keeper  and  clerk  in  the  store.  In  1855  he 
opened  a  stor^  on  his  own  account  at  Denny,  and 
was  extensively  engaged  in  business  pursuits  until 
1865.  Himself  and  his  brother  bought  the  family 


412 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


homestead,  which  they  divided  not  long  after  their 
purchase.  Retiring  at  this  period  from  mercantile 
Ijfe,  he  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  exclusively 
for  the  remainder  of  his  days.  His  death  occurred 
July  22,  1882.  His  remains  rest  in  the  old  Rock- 
well burying  ground  situated  on  the  homestead  re- 
purchased by  himself  and  brother.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  the  proprietor  of  a  farm  of  200 
acres. 

Politically,  Mr.  Rockwell  was  a  Democrat.  He 
was  connected  by  membership  with  no  religious  de- 
nomination, but  was  a  regular  attendant  on  the  ser- 
vices of  the  Church  to  which  his  wife  belonged. 
Always  prominent  in  his  interest  and  connection 
with  whatever  seemed  to  promise  good  to  the  com- 
munity,, he  entered  heartily  into  the  prosecution  of 
all  such  enterprises.  The  deceased  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  projected  railroad  through  Sumner 
Township,  and  lost  heavily  in  his  investment  in  a 
scheme  which  unfortunately  proved  unavailable. 

Mr.  Rockwell  was  married  twice.  His  first  wife, 
nee  Mary  J.  Craig,  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  died  Jan. 
28,  1848.  Their  only  child  died  in  infancy.  He 
was  again  married  to  Helen  M.  Burnett,  Feb.  12, 
1856.  She  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
May  23,  1833,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Lucina  (Tefft)  Burnett.  They  were  natives  of  Ver- 
mont and  New  York  respectively.  The  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Rockwell,  on  the  father's  side,  was  a  native 
of  Scotland,  and  born  about  the  year  1770.  He 
emigrated  to  this  country  about  1788,  and  settled  in 
Bennington  Co.,  Vt.  When  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Rockwell  was  six  years  of  age,  the  family  moved  to 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Rockwell's  grand- 
mother on  her  mother's  side  was  of  English  origin. 
Her  parents,  on  coming  to  this  country,  settled  in 
Connecticut,  whence  they  also  afterward  emigrated 
to  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y..  where  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Rockwell  was  born  in  1802.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Rockwell  was  known  among  his  large  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances as  Capt.  John  Burnett,  which  title  he 
acquired  in  the  early  times  when  "  general  training- 
day  "  was  an  institution. 

Six  of  the  children  who  constitute  the  issue  of  Mr. 
Rockwell's  second  marriage  are  living.  Fannie  F.  is 
the  wife  of  John  Whitman,  who  is  settled  in  Page 
Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  is  a  school-teacher.  The  other 
children  are  John,  James,  Albert,  Archie  and  Ada 
G,,  and  reside  at  home. 


Mrs.  Rockwell  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church.  She  is  a  resident  on  the  homestead. 
The  many  friends  of  her  late  husband  will  be  pleased 
to  find,  on  another  page,  an  excellent  portrait  of  the 
deceased. 


'ohn  Rogers  is  one  of  the  farmers  of  War- 
ren County  who,  from  a  small  beginning, 
k  has  made  a  competency  by  the  application 
of  the  industry  and  perseverance  which  is  his 
heritage  as  a  foreigner  and  one  who  is  born 
into  the  world  with  a  proclivity  to  make  the 
most  of  such  resources  as  fall  to  the  common  lot  of 
mankind. 

He  is  a  resident  on  section  2,  Spring  Grove  Town- 
ship, and  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres.. 
He  was  born  June  24,  1825,  in  the  County  Roscom- 
mon,  Ireland.  His  mother,  Catherine,  died  when  he 
was  17  years  of  age,  and  in  the  succeeding  year  his 
father,  Michael,  married  again.  When  he  was  18 
years  old  he  went  to  Yorkshire,  England,  and  was 
there  employed  as  a  farm  hand  until  1850,  when  he. 
came  to  America.  In  November  of  that  year  he 
sailed  from  the  port  of  Liverpool  for  the  United 
States.  The  vessel  was  wrecked  and  was  driven  to 
the  Bermudas.  Mr:  Rogers  finally  reached  New 
York,  after  a  passage  of  13  weeks  and  three  days. 
The  severity  of  the  weather  and  the  exposure  of  the 
passengers  on  the  wreck  caused  the  death  of  many, 
but  his  good  health  and  powers  of  endurance  ena- 
bled him  to  survive  all,  and  he  landed  in  a  compara- 
tively uninjured  condition.  He  went  to  Orange  Co., 
New  York,  where  he  had  an  older  brother,  who  was 
the  only  member  of  his  family,  besides  himself,  who 
came  to  the  United  States.  He  remained  there  until 
1855,  when  he  came  to  Keithsburg,  111.,  where  he 
had  some  friends,  and  was  there  employed  in  aware- 
house  for  William  Gale.  He  came  thence  to  Warren 
County,  in  1858,  where  he  located  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  has  continued  to  reside  ever  since.  He 
had  bought  160  acres  of  land  ki  Mercer  County,  and 
paid  for  it,  but,  as  it  subsequently  appeared,  the 
party  had  no  legal  power  to  sell  it,  and  in  conse- 
quence Mr.  Rogers  lost  both  his  money  and  land. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


He,  therefore,  had  to  start  anew  again.  In  1851  he 
came  here,  and  has  been  35  years  in  the  West.  Po- 
litically, he  has  always  been  a  Democrat  and  has 
steadily  voted  for  that  party.  He  is  engaged  in 
raising  Short-horn  stock,  and  is  an  accomplished 
leader  in  that  line  of  cattle.  Before  he  came  to 
Spring  Grove  Township,  he  had  bought  60  acres  of 
land,  of  which  30  acres  were,  under  the  plow  at  the 
time  of  his  purchase.  His  success  has  enabled  him 
to  make  further  purchases,  until  he  is  now  the  owner 
of  a  good  farm,  as  mentioned  above.  He  has  also 
become  the  owner  of  200  acres,  situated  seven  miles 
west  of  the  place  on  which  he  lives,  and  parts  of 
which  lie  respectively  in  Warren  and  in  Mercer 
Counties. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Rogers  to  Mary  Murphy  took 
place  Dec.  26,  1853.  She  was  born  in  Ireland.  She 
was  living  in  Orange  County,  New  York,  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage.  To  them  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren. Charles  is  the  leading  merchant  in  Little 
York,  Warren  County,  and  is  represented  by  a  sketch 
on  another  page.  He  married  Maggie  McNamara, 
and  they  have  two  children.  William  resides  in 
Sumner  Township,  and  is  a  farmer.  He  married 
Miss  Hannah  McNamara.  John  is  a  partner  in  the 
store  with  his  brother  at  Little  York.  Kate  is  the 
wife  of  Bartholomew  McNamara,  of  Sumner  Town- 
ship ;  they  have  two  children.  Mary  and  Ann  are 
the  names  of  the  two  unmarried  children. 


L'ames  Simmons,  a  goodly  land  owner  in 
Jjjj-  Greenbush  Township,  residing  upon  sec- 
tion 2,  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ky., 
Aug.  10,  1809.  He  is  a  son  of  William  Sim- 
mons, a  native  of  Virginia,  who  was  born  in 
1775,  and  who  died  in  1865,  at  the  venerable 
age  of  90  years.  The  father  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Esther  Slice,  in  1798.  She  was  born  in 
1779,  in  South  Carolina,  and  died  in  1855.  Their 
union  was  blessed  with  the  birth  of  13  children,  who 
were  named  Peter,  Martin,  Betsey,  James,  Charles, 
Sarah,  Lucinda,  John,  Roley,  Susan,  Herbert,  Nancy 
and  William. 

James    Simmons   formed   a    matrimonial   alliance 


with  Miss  Melinda  Jennings,  Dec.  9,  1838.  She  was 
born  in  1819,  in  Indiana,  and  has  borne  her  husband 
ten  children — Elizabeth,  born  in  1842  ;  Sarah  E.,in 
1844;  Samantha  J  ,  in  1846;  Nancy  M.,  in  1848; 
William  E.,  in  1851,  and  died  May  12,  1884;  Eliza 
E.,  born  in  1855  ;  Thomas  J.,  in  1857;  Ida  M.,  in 
1860;  James  E.,  in  1863.  Mr.  Simmons,  of  this  no- 
tice, when  quite  young,  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Howard  County,  Mo.,  where,  after  a  residence  of  one 
year,  he  removed  to  Boone  County,  tliat  State.  After 
living  there  about  eight  years,  his  father  moved,  to 
this  State,  and  located  near  Jacksonville.  From  that 
point  he  subsequently  moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  died 
in  the  year  stated.  Mr.  Simmons  is  the  proprietor 
of  373  acres  of  land,  located  on  section  2,  Greenbush 
Township,  and  where  he  resides,  passing  the  sunset 
of  his  life  in  the  occupation  which  he  has  followed  so 
many  years,  but  from  the  active  labors  of  which  he  is 
retired. 


Caldwell  JJind,  M.  D.,  physician  and  sur- 
geon at  Monmouth,  is  of  German  extrac- 
tion, and  was  born  at  Millersburg,  Ohio, 
Dec.  16,  1849.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
n  Pennsylvania  and  were  married  in  Ohio,  rear- 
ing five  sons  and  three  daughters.  Two  of  the 
sons  are  physicians,  one  a  jeweler,  one  a  farmer,  and 
one  is  Supreme  Recorder  of  the  order  of  Chosen 
Friends,  Indianapolis,  Ind.  Mrs.  Linn,  the  mother, 
died  in  1885,  aged  68  years.  The  senior  Mr.  Linn 
is  a  farmer  at  or  near  Paint  Valley,  Ohio. 

E.  Caldwell  Linn  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  alter- 
nating the  seasons  at  farm  labor  and  attendance  at 
the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  20  years  he  en- 
tered the  National  Normal  University  at  Lebanon, 
Ohio;  graduated  in  1874,  read  medicine  a  while  with 
Dr.  W.  S.  Battles,  of  Shreve,  Ohio,  took  a  course  of 
study  and  lectures  at  the  Cincinnati  (Ohio)  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  and  finally,  after  one  of 
the  most  thorough  courses  of  preparatory  sludy, 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1878  from  the  Keokuk 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  as  M.  D. 

He  commenced  practice  at  Hamilton,  111. .immedi- 
ately after  leaving  college,  and  at  the  end  of  a  yean 
removed  to  Bowen,  the  same  State,  where  he  re- 


414 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


mained  two  years.  From  Bowen  he  returned  to 
Hamilton,  and  was  there  connected  with  the  River- 
side Infirmary  as  consulting  physician  for  about  a 
year,  coming  thence  to  Monmouth,  in  the  autumn  of 
1 88 1.  Thoroughly  conversant  with  the  current  liter- 
ature of  his  profession,  experienced  in  therapeutics, 
conscientious  in  his  pra.cr.ice,  Dr.  Linn  merits  and 
enjoys  the  full  confidence  of  his  patroas,  who  are 
numbered  among  the  intelligent  people  of  Warren  Co. 
He  is  prominently  identified  with  the  various  medi- 
cal associations,  local  and  general,  and  without  osten- 
tatious parade  keeps  himself  abreast  with  the  best  of 
them. 

The  Doctor  was  married  at  Shreve,  Ohio,  Oct.  12, 
1881,  to  Miss  IxHiisa  Seeberger,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  A.  A.  Seeberger,  Esq.,  now  of  Mon- 
mouth. Dr.  Linn  is  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune. 
The  recipient  of  no  gratuity,  what  he  is,  he  has 
made  himself;  what  he  has,  he  has  earned.  Dr. 
Linn  is  a  member  and  Elder  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church. 


Tohn  Kelsey,  residing  on  a  good  farm 
located  on  section  9,  Swan  Township,  of 
which  he  is  the  owner,  was  born  in  War- 
ren Co.,  111.,  Jan.  3,  1840,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  Kelsey,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  born  in  1806.  The  father  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1834,  and  first  located  in  Sangamon  County. 
He  came  to  this  county  in  1836,  and  died  here  Aug. 
29,  1844.  Before  coming  to  Warren  County,  the 
father  of  John  Kelsey  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  Vandeveer,  in  1835.  She  was  born 
in  Indiana  in  1815,  and  died  in  this  county,  Aug.  29, 
1872.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children — 
Mary  J  ,  Margaret  Ann.,  John,  William  H.  and 
Samuel,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

John  Kelsey  was  married,  to  Miss  Harriet  Day, 
Oct.  5,  1865,  Rev.  Whitehead,of  the  Baptist  Church, 
officiating.  She  was  born  in  Indiana,  June  5,  i  849, 
and  has  borne  her  husband  five  children,  two  of 
whom  are  deceased.  The  record  is  as  follows : 
Delbert,  born  Oct.  12,  1866;  Emory,  Feb.  i,  1870, 


and  died  March  22,  1871;  Mary,  born  March  6, 
1872;  Hershell,  born  Aug.  15,  1874,  and  died  Nov. 
15,  1876,  and  Nettie,  born  Jan.  27,  1878.  The  pa- 
rents of  Mrs.  Kelsey  were  William  H.  H.  and  Sarah 
(Hamilton)  Day.  Her  father  was  born  in  Indiana, 
in  1817,  and  died  one  year  after  coming  to  this  State, 
in  1853.  He  was  married  in  1837,  and  his  wife  was 
born  in  Indiana,  in  1818,  and  died  in  this  State,  in 
1876.  The  death  of  the  former  was  caused  by  a 
cancer  on  the  breast  and  he  died  after  an  illness  of 
about  one  year.  Their  children  were  five  in  num- 
ber— Amanda,  Warren,  Emily,  Harriet  and  Mary  F., 
all  of  whom  are  living  and  well-to-do  in  life. 

Mr.  Kelsey,  of  this  notice,  has  140  acres  of  land 
under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  located  on 
sections  9  and  10,  Swan  Township,  where  he  resides 
and  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  addition 
to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  he  is  devoting  consid- 
erable of  his  time  and  means  to  the  raising  of  high 
grades  of  Short-horns,  and  his  horses  are  from  one- 
half  to  seven-eighths  Norman.  Mr.  Kelsey  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  extremely  liberal  in 
his  religious  opinions,  although  a  firm  believer  in  the 
immortality  of  the  soul.  He  is  a  just  man,  a  kind 
father,  a  generous  neighbor,  and  always  willing  to 
aid  in  any  enterprise  that  is  calculated  to  benefit  his 
fellow  men  or  the  community  in  which  he  lives.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the  prin- 
ciples advocated  by  the  Democratic  party. 

Mrs.  James  Kelsey,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  remained  a  widow  for  three  years  after  the 
death  of  her  husband,  when  she  was  again  married 
to  John  Blue,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Their  union 
proved  to  be  a  very  unhappy  one,  on  account  of  his 
intemperate  habits  which  caused  some  of  her  chil- 
dren, by  her  former  marriage,  to  leave  home,  and  the 
society  of  their  mother.  John,  whose  biography  we 
write,  was  one  of  these  unfortunate  ones,  and  at  the 
age  of  nine  years  went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Ab- 
salom Vandeveer,  with  whom  he  resided  until  he 
was  20  years  of  age.  By  energy  and  perseverance 
he  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  goodly  share  of 
this  world's  goods,  and  is  surrounded  with  a  happy 
family  of  three  children.  Socially,  Mr.  Vandeveer  is 
a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Youngstown,  be- 
longing to  Lodge  No.  387.  He  first  joined  the  order 
in  1853,  at  Greenbush,  this  county,  and  has  been 
Treasurer  of  the  Lodge  for  25  years.  For  four  years 
Mr.  Vandeveer  was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  Swan 


• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Township,  and  we  deem  it  no  flattery  to  say  that  he 
is  one  of  the  representative  class  of  agriculturists  of 
the  county. 


•«*»- 


arker  B.  Parrish,  a  successful  farmer  in 
this  county,  which  occupation  he  has  fol- 
lowed for  the  major  portion  of  his  life,  is  a 
resident  on  section  4,  Ellison  Township.  He 
was  born  near  La  Fayette,  Tippecanoe  Co., 
Ind.,  Jan.  19,  1832.  The  father  of  Mr.  Par- 
rish of  this  notice  was  Henry  Parrish,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  who  moved  with  his  parents  to  Ross  Co., 
Ohio,  and  there  resided  until  his  marriage  with  Eliza 
Harvey,  a  native  of  Maine,  who  accompanied  her 
parents  on  their  emigration  to  that  county  a  few 
years  prior  to  her  marriage.  After  their  marriage 
they  resided  in  Ohio  until  six  children  had  been 
born  to  them,  when  they  moved  to  Indiana,  in  1831, 
and  located  near  LaFayette,  then  but  a  hamlet.  The 
land  at  that  early  period  was  in  its  natural  condition, 
!  and  the  hand  of  civilization  was  as  yet  hardly  visible. 
•  They  entered  Government  land  at  a  time  when  the 
I  Indian  Reserve  was  but  seven  miles  from  their  resi- 
dence, which  was  located  near  the  battle  ground  on 
which  Harrison  overcame  Tecumseh,  the  afterwards 
famous  Tippecanoe  Valley.  The  parents  continued 
to  reside  in  that  beautiful  portion  of  the  State,  where 
the  father  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and 
where  they  were  both  finally  laid  to  rest. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  the  first  child  of  his 
parents  born  in  Indiana,  and  the  seventh  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  family.  He  resided  at  home  and  got  his 
education  in  the  old  log-cabin  school-house  of  the 
day,  these  being  the  primitive  educational  advant- 
ages then  afforded  the  community.  His  years,  prior 
to  his  majority,  were  passed  on  the  farm,  lending  a 
hand  in  the  maintenance  of  the  family,  and  attend- 
ing school.  On  becoming  his  own  master,  Mr.  Par- 
rish worked  as  a  general  laborer  until  his  marriage. 
This  event  took  place  April  16,  1855,  in  this  county, 
when  Miss  Annaretta  Godfrey  became  his  wife.  She 
was  born  July  4,  1828.  After  marriage  Mr.  Parrish 
with  his  wife  returned  to  Indiana,  where  they  lived 
in  happy  union  for  seven  years,  when  she  passed  to 
the  land  of  the  hereafter,  the  date  of  her  demise  be- 


ing May  11,  1862.  Three  children  survived  her, 
namely:  Gus  A.,  who  married  Florence  Livermore, 
and  is  residing  on  a  farm  in  this  township;  Willard, 
who  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Cramer  and 
is  at  present  residing  at  Red  Oak,  la.,  near  which 
place  he" is  engaged  in  stock-raising  and  farming. 
The  third  child,  Anna,  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years. 

Mr.  Parrish,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  re- 
turned to  this  county,  where,  in  Ellison  Township, 
on  Sept.  7,  1863,  he  was  again  married,  the  lady 
who  became  his  second  life-partner  being  Charlotte 
Godfrey,  a  sister  of  his  former  wife,  and  the  daughter 
of  Elijah  and  Ellen  (Davis)  Godfrey.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Maryland,  prior  to  whose  union  the 
parents  of  both  had  removed  to  Ross  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Godfrey  first  met  each  other 
and  where  they  were  married.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Godfrey  removed  to  Indiana,  and  afterwards  came 
to  this  county  and  located  in  Ellison  Township, 
where  her  father  died,  her  mother  having  preceded 
him  to  the  spirit-land  during  their  stay  in  Tippe- 
canoe Co.,  Ind.  Mrs.  Parrish  was  born  in  that 
county,  Sept.  30,  1837.  She  was  the  seventh  in  or- 
der of  birth  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  which  con- 
sisted of  eight  daughters  and  two  sons,  and  resided 
at  home,  receiving  her  education  in  the  district 
schools  and  assisting  her  mother  in  the  household 
duties,  until  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Parrish.  They 
"have  become  the  parents  of  eight  children,  three  of 
whom  are  deceased.  Those  living  are  Charles  E.» 
John  O.,  Ida,  Nora  B.  and  Effie  E.,  and  the  de- 
ceased are  Frank,  Lucilla  and  Harry. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Parrish  purchased  80  acres  of  land 
where  he  is  at  present  residing.  Locating  on  this 
land,  he  at  once  set  to  work  with  characteristic  en- 
ergy to  establish  a  home  for  himself  and  family, 
which  would __ afford  , a  comfortable  shelter  in  the  de- 
clining years  of  their  life.  By  energy  and  economy, 
hard  work  and  the  exercise  of  a  naturally  sound 
judgment,  he  was,  in  1875,  enabled  to  purchase  an 
additional  160  acres,  located  on  section  3,  same 
township,  and  a  few  years  afterward  added  thereto 
40  acres  of  farm  land  and  28  acres  of  timber.  Mr. 
Parrish  has  thus  increased  his  landed  interests  in 
this  county  until  he  is  at  present  the  owner  of 
308  acres  of  land,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of 
timber,  is  tillable. 

lu    politics,  Mr.    P.    votes    with,  the    Democratic 


4t8 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


party.  As  an  aid  in  spiritual  guidance,  he  and  his 
wife  early  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

In  addition  to  strictly  agricultural  pursuits,  Mr. 
P.  is  somewhat  extensively  engaged  in  the  breeding 
and  raising  of  stock.  He  was  the  second  man  in 
this  county  to  recognize  the  value  of  the  improve- 
ment of  Short-horn  stock,  and  began  breeding  in 
1871.  The  first  Short-horn  heifer  purchased  by 
him  is  yet  on  his  farm,  and  weighs  r,8oo  pounds. 
He  is  also  the  proud  owner  of  two  full-blood  Clydes- 
dale horses,  and  part  owner  of  three  others.  Thus 
successful  has  he  proved  himself  as  a  propagator  of 
improved  stock. 

In  connection  with  this  sketch  of  the  career  of  a 
representative  agriculturist,  we  present  an  excellent 
view  of  his  homestead,  on  page  416. 


acob  Hayden,  who  is  passing  the  sunset 
of  his  life  on  his  farm,  on  sections  12  and 
13,  Tompkins  Township,  where  he  follows 
his  chosen  vocation,  that  of  an  agriculturist, 
was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1820.  The  parents  of 
Mr.  Hayden,  John  and  Nancy  (Ellis)  Hayden,- 
were  natives  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  respectively. 
They  moved  from  the  latter  State  to  Ohio  in  1816, 
where  the  father  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  resided  with  his  family,  engaged  in  its  cul- 
tivation until  his  death.  The  gentleman  whose  name 
appears  at  the  head  of  this  biographical  notice,  lived 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  22  years  old,  receiving 
at  their  hands  a  good  common-school  education.  At 
that  age  in  life  his  savings  enabled  him  to  purchase 
40  acres  of  laad,  and  after  living  thereon  until  1849, 
he  came  to  this  State  and  for  two  years  farmed  on 
rented  land  in  this  county.  In  1850  he  purchased 
80  acres  of  land  in  Ellison  Township,  and  there  re- 
sided for  15  years,  until  1865.  During  that  year  he 
moved  to  Tompkins  Township,  and  there  purchased 
95  acres,  on  which  he  moved  and  has  resided  for  20 
years,  following  the  vocation  of  an  agriculturist. 

Miss  Mary  A.  King,  an  accomplished  young  lady, 
native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  Jan.  27,  1846,  became 
the  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and  has  borne 


children,  namely :  Sarah  F.,  George,  Charles  and 
Carrie  M.  In  politics,  Mr.  Hayden  casts  his  vote 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
consistent,  active  workers  in  the  cause  of  religion, 
belonging  to  the  Christian  Church. 


W.  Armstrong,  a  practicing  physician,  re- 
siding at  Kirkwood,  this  county,  was  born 
in  Knox  County,  East  Tennessee,  Jan.  22, 
1807.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Armstrong,  John 
and  Nancy  (Wier)  Armstrong,  were  natives  of 
1  Tennessee.  They  moved  from  that  State  to 
Indiana  in  1826,  where  the  father  followed  survey- 
ing and  where  he  purchased  a  quantity  of  land,  on 
which  he  lived  until  his  death,  Oct.  23,  1851,  his  wife 
having  preceded  him  to  the  land  beyond  the  river, 
July  5,  1818. 

A.  W.  Armstrong,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  we  give 
in  this  biography,  remained  with  his  parents  until 
one  year  after  attaining  his  majority.  At  the  age 
named,  22,  he  took  a  course  of  study  in  the  Tennes- 
see Literary  College,  at  which  he  matriculated  and 
followed  the  entire  curriculum  of  that  institution,  oc- 
cupying six  years  of  hi-;  lime.  He  then  taught 
school  for  two  years  in  the  Male  Seminary,  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  and  also  taught  Latin  in  the  college 
from  which  he  graduated  for  one  year.  In  1833 
Dr.  Armstrong  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  Mclntosh,  a  graduate  of  Edinburgh  Col- 
lege, Scotland,  with  whom  he  remained  two  years. 
He  then  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  Drake's 
College,  Cincinnati,  and  subsequently  took  a  course 
of  study  at  the  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago, 
where  he  graduated,  in  1849.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  actively  con- 
tinued the  same  until  r873.  During  that  year  he 
took  a  trip  to  California,  where  he  remained  one  year, 
then  returned,  resumed  his  practice  and  continued 
the  same  until  1879.  At  this  date  he  took  another 
rest  from  active  labor  and  spent  a  year  in  Arkansas, 
when  he  returned  and  has  since  continued  his  prac- 
tice. In  1844  Dr.  Armstrong  went  to  Crawfordsville, 
Ind.,  where  he  lived  for  12  years.  He  came  to  this 
county  in  1858  and  settled  at  Kirkwood,  and  from 
that  time  until  the  present,  with  the  exception  stated, 


- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


419 


has  actively  followed  the  practice  of  his  profession 
there.  He  is  a  gentleman  whose  reputation  in  the 
community  is  such  that  it  requires  at  our  hands  no 
encomiums,  and  his  success  in  his  profession  places 
him  among  the  most  prominent  men  in  the  county. 

Dr.  Armstrong  wooed  and  won  Miss  Mary  West- 
fall,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they  were  married  in 
1847.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  the  birth 
of  three  children — William  D.,  Sarah  L.  and  Mattie. 
In  politics,  the  Doctor  votes  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and,  with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Dr.  Armstrong  is  the  oldest  physician  of 
Kirkwood.and  although  in  his  7  8th  year,  is  enjoying 
good  health.  William  D.  Armstrong  married  Miss 
Annie  Cargill,  a  native  of  Warren  County,  this  State. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  with  seven  children, 
viz.:  Alfred  C,  Clarence,  Mary,  Edith,  Mabel,  Wil- 
liam and  an  infant,  at  this  writing  not  named. 

Sarah  L.  married  Samuel  Allen,  a  prominent  bus- 
iness man  of  Kirkwood ;  to  them  have  been  born 
four  children,  viz.:  Kemper,  Wilma,  Pearl  and  Nina. 
Kemper  is  now  deceased.  Mattie  is  living  with  her 
parents  and  is  a  teacher  in  the  public  school. 


ohn  T.  McWilliams,  engaged  in  general 
'•'-  farming  on  section  i,  Ellison  Township, 
was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  Dec. 
20,  1826.  His  father,  Alexander  McWilliams, 
of  Irish  descent,  was  a  native  of  Pennsjlvania 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  married  Miss 
Jane  Boyle,  in  his  native  State.  She  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  that  State  and  of  Scotch  ancestry  and  descent. 
John  T.,  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  notice,  was  about  17  years  of  age  when, 
in  1844,  his  parents  came  to  this  State,  locating  in 
Ellison  Township,  where  two  years  afterward,  in  1846, 
the  father  died,  aged  49  years.  His  mother  died  at 
the  residence  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Almira  Yoho,  in 
Ellison  Township,  in  1883,  aged  81  years.  John  T. 
was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  only  four  of  whom  are  living,  two  in  Illinois 
and  two  in  Iowa,  Mr.  McWilliams  being  the  oldest  of 
the  children  living.  He  received  a  limited  educa- 


tion in  the  district  schools  and  assisted  in  the  labors 
of  the  farm,  developing  into  manhood. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  McWilliams  took  place  Aug. 
3°)  t^SS-  i"  tne  State  of  Missouri,  at  which  time 
Miss  Naitcy  Sackett,  a  highly  educated,  Christian 
lady,  became  hrs  wife.  She  was  "born  in  1839,  in  St. 
Clair  County,  this  State,  and  died  at  her  home  in 
Ellison  Township,  Dec.  5,  1867.  By  their  union  five 
children  were  born — Charles  H.,  a  conductor  on  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  and  who  formerly  followed 
the  same  vocation  on  the  Union  Pacific  Road  ; 
Frank  resides  in  Cheyenne  County,  Kansas ;  Marion 
is  living  at  Marshalhown,  Iowa,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  teaching;  Mannda  B.  became  the  wife  of  M.  J. 
Ralston,  who  lives  at  Creighton,  Neb.,  where  he  is 
following  1  he  occupation  of  a  farmer ;  and  Amy  is 
living  at  home.  Afier  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr. 
McWilliams  was  again  married,  March  14,  1869, 
the  Christian  lady  chosen  for  his  wife  being  Mrs. 
Mary  Crosier,  nee  Loftus.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Kentucky.  Of  her  former  union  with  Mr.  Crosier,-, 
two  children  were  born,  and  of  her  latter  union  with 
Mr.  McWilliams,  three  children  have  been  born,one-j 
of  whom  is  deceased.  The  living  are  A.  J.  and- 
Archie,  who  reside  at  home.  Mrs.  McWilliams  de- 
parted this  life  Aug.  3,  1879,  at  her  home  in  Ellison 
Township. 

Mr.  McWilliams  made  his  first  purchase  of  land 
in  this  county  in  1869,  the  same  consisting  of  80 
acres.  He  at  present  has  60  acres  under  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  cultivation.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church.  Mr. 
McWilliams  enlisted  in  the  Mexican  War  in  an  in- 
dependent company  of  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  was  in 
active  service  as  a  scout,  but  was  in  no  general  en- 
gagement. He  was  discharged  at  the  close  of  the 
w.ir,  in  August,  1848.  He  also  enlisted  in  the  war 
for  the  Union,  joining  Co.  C,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  where 
his  re'giment  was  under  the  command  of  General 
Thomas.  He  belonged  to  a  mounted  company  and 
participated  in  no  general  engagement,  but  in  nu- 
merous skirmishes.  He  was  finally  transferred  from 
the  83d  to  the  6ist  Regiment,  and  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  in  1865.  In  the  cyclone  that  swept 
away  the  village  of  Ellison,  May  30,  1858,  Mr.  Mc- 
Williams lost  two  sisters,  Mary  A.  and  Harriet,  both 
young  ladies,  and  both  killed  by  the  tornado  at  that 


42O 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1, 


&-*• 


time.  In  politics,  Mr.  McWilliams  is  a  believer  in 
and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
parly. 


Charles  S.  Fletcher,  a  farmer  on  section  17, 
Tompkins  Township,  Warren  County, 
was  born  in  Ferrisburgh,  Addison  Co., 
Vt.,  June  9,  1825.  His  parents  were  Samuel 
and  Ida  (Cousins)  Fletcher,  natives  of  Eng- 
land and  Vermont  respectively.  Samuel 
Fletcher  was  a  signal  officer  at  the  battle  on  Lake 
Champlain  under  Commodore  McDonough,  and  re- 
ceived $[,ooo  as  prize  money.  He  was  Captain  of 
the  Ethan  Allen,  a  vessel  on  Lake  Champlain,  and 
during  a  heavy  storm  in  1832  he  was  swept  over- 
board and  drowned.  His  wife's  death  occurred  in 
1829. 

Charles  S.  Fletcher  (the  subject  of  this  article), 
who,  previous  to  his  father's  death,  had  been  placed 
in  the  care  of  Samuel  Spafford,  came  to  Ohio  with 
him  in  1832.  He  continued  a  member  of  that  gen- 
tleman's family  until  he  was  14  years  of  age.  He 
remained  in  the  Buckeye  State  until  he  attained  his 
2oth  year,  when  he  embarked  in  the  show  business, 
and  for  15  years  traveled  with  a  menagerie  and  cir- 
cus, during  which  period  he  was  with  a  company  ex- 
hibiting through  the  West  Indies  and  South  America, 
in  which  countries  he  also  made  a  large  collection  of 
birds,  reptiles  and  other  curiosities.  At  the  age  of 
35  years,  Mr.  Fletcher  came  to  Ellison  Township, 
Warren  County,  where  he  had  previously  purchased 
1 60  acres  of  land,  and  there  remained,  cultivating 
and  improving  the  same  for  a  period  of  two  years, 
and  then  sold  and  purchased  another  tract  of  160 
acres,  in  the  same  township,  being  a  resident  of  it 
for  about  the  same  length  of  time  as  he  was  the 
other.  His  next  move  was  to  his  present  location, 
where  he  has  landed  possessions  to  the  number  of  90 
acres  on  section  17  and  5  acres  on  section  6,  this 
township,  and  640  acres  in  Nebraska.  In  1876  Mr. 
F.  erected  a  residence,  which  cost  him  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  $11,000,  which  he  sold  soon  after  com- 
pleting. His  home  farm  presents  the  appearance  of 
thrift  and  energy,  and  is  in  an  advanced  state  of  cul- 


tivation. He  carries  on  a  general  farming,  and  is 
one  of  the  substantial  men  of  Warren  County. 

Mr.  Fletcher  and  Miss  Sarah  E.  Wilson,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  Oct.  28,  1860.  Her  parents  were  Clark 
S.  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Peck)  Wilson,  both  natives  of 
the  State  of  Connecticut.  They  came  West  in  the 
fall  of  1861,  and  are  now  residing  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fletcher.  They  have  become  the  parents  of  a  fam- 
ily of  eight  children,  all  surviving,  except  one,  as 
follows:  Samuel  C.,  born  July  20,  1862;  Sidney  W., 
born  May  31,  1864;  Nina  E.,  born  Feb.  i,  1866, 
Ninette  A.,  born  Nov.  6,  1869 ;  Ida  May,  born  May 
i,  1872;  Ethan  Allen,  born  Sept.  9,  1876;  and 
Charles  B.,  born  Aug.  26,  1884;  and  Minerva  I., 
deceased. 

Politically,  Mr.  F.  affiliates  with  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party. 


• 


W.  Nisely,  one  of  Warren  County's  ener- 
getic and  prosperous  farmers,  resides  on 
section  34,  Roseville  Township;  is  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Hawk)  Nisely,  having 
been  born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  22, 
1818.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  former  came  to  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  1816,  and  engaged  in  the  distilling  business,  and 
also  that  of  a  farmer  for  some  time.  They  died  in 
Medina,  Ohio,  the  father  in  1867  and  the  mother  in 
1874. 

G.  W.  Nisely  remained  at  home  until  he  was  25 
years  of  age,  spending  his  time  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  work  for  his  father.  He  has  a  good 
farm  of  130  acres,  carries  on  a  general  farming  busi- 
ness, and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  solid  and  sub- 
stantial men  of  Warren  County. 

On  the  gth  of  March,  1853,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  M.  Mabry,  who  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Esther  (Leurman)  Mabry,  of  Ohio.  They  have  a 
family  of  ten  children,  to  whom  they  have  given  the 
following  names:  Homer,  George  W.,  Mary,  Jerome, 
John  F.,  Hester  M.,  Thomas  B.,  Charles  E.,  Albert 
A.  and  Kittie  M.  Mr.  Nisely  is  a  Prohibitionist  in 


•   -m 


/ 


,-v;.        : 

•   ',  ->     v 


'X 


**i 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


423 


political  views,  and  with  his  wife,  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

There  were  13  children  in  the  family  of  Mr. 
Nisely's  father,  eight  of  whom  are  living.  Samuel, 
one  of  the  sons,  lives  in  Iowa.  The  remainder  are 
all  living  in  Ohio,  except  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Jacob  Nisely,  the  father,  died  in  Medina  County, 
at  the  age  of  76  years.  His  wife,  and  mother  of 
George,  died  also  in  that  county  at  the  age  of  76 
years.  Mr.  Nisely  left  home  in  the  spring  of  1855, 
and  stopped  in  Peoria  County,  and  the  next  year 
went  to  Knox  County.  He  came  to  Warren  County 
in  1857  and  rented  land  until  1864,  when  he  pur- 
chased 80  acres  on  section  34,  of  Roseville  Township 
and  here  has  lived  to  the  present. 


r 


Thomas  Patton,  of  the  firm  of  Patton  & 
Beedee,  dealers  in  flour,  seeds,  pumps,  ag- 
ricultural implements,  lime,  cement,  etc., 
at  Monmouth,  111.,  was  born  in  Adams  Co., 
Ohio,  Nov.  20,  1831.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Pat- 
ion,  John  S.  and  Jane  (McCague)  Patton,  reared 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  senior  Mr.  Pat- 
ton  was  twice  married  (see  biography  of  R.  S.  Pat- 
ton). 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm.  Of  the  children 
Mr.  Patton  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  and 
the  second  son.  At  the  common  schools  he  acquired 
a  good  English  education  and  taught  successfully  for 
several  years  in  Ohio.  In  1855  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  resided  in  Peoria  County  up  to  r868,  teaching 
school  in  the  meantime,  five  or  six  winters,  and  car- 
rying on  a  farm  during  the  summer.  In  1868  he  re- 
moved to  Warren  County  and  was  engaged  in  the 
occupation  of  an  agriculturist,  in  Hale  Township,  for 
about  ten  years,  coming  thence  to  Monmouth,  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  his  present  business. 
His  first  partner  was  M.  A.  Gidding;  his  second,  D. 
C.  Goudy;  and  the  third,  Mr.  Beedee.  Mr.  Patton 
was  a  successful  farmer  and  is  likewise  a  popular 
and  successful  merchant.  Before  coming  to  Mon- 
mouth, he  was  two  years  School  Trustee,  and  since 
residing  here  he  has  represented  his  ward  two  years 
in  the  city  council. 

Mr.    Patton  formed   a  matrimonial  alliance   with 


Miss  Esther  Stevenson,  in  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  16, 
1856.  Mrs.  Patton  died  in  1877,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren— Ella  J.  (Mrs.  R.  Miller),  Charles,  Nannie  B. 
and  Alice.  Mr.  Patton's  second  marriage  occurred 
at  Monmouth,  in  1878,  the  present  Mrs.  Patton  hav- 
ing been  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Davidson,  nee  Black.  Relig- 
io  isly,  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patton  are  members  of  the 
U  !ted  Presbyterian  Church. 


Charles  E.  Russell.  Among  the  prominent 
young  farmers  of  Warren  County,  we  have 
the  subject  of  this  personal  narrative.  He 
lives  on  section  14,  of  Lenox  Township,  and  is 
a  son  of  Jonathan  Russell,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  the  county,  whose  biography  is  given  in 
this  ALBUM.  His  mother,  Lydia  A.  (Evans)  Rus- 
sell, was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Charles  was  born 
in  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  29,  1859.  He 
received  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  this 
county,  his  |  arents  having  moved  here  when  he  was 
about  a  year  old.  Here  he  was  reared  and  has  since 
lived.  He  is  the  owner  of  70  acres  of  good,  tillable 
land  in  Lenox  Township,  section  22.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  order  of  the  Golden  Rule,  and  in  political 
faith,  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Russell  was  married  at  Monmouth,  Sept.  4, 
1884,  to  Lonie  L.  Shaw,  daughter  of  Clarkston  Shaw 
and  Melissa  J.  Codington,  natives  of  New  York  and 
Kentucky  respectively.  Mrs.  R.  was  born  in  Spring 
Grove  Township,  Nov.  i,  1864. 


oseph  Tinkham,  one  of  the  large  land- 
owners of  Warren  County,  living  in  retire- 
ment at  Kirkwood,  where  he  is  passing  the 
sunset  of  his  life  in  peace  and  quiet,  in  the 
u  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  which  are  the  re- 
ward of  a  life  of  labor,  energy  and  persever- 
ance, was  born  in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  March 
26,  i8r2. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Tinkham  were  Benjamin  and 
Anna  (Gray)  Tinkham,  natives  of  Vermont  and  New 
Hampshire  respectively.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
and  died  in  his  native  State  in  1827.  Mrs.  Tink- 


424 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


ham,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  came  to 
this  State  and  resided  with  her  children  until  her 
death,  in  1861.  Of  this  union,  six  children  were 
born — Mary,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Ransom,  Erastus 
and  Amerette. 

Joseph,  the  second  child,  whose  name  heads  this 
biography,  passed  the  years  of  his  life  prior  to  at- 
taining his  majority,  under  the  care  of  his  parents, 
receiving  at  their  hands  a  good  education,  and  as- 
sisting his  father  on  the  farm.  On  becoming  his 
own  master,  his  ambition  to  accumulate  a  compe- 
tency for  himself  immediately  began  to  assert  itself. 
He  left  the  parental  homestead  and  worked  out  for 
six  years.  In  1835,  when  22  years  of  age,  realizing 
that  better  inducements  were  offered  to  young  men 
in  the  undeveloped  West,  he  emigrated  to  this  State, 
and  located  in  Warren  County,  where  he  purchased 
1 60  acres  of  land.  To  his  original  purchase  he  sub- 
sequently added  500  acres,  upon  which  he  moved 
with  his  family  and  resided  until  1 88 1,  during  which 
time  the  land  was  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. In  the  year  last  mentioned,  he  retired  from 
the  active  labors  of  life  and  removed  to  Kirkwood, 
where  he  purchased  a  house  and  lot  and  where  he 
has  made  his  place  of  residence  since. 

Mr.  Tinkham  was  married  in  1841,  the  lady 
chosen  to  be  his  companion  for  life  being  Miss  Ann 
Robinson,  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  where  she 
was  born  Dec.  13,  1815.  Her  parents,  William  R. 
and  Sarah  (Witcher)  Robinson,  natives  of  the  State 
of  Virginia,  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Sangamon 
County,  in  1836,  and  after  a  period  of  four  years  re- 
moved to  Logan  County.  At  the  latter  place  they 
entered  on  Government  land  and  began  to  work 
the  same,  their  farm  being  under  an  advanced  state 
of  cultivation  when  the  mother  died  in  1845.  The 
father's  death  occurred  at  the  residence  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Ann  Tinkham,  in  Kirkwood  village,  this 
county,  in  1858.  They  were  natives  of  Virginia, 
where  her  father  was  bom  in  1779,  and  her  mother 
in  1795.  The  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Tinkham  were, 
on  the  father's -side,  McKenna  Robinson  and  Eliz- 
abeth Wamsley,  also  natives  of  Virginia.  On  the 
mother's  side,  her  ancestors  were  James  Witcher  and 
Mary  Kelly,  who  were  likewise  Virginians.  Of  the 
union  of  William  R.  Robinson  and  Sarah  Witcher,  12 
children  were  the  offspring,  viz.:  Mary,  Rebecca, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Ann,  Mary  Ann,  Lydia,  Jane,  Mi- 
nerva, William,  Kittie  and  Christopher  T. 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Tinkham  have  been  born 
two  children  to  brighten  and  bless  their  family  cir- 
cle. Mary  A.  married  Samuel  H.  Smith  and  is  the 
mother  of  four  children — Jessie  M.,  Mary  D.,  Hayden 
F.  and  Edna  F.  who  resides  in  this  county.  Joseph 
W.  married  Emily  Blanch  Cunningham,  and  their 
family  comprises  three  children — Willard  B.,  Zelma 
B.  and  Mary  F.,  and  they  also  live  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Tinkham  is  a  Democrat  in  political  opinion, 
and,  with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 
He  is  a  stock-holder  in  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Kirkwood,  has  served  this  community  as  Supervisor, 
Township  Treasurer,  and  in  other  minor  offices,  and 
is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  influential  men  of 
Kirkwood  village.  Mr.  Tinkham's  portrait  appears 
on  page  422. 


,rs.  Martha  M.  Bennett,  widow  of  Her- 
man K.  Bennett,  resides  on  section  20, 
Tompkins  Township,  where  she  is  en- 
gaged in  carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits, 
cultivating  the  land  left  her  by  her  husband^ 
Herman  K.  Bennett,  who  was  born  Sept.  8,  , 
1833,  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  departed  this  life 
Nov.  8,  1879.  Mr.  Bennett  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  was  an  inmate  of 
his  parenls's  household  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
17  years.  At  this  time  he  went  forth  to  do  for  him- 
self, and  for  three  years  worked  out^by  the  month. 
He  then  came  to  this  State  and  engaged  in  the  oc- 
cupation of  agriculture,  which  he  made  a  lifetime 
pursuit.  In  1854  he  purchased  80  acres  of  land  on 
section  19,  Tompkins  Township,  on  which  he  loca- 
ted with  his  family  and  at  once  entered  actively  and 
laboriously  upon  the  task  of  its  improvement  and  cul- 
tivation. By  hard  labor  and  economy,  coupled  with 
the  active  co-operation  of  his  good  helpmeet,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  saving  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  add  40 
acres  to  his  original  purchase,  the  same  being  loca- 
ted on  section  31.  He  lived  and  labored  on  his  farm, 
determining  to  make  it  a  permanent  home  for  him- 
self and  family,  until  his  death,  at  which  time  he  left 
a  clear  title  to  1 20  acres  of  good  farm  land  to  his 
wife  and  children. 

The  ceremony  which  united  the  lives  of  Mr.  Ben- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


425 


nett  and  Miss  Martha  M.  Fitzsimmons,  was  solemn- 
ized March  5,  1861.  She  was  a  native  of  New  York 
and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Dewitt) 
Fitzsimmons,  natives  of  the  same  State.  Their  union 
was  blessed  with  the  birth  of  two  children — Will  H. 
and  Cora  E.  Mrs.  Bennett  has,  since  her  husband's 
death,  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  on  section  20, 
east  of  the  old  homestead,  upon  which  she  now  re- 
sides and  manages  the  cultivation  of  her  entire  farm 
of  280  acres.  In  politics,  Mr.  B.  was  a  Republican. 
He  was  a  gentleman  possessed  of  a  large  amount  of 
benevolence  and  never  failed  to  lend  a  helping  hand 
to  the  needy,  or  failed  to  aid  any  good  undertaking 
that  was  calculated  to  benefit  the  community,  either 
with  his  time  or  means. 


^lisha  .1.  Hughen,  is  a  member  of  the  agri- 
cultural community  of  the  township  of 
Point  Pleasant,  and  is  located  on  section 
14.  He  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug. 
31,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Hughen  who 
was  a  native  of  South  Carolina.  The  latter 
was  born  in  the  District  of  Newbury,  in  that  State, 
and  was  married  to  Susannah  Jones,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  State  and  District.  Some  years 
after  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Indiana,  being 
among  the  earliest  of  the  permanent  white  settlers 
there.  Mr.  Hughen,  senior,  bought  a  large  tract  of 
timber  land,  where  he  cleared  a  farm,  which  was  the 
place  of  his  residence  and  the  field  of  his  operations 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1827.  The  mother, 
by  that  prudent  management  characteristic  of  par- 
ents in  her  generation,  succeeded  in  keeping  her 
fatherless  flock  of  seven  children  together  until  they 
grew  to  the  age  of  maturity  and  were  settled  in  life. 
In  1856,  she  came  to  Warren  County  to  become  a 
member  of  the  family  of  the  son  who  is  the  subject 
of  this  narration,  and  with  whom  she  passed  the  last 
years  of  her  life.  She  died  in  1859. 

Mr.  Hughen  was  less  than  two  years  of  age  when 
his  father  died.  As  boy  and  man,  he  devoted  him- 
self to  the  service  of  his  mother,  continuing  to  assist 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  until  his  mar- 
riage, solely  for  her  benefit. 

In  1847,  he  was  joined  in  the  bonds  of  malrimony 


with  Mary,  daughter  of  Drury  and  Elizabeth  (Hurd) 
Boyd,  and  with  his  wife  remained  residents  of  the 
old  family  homestead  until  their  removal  to  Warren 
County. 

After  their  arrival  here  they  farmed  rented  land 
for  two  years.  In  1858,  Mr.  Hughen  bought  80 
acres,  which  he  has  since  retained  possession  of  and 
upon  which  he  has  expended  the  best  energies  of  his 
life.  It  was  all  wild  prairie  and  previous  to  taking 
possession  with  his  family  he  was  under  the  neces- 
sity of  erecting  a  dwelling  into  which  they  moved  in 
the  spring  of  1859.  He  has  since  enlarged  the 
homestead  by  the  purchase  of  40  acres  additional. 
The  entire  farm  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
being  devoted  to  mixed  husbandry,  and  Mr.  Hughen 
may  well  be  proud,  not  only  of  his  success  in  secur- 
ing a  competency  for  the  future,  but  also  upon  the 
reputation  he  has  attained  as  a  model  farmer.  He 
and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  four  children.  Eliz- 
abeth is  the  wife  of  J.  Newton  Anstine,  of  Seward 
Co.,  Neb.  Esther  married  James  King.  She  died 
leaving  four  children.  Her  husband  and  children 
live  in  Missouri.  Susannah  died  in  early  chilhood. 
William  resides  at  home  with  his  father  and  mother. 
The  latter  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church. 


||:  ansom  Roberts,  a  representative  citizen  of 
the  agricultural  class  of  Warren  County, 
residing  upon  section  2,  Swan  Township, 
where  he  is  the  proprietor  of  218  acres  of 
good  farm  land,  is  a  native  of  this  county,  hav- 
ing been  born  here  Apr.  2,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of 
Abijah  Roberts,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  was  born  Jan. 2 6, 
1798,  came  to  this  State  in  1834  and  located  in  Swan 
Township,  where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  on 
section  12.  He  died  June  23,  185  i, of  cholera,  after 
an  illness  of  24  hours.  He  was  buried  in  the  Bond 
Cemetery,  Greenbush  Township.  Miss  Laura  Smith 
became  his  wife  Dec.  10,  1836,  they  having  been 
married  in  Morgan  County.  She  was  born  in  Mor- 
gan County,  July  9,  1820,  and  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  that  county,  her  parents,  Phineas  and 
Lucy  Smith,  being  pioneer  settlers  there. 

Mrs.  Laura  Roberts,  mother  of  the  subject  of.this 


426 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


notice,  died  Feb.  3,  1877,  and  was  likewise  buried  in 
Bond  Cemetery.  She  was  the  mother  of  seven  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  survive,  the  eldest  two  having 
died  in  infancy.  Those  living  are  Ransom,  born 
April  2,  1839;  Abirum,  April  15,  1841;  Mariette, 
Dec.  16,  1843;  Gilbert,  July  8,  1845;  George  W., 
April  n,  1849. 

Ransom  Roberts,  of  whom  we  write,  formed  a  mat- 
rimonial alliance  with  Miss  Henrietta  Vandeveer  Jan. 
15,  1874.  She  was  born  March  18,  1847,  in  this 
county,  and  died  of  consumption  July  28,  1878,  and 
lies  buried  in  Bond  Cemetery. 

Mr.  Roberts  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  in 
August,  1862,  joining  Co.  H,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Monmouth,  111.,  Aug. 
21,  of  that  year.  He  spent  three  years  in  his  coun- 
try's  service,  and  was  mustered  out  June  26,  1865, 
at  Nashville,  and  paid  off  at  Chicago.  Socially,  Mr. 
Roberts  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Lodge 
No  387,  at  Youngstown.  He  joined  that  order  in 
1872.  In  politics,  he  votes  with  and  supports  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Greenback  party. 


arnard  Kidder,  deceased,-  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Swan  Township,  Warren 
Co.,  111.  to  which  section  he  removed  in 
jy  September,  1837,  from  near  Woodstock,  Ch  m- 
paign  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Mansfic  d, 
Conn.,  March  1 1,  1806,  arid  was  of  Puritan  an- 
cestry. He  died  at  the  family  residence  in  Swan 
Township,  Sept.  25,  1864,  of  typhoid  fever. 

His  earliest  American  ancestor,  was  James  Kid- 
der, who,  marrying  Anna  Moore  in  1649,  came  to 
New  England  about  1650,  from  East  Grinstead, 
County  Sussex,  England,  and  settled  in  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  but  soon  removed  to  Billerica, 
Mass.  The  ancestry  has  been  traced  back  six  gen- 
erations in  England.  Maresfield,  County  Sussex, 
was  the  ancestral  home  of  the  Kidders  in  old  Eng- 
land. It  is  an  agricultural  country.  The  Kidders 
were  land-holders  there  and  some.of  them  Wardens 
of  the  Parish  Church.  Richard  Kidder,  in  1492,  was 
of  the  manor  of  Maresfield.  The  name  appears  there 
200  years  earlier.  Later,  one  of  them  was  a  Bailiff 


of  Ashdown  Forrest,  a  part  of  the  manor.  The 
manor  of  Maresfield  was  the  property  of  John  of 
Gaunt,  and  there  is  authority  for  the  statement  that 
Wycliffe  found  an  asylum  there  for  a  time  during  his 
retirement  under  the  protection  of  John.  From 
James  (rst)  above  mentioned,  the  line  runs  through 
James  (2d)  of  Billerica,  Mass  ,  born  Jan.  3,  1854,  at 
Cambridge;  married  Sept.  23,  1678,  to  Elizabeth 
Brown;  James  (3d),  born  June  27,  1679;  married 
Mary  Abbott,  at  Concord,  Mass.,  and  settled  in 
Mansfield,  Conn.,  in  1703;  Nathaniel  (4th),  of  Mans- 
field, born  Oct.  30,  1712;  married  Ann  Royce;  Na- 
thaniel (sth),  of  Mansfield,  born  March. 5,  1754; 
married  widow  Mary  (Cross)  Barrow;  Nathaniel 
(6th),  born  Nov.  25,  1782;  married  Speedy  Whit- 
more  ;  Larnard  (7th),  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  born 
as  before  stated. 

Larnard  Kidder  had  moved  from  Connecticut  in 
1822,  with  his  father's  family,  near  Woodstock, 
Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  married  March  22, 
1837,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Abisha  and  Lucinda 
(Hastings)  Hoisington,  in  Ohio.  She  had  emigrated 
with  her  father's  family  from  Windsor,  Vt,  in  1817, 
where  she  was  born  April  5,  1809,  and  was  of  Puri- 
tan ancestry.  After  their  marriage  they  moved  to 
•  Warren  Co.,  111.,  settling  in  Swan  Township,  as  al- 
ready mention,  being  among  the  first  settlers  of  that 
portion  of  the  county.  Though  20  miles  away,  Mon- 
mouth was  then  the  nearest  postoffice,  and  the  post- 
age charged  by  Uncle  Sam  for  carrying  a  letter  in 
that  day  was  25  cents.  The  country  was  wild  prairie 
with  groves  and  timber  along  the  large  streams.  The 
Black  Hawk  War  of  1832,  had  cleared  the  country 
of  Indians. 

Mr.  Kidder's  first  attempt  in  aid  of  the  development 
of  the,  then,  primitive  country,  was  on  a  farm  of  320 
acres  which  is  now  a  portion  of  the  village  of  Youngs- 
town.  In  1838  the  first  house  was  built  on  the 
site  where  Benjamin  H.  Kidder's  house  now  stands, 
about  60  rods  north  of  the  southeast  corner,  south- 
east quarter  section  28,  near  the  east  line.  It  was  a 
story  and  a  half  hewed  log  house,  18  x  20  feet,  with 
large  brick  fire-place  at  the  north  end,  the  chimney 
being  carried  up  outside  of  the  wall,  as  was  customary 
in  that  day  when  stoves  were  an  unknown  feature  of 
the  domestic  arrangement.  There  was  one  window 
in  the  east  and  one  in  the  south  wall,  and  a  door 
opening  upon  a  porch,  extending  the  length  of  the 
east  side.  The  roof  was  of  clap-boards  secured  by 


; 


•9- 


(>\   -til 


SIDENCE  OF  LEONARDVV.  EDELMAN,  3 


RESIDENCE  OF  w?  M.  LAI  R, SEC.  so., KELLY   TOWNSHIP. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


429 


weight  poles.     It  was  in  this  house  that  life  began  in 
earnest.     It  was  a  house  identical   in   almost   every 
particular  with  that  built  by  his  father,  in  Ohio,  in 
1822,  a  prototype  of  the  dwelling  houses  built  by  our 
Puritan  ancestors    among    the   hills    and  valleys  of 
New  England,  on  the  banks  of  the  Concord  and  Mer- 
rimac  and  by  the  swift  waters  of  the  Willimantic  and 
Connecticut,  and  which,  no  doubt,  were   patterned 
after  the  homes  of  the  ancestry  dwellings  on    the 
downs  of  Sussex,  or  in  the  Forest  of  Ashdown.       In 
such  homes  our  progenitors  have  faithfully  done  the 
labors  of  this  life,  cheerfully  accepted  the  privations 
and  heroicly  borne   the    many    burdens    allotted  to 
mankind.     Yet,  in  them  were  many  joys,  and  though 
always  often  cut  off  more  or  less  widely  apart,  yet 
good  society  and  kind   friends    were    not    wanting. 
They  contained  a  thrifty  household,  the  fireside  glad- 
dened by  bright  faces,  children  in  health  and  happi- 
ness, the  pure  manners  and  customs  of  the  old  times 
and   the    oft   repeated   story  of  sire  and  grandsire, 
^mother  and  grandmother,   were,  as   "mother,  home 
|and  heaven."     These,  with  the  sacred  regard  for  re- 
ligion and  the  highest  standard  of  morality,  must  not 
>be  too  hastily  dismissed  for  the  modern  advancement, 
nor  can  we  who  have  shared  some  of  them  in  child- 
hood, recall  them  but  with    pleasure,  nor   dismiss 
.them  from  thought  without  a  sigh  for  their  departure. 
Larnard  Kidder  was  a  man  of  energy  and  great  in- 
dustry, and  in  addition  to  his  success  in  the  develop- 
ment of  his  farm,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  securing 
for  his    children    the    advantages    of   more  than   a 
common  school  education.     He  devoted  himself  ex- 
clusively  to   farming,  that  calling  having  been  his 
inheritance  through  many  generations,  and  the  pros- 
perity which  attended  his  efforts  in  the  cultivation  of 
his  land  was  of  the  most  satisfactory  nature.    He  was 
diligent  and  resolute,  practical  and  honest,  faithful  in 
the  discharge  of  duty,  moral  and  upright,  and  a  long 
and   faithful  search  into  the  records  of  the  past  dis- 
closes the  fact  that  his  forefathers  were  possessed 
of  like  traits  of  character,  proving  that  character  is 
hereditary  to  a  very  great  extent.    In  religion  he  was 
not  a  member  of  any  Church  organization,  nor  had 
his  ancestors  been  for  several  generations.     Yet  he 
was    not   without  religious  opinions,  many   of  which 
were  in  advance  of  the  time  in  which  he  lived.     His 
funeral  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  I.  N.  West- 
fall,  a  Universalist  minister.     In   politics,  he  was  a 
Whig,  then  a  Republican.     He  never  sought  office, 


but  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  School  Director, 
Township  Treasurer  and  to  other  minor  offices.  He 
left  no  will.  Records  of  the  administration  of  his  es- 
tate, in  Warren  County  Court,  places  the  amount  of 
inventory  at  $22,739.38.  In  taking  leave  of  Mr. 
Kidder  it  is  claimed  for  him  only,  that  he  was  one  of 
the  many  whose  push  labor  and  enterprise  made 
good  farms  and  pleasant  homes  of  the  wild  lands  of 
Warren  County,  and  hence  contributed  to  the  general 
prosperity — that  he  was  a  good  citizen. 

The  children  of  Larnard  and  Mary  A.  Kidder  are  : 
Almon,  horn  Feb.  27,  1838,  an  attorney  at  Mon- 
mouth;  William  O.,  Aug.  13,  1839;  Henry  H.,  May 
25,  1841;  Benjamin  H.,  April  7,  1843;  Nathaniel, 
July  31,  1845;  Olive  M.  (Davis),  July  3,  1847; 
Eliza  A.  (Mapes),  Aug.  5,  1849.  This  sketch,  which 
contains  the  results  of  much  research,  is  given  for  a 
memorial  of  the  dead,  yet  no  more  for  the  benefit  of 
those  living,  than  for  those  to  come.  His  widow  still 
survives  and  resides  at  the  old  homestead. 


eonard  W.  Edelman  is  a  farmer  on  section 
34,  in  the  township  of  North  Henderson, 
Mercer  County,  111.,  his  farm  lying  on  the 
line  between  Mercer  and  Warren  Counties. 
He  was  born  Feb.  15,  1832,  in  Rush  Co,,  Ind., 
and  is  the  son  of  Alexander  Edelman,  who  was 
a  pioneer  of  Knox  Co.,  111.  The  grandparents  of 
Mr.  Edelman  were  natives  of  Germany.  The.  latter 
was  born  in  Tennessee,  in  1801,  and  accompanied 
the  family  of  his  father  to  Kentucky  when  a  youth. 
Thence  they  went  to  Indiana,  where  he  was  a  resi- 
dent through  the  remainder  of  his  early  life  and  was 
there  married  to  Mary  Heflin.  Her  great-grandfa- 
ther Heflin  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  his  daughter  lived  until  a  few  years  ago, 
when  she  died,  at  the  age  of  95  years.  The  wife  was 
a  native  of  the  State  of  Kentucky,  and  the  newly 
married  people  lived  in  Rush  County  until  1840.  In 
that  year  they  came,  with  the  four  children  which 
had  been  born  to  them,  to  Illinois.  They  traveled 
with  ox-teams  and  covered  wagons  and  brought  with 
them  all  their  household  belongings.  They  made 
their  first  location  on  the  prairie,  in  the  township  of 


43° 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Rio,  in  Knox  County.  A  log  house  was  constructed 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  family  and  it  was  the 
homestead  14  years.  The  father  then  sold  the  claim 
and  came  to  Warren  County  and  settled  in  Kelly 
Township.  He  bought  a  quarter-section  (of  section 
2),  resided  there  a  few  years,  and  went  thence  to 
Union  County,  in  this  State,  in  the  spring  of  1860, 
where  his  life  terminated.  The  death  of  his  wife 
preceded  his  own  by  several  years.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children.  Lewis  G.  lives  in  Wil- 
liamette,-  C ).,  Oregon  ;  Leonard  W.  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth  of  the  survivors ;  James  A.  lives  at 
Snake  River,  Idaho;  Elizabeth  resides  with  her 
bro'her,  the  subject  of  this  record.  These  are  the 
surviving  children  of  Alexander  and  Mary  Edelman. 
Rachael  A.,  one  of  the  daughters,  married  Samuel 
Smith  in  October,  1854,  and  died  in  March,  1856. 
Leonard  W.  came  to  Knox  County  with  his  parents 
in  184.0,  and  was  a  resident  there  with  them  through 
his  youth.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  attended 
the  common  schools  as  a  pupil.  When  he  was  14, 
his  mother  died  and  lie  rem  lined  with  his  father 
until  he  was  of  age.  He  had  become  infected  with 
the  Western  fever  to  such  an  extent  that  when  he 
found  himself  at  liberty  to  engage  with  the  world  in 
in  a  single-handed  contest,  he  connected  himself  with 
a  party  to  go  to  the  Pacific  coast.  The  company 
set  forth  April  5,  1853,  to  cross  the  country,  and  Mr. 
Edelman  drove  an  ox-team  the  entire  distance  from 
Warren  County  to  the  valley  of  the  Williamette,  in 
Oregon.  He  arrived  there  in  September,  after  a 
journey  of  five  months.  He  slept  on  the  ground 
every  night  while  on  the  road.  After  crossing  the 
Missouri  River,  the  party  cast  lots  for  the  choice  of 
a  sentinel  to  guard  the  camp  from  Indians,  and  the 
lot  fell  to  him.  When  he  located  in  Oregon,  he  set- 
tled on  a  piece  of  land,  of  which  he  was  the  occu- 
pant four  years  and  six  months.  He  made  some 
improvements  and  fenced  a  portion  of  the  property, 
and  while  he  held  possession  of  it  was  a  part  of  the 
time  at  work  in  the  mountains.  In  1858  Mr.  Edel- 
man set  out  to  return  to  his  former  home  in  Illinois. 
He  came  by  way  of  Panama  and  New  York,  landing 
in  May,  of  the  same  year.  On  Aug.  26,  1858,  he 
was  married  to  Lydia  J.  Miller.  Mrs.  Edelman  is 
the  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Brown)  Miller. 
They  passed  the  first  year  after  their  marriage  on 
the  farm  of  her  father,  and  the  year  succeeding  was 
devoted  to  the  care  of  a  rented  farm.  In  1861  Mr. 


Edelman  purchased  40  acres  of  land  in  the  township 
in  which  he  now  lives.  He  paid  one-half  of  the 
purchase  money  in  obtaining  a  title  to  his  property 
and  on  the  remainder  paid  25  per  cent,  interest.  In 
1864  he  bought  too  acres  on  section  33,  in  the  same 
township,  and  removed  his  family  to  the  newly  ac- 
quired farm.  He  has  added  to  his  acreage  by  later 
purchase  and  is  at  present  the  owner  of  280  acres  in 
North  Henderson  Township  and  of  80  acres  in  Kelly 
Township,  in  Warren  County.  The  latter  is  situated 
just  across  the  line  of  the  two  counties.  All  the  land 
belonging  to  Mr  Edelman  is  in  first  class  agricultu- 
ral condition.  It  is  equipped  in  the  best  poss;il>le 
manner  for  the  business  of  a  successful  farmer.  Mr. 
Edelman  is  giving  his  attention  to  mixed  husbandry, 
and  raises  cattle  of  an  excellent  grade.  The  farm 
residence  of  the  family  is  on  section  34,  of  North 
Henderson  Township,  on  the  county  line,  and  a 
view  of  it  is  given  in  this  ALBUM  on  page  428. 

The  record  of  the  births  of  the  children  of  the 
Edelman  household  is  as  follows :  George  W.,  Aug. 
15,  1864;  Frank  M.,  April  4,  1867  ;  Alfred  A.,  Oct. 
3,1869;  Eddie  L.,  June  8,  1872;  Ida  M.,  Sept.  i, 
1874;  Lotta  D.,  March  10,  1878.  Mary  E.,.the  first 
born  child,  was  born  July  7,  1859,  and  died  Dec.  30, 
1863;  Ella  E.,  born  Sept.  18,  1861,  died  Feb.  18, 
1864.  Politically,  Mr.  Edelman  is  a  Democrat.  He 
is  not  a  member  of  any  cli  irch  organization. 


F.  Guilinger,  a  successful  tiller  of  the  soil, 
residing  on  section  23,  Tompkins  Town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  John  L.  and  Martha  M. 
(Finley)  Guilinger,  natives  of  Virginia  and 
Ohio  respectively.  The  parents  came  to  this 
State  in  1856,  locating  in  Mercer  County, 
where  the  father  was  engaged  in  farming  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  then  came  to  Monraouth,  where 
he  resided,  retired  from  the  active  labors  of  life,  until 
his  death,  the  date  thereof  being  1878.  His  wife, 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  departed  this 
life  while  the  family  were  residents  of  Mercer  County, 
in  1864. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  notice,  was  born  in  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  in 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1846.  He  remained  with  his  parents,  receiving  the 
advantages  afforded  by  the  common  schools  and  as- 
sisting his  father  in  the  maintenance  of  the  family, 
and  thus  developed  into  manhood.  When  the  Union 
was  imperiled  by  the  secession  of  the  Southern 
States,  Mr.  Guilinger  enlisted  in  its  cause,  becoming 
a  member  of  Co.  A,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  served 
four  months,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Co.  E,  6ist 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  with  that  regiment  four 
months.  He  received  an  honorable  discharge,  Oct. 
8,  1865,  and  returned  home.  On  arriving  home,  he 
attended  school  one  year  and  then  purchased  a  farm 
of  80  acres  in  Tompkins  Township,  and  entered 
upon  the  vocation  of  an  agriculturist,  determined  to 
follow  the  same  during  his  life.  The  land  which  he 
purchased,  was  on  section  23  of  the  township  named, 
and  he  at  once  located  upon  it  and  engaged  actively 
and  energetically  in  its  improvement  and  cultivation, 
and  has  continued  to  reside  thereon  until  the  pres- 
ent time. 

Mr.  Guilinger  was  married  to  Miss  Carrie  Martin, 
a  native  of  this  State,  and  a  daughter  of  Josiah  and 
Elizabeth  (Sproul)  Martin,  in  rSyi.  Of  their  union 
three  children  have  been  born — Albia  L.,  Ralph  M. 
and  Charles  G.  In  his  political  belief,  Mr.  Guilinger 
coincides  with  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Re- 
publican party.  In  religion  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 


Arnold  Eldred,    retired   farmer,   residing  in 
Roseville,  was  born  in   Rensselaer  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  in    the  year   1817.     His   parents  were 
John  and  H.innah  (Fox)   Eldred,  natives    of 
Rhode  Island,  where  his  father  was  engaged 
in  the  occupation  of  farming.     Their   family 
consisted  of  16  children,  eight  of  whom  survive. 

Arnold  Eldred,  whose  name  heads  this  article,  re- 
mained under  his  parents'  influence,  attending  the 
district  schools  in  the  acquisition  of  an  English  edu- 
cation and  assisting  on  the  farm,  and  had  charge  of 
the  same  for  a  while  previous  to  attaining  his  27th 
year.  At  that  age  in  life  he  left  home  and  started  in 
the  mill  business,  which  he  followed  until  his  emi- 
gration West  in  1852,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and 


located  in  Kendall  County.  He  rented  a  farm  in  the 
latter  county  and  entered  actively  on  its  improve- 
ment and  cultivation,  which  he  continued  for  one 
year,  when  he  came  to  Roseville  Township,  Warren 
County,  and  purchased  120  acres  on  section  17,  and 
.there  remained  for  17  years,  making  his  permanent 
abiding  place  thereon.  He  put  the  land  under  an 
excellent  state  of  cultivation  and  has  it  well  equipped. 
In  an  early  day  he  had  to  go  to  Pontoosuc,  on  the 
Mississippi  River,  to  have  his  grinding  done,  and  the 
nearest  market  was  at  Peoria,  60  miles  away.  In 
1872  he  removed  into  the  village  of  Roseville,  having 
purchased  nine  acres  of  land  inside  the  corporation 
limits.  He  built  a  residence  upon  the  same  and  is 
spending  the  sunset  of  his  years  in  peace  and  quiet 
thereon. 

Arnold  Eldred  and  Miss  Eliza  Devoe  were  united 
in  marriage,  Jan.  it,  1852.  She  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  the  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Polly 
(Walrath)  Devoe,  also  natives  of  the  Empire  State, 
and  by  occupation  farmers.  Mr.  Eldred  is  a  prom-  • 
inent  and  leading  man  of  Warren  County,  and,  polit- 
ically, casts  his  vote  with  the  Prohibition  party.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


ames  Campbell,  a  prosperous  and  highly 
respected  farmer  of  Hale  township,  resid- 
ing on  section  6,  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Jane  (Reed)  Campbell.  The  former  was  a 
son  of  William  and  Margaret  Campbell,  and 
was  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  1799. 
He  married  Jane  Reed,  daughter  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet Reed.  The  parents  were  married  on  their 
native  isle  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  the 
autumn  of  1850.  Soon  after,  they  came  to  this  State 
and  settled  in  Henderson  County,  where  they  lived 
until  their  death  They  both  died  in  December, 
1874,  and  only  eight  days  apart,  the  mother's  death 
occurring  on  the  i2th  and  the  father's  on  the  2oth. 
Their  children  were  nine  in  number,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  notice  was  the  eighth  in  order  of 
birth.  The  first-born  died  in  infancy,  the  next  was 
William  B.,  then  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Maria, 
James  and  Jane  Ann.  Joseph  is  deceased. 

On  his  father's  side,  James  Campbell  is  of  Scotch 


432 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


descent ;  his  maternal  grandfather  was  of  English 
descent,  his  wife,  however,  was  of  Scottish  ancestry. 
She  was  one  of  the  Dan  sons  of  Scotland.  Both  the 
ancestors  of  Mr.  Campbell  bore  arms  under  William 
of  Orange.  The  family  were  among  the  first  Pro- 
testants of  Scotland,  but  the  father  and  mother  of 
our  subject  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
shortly  after  their  marriage.  All  of  his  children,  as 
they  grew  up,  united  with  that  Church,  of  which  they 
are  still  members. 

Six  of  the  elder  Campbell's  uncles  came  to  Amer- 
ica prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War.  They  were 
a  strong,  stalwart  race,  over  six  feet  in  height,  and 
all  of  the  six  brothers  enlisted  in  defense  of  the  Col- 
onies. 

James  Campbell,  Sr.,  set  sail  for  America  with  his 
family,  Aug.  18,  1850,  and  were  many  weeks  on  their 
journey  to  New  Orleans,  where  they  landed.  They 
came  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers  to  Cuba, 
when  they  could  go  no  further  by  water  on  account 
of  the  river  being  frozen  over.  From  that  point,  Mr. 
Campbell  walked  to  where  his  brother  lived  in  Hen- 
(I  derson  County.  He  there  procured  teams  and 
moved  his  family  and  effects  to  Greenville  Precinct, 
Henderson  County.-  He  arrived  there  Nov.  18,  1850. 
He  remained  with  his  brother's  family  for  a  short 
time,  when  he  bought  a  quarter-section  of  land  on 
what  was  then  known  as  the  Lost  Prairie,  now  em- 
braced in  Ball  Bluff  Township,  Henderson  County. 
There  was  a  small  log  building  upon  it,  in  which  the 
family  spent  the  winter,  and  the  following  year  he 
erected  a  frame  dwelling.  Here  the  children  were 
reared.  The  land  that  the  elder  Campbell  pur- 
chased when  he  arrived  in  Henderson  County  was 
from  James  Fair,  the  father  of  Senator  James  Fair, 
of  Nevada.  He  came  to  America  some  years  before 
Mr.  Campbell  did,  but  they  were  old  acquaintances 
in  Ireland.  His  son,  John  Campbell,  now  owns  the 
old  home  place.  When  the  elder  Campbell  arrived 
here  he  had  $500  in  gold,  which  enabled  him  to  pur- 
chase his  place,  a  team,  some  farm  implements, 
some  cattle  and  household  utensils. 

James  Campbell,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Shanco,  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  Oct. 
28,  1848,  and  was  two  years  old  when  his  parents 
emigrated  from  the  land  of  the  shamrock  to  America. 
James  continued  to  reside  on  the  parental  homestead 
in  Henderson  County  until  the  death  of  his  father 
and  mother,  when,  in  the  spring  of  1877,  he  came  to 


Hale  Township,  this  county,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  182  acres,  on  which  he  located  with  his 
family  and  at  once  began  the  active  labors  of  his  vo- 
cation, which  he  has  followed  until  the  present  time. 
He  also  owns  a  farm  of  17*5  acres  in  Henderson 
County,  and,  in  following  the  pursuit  of  his  chosen 
VQcation,  is  meeting  with  that  success  which  energy 
and  perseverance  are  sure  to  bring. 

April  24,  1877,  Mr.  Campbell  formed  a  matri- 
monial alliance  with  Nancy  E.,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Younger)  Williams. 
John  Williams'  father  was  also  named  John.  He 
was  a  Virginian,  and  on  his  paternal  side  was  of 
English  descent,  while  through  his  mother  was  of 
Holland-Dutch  ancestry.  One  of  Mr.  Williams' 
uncles  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  the  grand- 
father in  the  Revolutionary  War.  They  were  all 
farmers.  John  Williams  and  wife  came  to  this  State 
in  1846,  and  the  first  four  years  lived  in  Warren 
County,  when  they  moved  to  Henderson  County 
and  lived  until  the  spring  of  1880,  when,  on  account ' 
ot  old  age,  they  sold  out  their  property  and  now 
make  their  home  with  their  son-in-law,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell. 

Mrs.  Williams'  grandfather  was  Thomas  Younger, 
a  descendant  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  also  in  the  War  of 
1812.  His  home  was  in  Williamson  Co.,  Tenn., 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  and  continued  to 
reside  there  until  his  death.  He  was  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  a  Whig  in  politics  and  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  His  wife,  Mary  Knowles,  was 
of  English  descent.  Her  father,  John  Knowles,  was 
a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  a  soldier  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary War. 

Mrs.  Campell's  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia 
and  Tennessee  respectively  and  had  nine  children, 
of  whom  she  was  the  youngest.  She  was  born  in 
Henderson  County,  this  State,  June  6,  1857,  and  has 
borne  her  husband  three  children — Ada  M.,  Frank 
A.,  and  John  E.  Frank  A.  died  in  infancy. 

James  Campbell  became  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church  in  October,  1868,  since  which 
time  he  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  work  of 
his  congregation.  He  has  been  Steward  every  year 
since,  excepting  one,  and  a  part  of  the  time  as  local 
and  district  Steward.  He  has  also  been  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school  and  for  a  time  Class- 
Leader.  In  Greenville  Township,  Henderson  County, 


«fJfc! 


0 


«i 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


435      • 


where  he  attends  Church,  he  is  Secretary  of  the 
township  organization  of  the  American  Bible  Society. 

In  political  matters,  he  has  held  the  offices  of 
Highway  Commissioner  and  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
In  politics,  he  votes  with  the  Republican  party. 

A  view  of  Mr.  Campbell's  home  place  is  shown  on 
page  284. 


ufus  Ogden,  of  the  firm  of  R.  Ogden  & 
Son,  breeders  and  dealers  in  full-blood  and 
grade  heavy  draft  horses,  resides  on  sec- 
i^tion  17,  Cold  Brook  Township.  He  was  born  in 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  23,  1818.  His  father, 
Abraham  Ogden,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  a  native  of  England,  was  born  near  Man- 
chester, and  was  of  middle  class  in  social  standing 
in  that  country.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  about  21  years  of  age,  and  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  New  York  State  to  Miss  Keziah  Huughton, 
who  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and  was  of  New 
England  parentage  and  of  English  descent.  They 
resided  after  their  marriage,  until  1839,  in  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  then  removed  to  Warren  County,  III., 
and  were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  the  county. 
The  father  was  an  inventive  genius,  and  perfected 
an  arrangement  to  use  steam  as  motive  power  that 
was  identical  in  principle  with  Robert  Fulton's  and 
at  about  the  same  time.  He,  however,  withheld  his 
papers  and  his  discoveries  were  not  made  known 
until  after  it  was  too  late  to  profit  by  them. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children, 
four  sons  and  five  daughters.  He  resided  at  home 
until  he  was  18  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  in  Warren  County,  where  he  was 
united  in  marriage,  April  25,  1843,  to  Miss  Narcissa 
C.  Wilber.  She  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y., 
June  20,  1820,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  R.  M. 
Wilber  and  Harriet  (Phelps)  Wilber,  natives  of  New 
York  State  and  of  American  parentage.  Her  father 
was  a  prominent  minister  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
in  1836  her  parents  and  family  came  West,  locating 
in  \Varren  County.  The  father  both  prosecuted  his 
ministerial  labors  and  conducted  his  farm.  He  sub- 
sequently went  to  Henry  County,  and  resided  in 


Oxford  Township,  where  he  died,  in  1860.  Her 
mother  died  in  New  York  State  many  years  ago,  and 
the  father  was  again  united  in  marriage,  the  step- 
mother's demise  occurring  in  Warren  County.  Mr. 
Ogden  has  one  son  and  two  daughters  living  and 
married,  and  has  buried  three  infant  sons.  The 
record  of  the  children  is  as  follows  :  Harriet  is  the 
wife  of  O.  A.  Speckerman,  of  Maryville,  Mo.,  and  is 
the  mother  of  six  children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased; 
Aaron  A.  Elon  B.  and  Arthur  died  in  infancy; 
Eugene  married  Ida  I.  Beldin,  daughter  of  Daniel 
D.  and  Rachel  (Lockwood)  Beldin,  residents  of 
Galesburg,  111.  They  were  married  Sept.  12,  1882. 
Eliza  O.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Goodspeed,  and  they 
live  in  Bedford,  Taylor  Co.,  Iowa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ogden  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Berwick,  and  Mr.  O.  is  the  oldest  male 
member  of  his  Church  and  has  been  a  member  since 
1841.  In  politics,  he  is  a  staunch  Republican. 

About  1866  Mr.  Ogden,  of  whom  we  write,  began 
to  breed  full-blooded  and  grade  draft  horses,  and  has 
since  continued  in  that  business  with  fair  success, 
having  raised  and  sold  35  entire  colts,  at  18  months 
average  age,  for  an  average  price  of  $470  each,  or  a 
total  of  $16,450.  His  representation  at  the  fairs  i 
have  always  carried  off  many  laurels.  At  the  recent 
State  Fair  at  Chicago,  they  took  eleven  first  and  seven 
second  premiums,  and  also  a  large  list  of  premiums 
at  the  Iowa  State  Fair,  held  at  DesMoines.  As  the 
above  indicates,  he  has  some  of  the  finest  Clydes- 
dales to  be  found  in  the  West.  He  is  devoted  to  his 
calling  and  is  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  the  beauti- 
ful and  powerful  Clydesdales,  of  which  he  has  eight 
full-blooded  animals.  As  an  agriculturist  and  also 
a  dealer  in  stock,  he  ranks  as  high  as  any  gentleman 
in  Warren  County,  and  is  meeting  with  success  in 
his  chosen  vocation. 

Mr.  Ogden  is  not  only  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Warren  County,  but  is  to-day,  as  he  has  ever  been 
during  his  residence  here  of  half  a  century,  one  of 
the  most  enterprising,  highly  respected  and  influential 
men  of  the  county.  Few  men  within  its  borders 
have  done  as  much  as  he  toward  the  development  of 
the  resources  of  this  splendid  country,  and  his  devo- 
tion to  the  moral  interests  of  the  people  has  been 
equally  demonstrated  with  his  enterprise  for  its  ma- 
terial prosperity.  Thus,  so  closely  allied  to  both 
great  departments  of  the  well  being  of  a  community, 
he  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  its  leading  and  repre- 


436 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


sentative  citizens,  and  as  such,  :ind  one,  too,  emi- 
nently worthy  of  the  place,  we  give  in  connection  with 
this  brief  outline  of  his  life  his  portrait,  engraved  from 
a  photograph  recently  taken. 


(jenry  L.  Jewell  is  a  life-long  resident  of  this 
county,  and  a  large  land-owner  and  success- 
ful farmer.  He  is  a  respected  and  honored 
citizen  of  Lenox  Township,  residing  on  section 
24,  where  he  owns  320  acres  of  land.  He  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Julia  A.  (Harrison,  formerly  a 
Miss  Brooks)  Jewell,  the  former  a  native  of  York 
State  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Jewell  came  to  this  county  in  1839,  and  Mrs.  Harri- 
son, his  wife,  arrived  here  two  years  previous — in 
1837.  They  were  married  in  this  county  and  re- 
sided for  many  years  in  Lenox  Township,  where  he 
followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer.  In  1867  they  re- 
moved to  Monmouth,  where  they  are  at  present  re- 
siding, passing  the  sunset  of  their  lives  in  peace  and 
quietude.  Their  children  were  six  in  number,  the 
names  being  as  follows :  William  H.,  Charles, 
Henry  L.,  Olive,  Dudley  and  Emily  J. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  biographical  notice  was  born  in  Lenox  Town- 
ship, this  county,  May  19,  1847.  His  early  life  was 
passed  in  the  public  schools,  where  he  acquired  a 
rudimentary  education,  which  he  afterwards  supple- 
mented by  a  course  of  study  at  Monmouth  College, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  He  has  always  re- 
sided in  Lenox  Township,  and  has  followed  the  pur- 
suit of  an  agriculturist  all  his  life.  In  1874  he 
purchased  from  his  father  80  acres  of  land,  located 
on  section  24,  Lenox  Township,  where  he  is  at  pres- 
ent residing.  He  has  erected  on  the  farm  a  good 
set  of  buildings,  and  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of 
his  land,  is  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent  in 
handling  and  dealing  in  stock,  and  is  mee'.ing  with 
success  in  both  departments  of  his  vocation.  By  la- 
borious toil  and  economy,  he  has  added  to  his  original 
purchase  until  he  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  320 
acres  of  good  farm  land,  and  keeps  on  an  average 
75  head  of  cattle. 

The  wedded  life  of  Mr.  Jewell  began  on  the  i4th 


day  of  September,  1871,31  which  time  Lydia  A., 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Sybil  (Armstrong)  Cran- 
dall,  natives  of  New  York  State,  became  his  wife,  the 
ceremony  taking  place  in  Lenox  Township.  Her 
parents  were  married  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
from  which  State  they  came  to  this  county  in  1861. 
They  located  in  Lenox  Township,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  1871,  when  they  removed  to 
Monmouth.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
— Melvina  J.,  Emery  H.,  Martha  H.,  Armstrong  and 
Lydia  A.  Mrs.  Jewell  was  born  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa., 
May  20,  1854,  and  has  become  the  mother  of  four 
children  whom  they  have  named  Inez,  Orpha,  Irma 
and  Henry  R.  Mr.  Jewell  was  elected  Supervisor 
of  Lenox  Township  in  the  spring  of  1885  and  holds 
the  office  at  this  writing  (December,  1885).  He  was 
elected  Justice  of  Peace  in  the  spring  of  1883  and 
also  still  retains  that  office  to  the  present.  He  is 
also  School  Director  and  his  politics  are  those  of  a 
good,  staunch  Republican. 

A  view  of  the  handsome  residence  and  commodi-. 
ous  farm  buildings  of  Mr.  Jewell  are  shown  on  an 
page  404  of  this  work. 


-4- 


rs.  Mary  Hall,  is  a  resident  on  section 
28,  Tompkins  Township.  Her  deceased 
husband,  Henry  W.  G.  Hall,  was  born 
Jan.  20,  1825,  in  New  York  State,  where  he 
resided  until  1855,  engaged  in  farming  in 
Lewis  County.  His  younger  years  were  passed 
in  attendance  at  the  common  schools  and  in  assist- 
ing his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm.  On 
coming  West,  lie  decided  on  making  his  home  in 
Warren  County,  111.,  and  purchased  40  acres  of  land 
on  section  28,  Tompkins  Township,  upon  which  he 
located  his  family.  By  hard  labor  and  economy  he 
increased  his  landed  interests  in  that  township  to 
120  acres,  on  which  he  resided,  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  until  his  death,  which  took  place  Nov. 
22,  1877.  In  politics,  he  was  j.  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party.  Religiously, 
he  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  as 
likewise  did  his  wife.  Mr.  Hall  was  known  as  a 
genial  gentleman  and  an  enterprising,  liberal,  spir- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


437 


ited  citizen,  always  willing  to  aid  in  any  good  cause 
calculated  to  benefit  mankind,  and  was  especially 
active  in  any  measure  which  was  for  the  benefit  of 
the  community  in  which  he  resided. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hall  took  place  Feb.  10, 
1852,  his  wife  (the  lady  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch)  being  a  Miss  Mary  Roberts,  a  native  of  New 
York  and  a  daughter  of  William  L.  and  Margaret 
(Jones)  Roberts.  Her  father  was  a  farmer  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1855,  locating  on  section  28,  Tompkins 
Township,  this  county,  and  there  resided  until  his 
decease,  which  event  occurred  Feb.  22,  1877.  For 
fourteen  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  blind.  His 
faithful  wife  followed  him  to  the  land  of  the  hereaf- 
ter, Dec.  13,  1882. 

Two  children  were  born  of  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hall — Lillie  A.  and  George  H.  Lillie  A.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Lewis  H.  Martin,  and  George  H., 
who  was  married  to  Emma  Holliday,  Dec.  23,  1885, 
resides  on  the  farm  with  his  mother,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation.  Since  the  death  of  her 
husband,  Mrs.  Hall  has  managed  the  farm,  and  by 
her  economy  and  good  business  judgment,  has  suc- 
>  ceeded  in  adding  85  acres  to  the  estate  left  her  by 
her  husband's  death,  and  the  shadows  of  the  even- 
ing of  life,  coming  as  they  do,  in  the  peace  and  tran- 
'•quility  of  the  dear  old  homestead,  are  perhaps  even 
more  pleasing  than  were  the  golden  sunbeams  of 
early  youth. 


ohn  M.  Strong  is  a  resident  in  the  town- 
ship of  Point  Pleasant  and  is  located  on  a 
farm  on  section  5.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
State  of  Indiana  and  was  born  June  28,  1835, 
in  Marion  County,  eight  miles  from  the  capital 
of  the  State.  Luke  Strong,  his  father,  was 
born  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  in  February,  1796.  He 
married  Miss  Esther  Call,  a  native  of  the  State  of 
New  York. 

In  1825,  accompanied  by  two  brothers,  Luke 
Strong  started  on  foot  to  seek  a  home,  or  rather  a 
location  for  one,  in  the  Western  country.  He  walked 
all  the  way  to  Indiana  and  bought  a  tract  of  land, 


which  has  been  designated  as  the  birthplace  of  his 
son.  After  securing  the  title  to  his  property,  he  re- 
turned to  Vermont,  making  the  entire  journey  there 
the  same  way  in  which  he  had  traveled  to  Indiana. 
He  at  once  commenced  to  prepare  for  a  final  removal 
to  the  West,  and  in  1827  he  set  forth  with  ox  teams, 
accompanied  by  his  family.  The  household  im- 
plements were  carried  along,  and  they  camped  and 
cooked  their  frugal  meals  on  the  way.  On  his  ar- 
rival in  Marion  County,  where  he  was  one  of  the 
earliest  of  the  permanent  settlers,  Mr.  Strong  pro- 
ceeded to  build  a  log  house.  He  also  gave  his  vig- 
orous attention  to  clearing  the  land,  and  lived  in 
Indiana  until  the  year  1839  The  stories  of  the 
resources  of  the  State  of  Illinois  had  awakened  in 
him  a  desire  to  take  advantage  of  them  for  the  ben- 
efit of  his  growing  family,  and  in  the  year  last  men- 
tioned he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Galesburg, 
which  was  then  a  very  small  place.  He  had  learned 
the  business  of  a  wagon -maker  in  his  younger  days, 
and  he  bought  property  at  Galesburg  and  was  there 
occupied  at  his  trade  until  1850.  In  that  year  he 
sold  his  interests  there  and  removed  to  Warren 
County.  He  purchased  a  small  farm  in  the  town- 
ship of  Ellison,  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death. 
That  event  occurred  Sept.  9,  1871.  His  wife  died 
in  1850.  Their  three  children  are  all  living.  Luke 
is  living  in  Kewanee,  Henry  Co.,  111.  Electa  is  the 
wife  of  William  Powers,  of  Brule  Co.,  Dak. 

John  M.  Strong  is  the  youngest  of  the  children  of 
his  parents,  and  was  only  four  years  of  age  when  his 
father  and  mother  removed  to  Illinois.  He  attended 
school  in  the  city  of  Galesburg,  and  the  family  re- 
mained there  until  he  was  15  years  old.  He  then 
removed  with  them  to  Warren  County,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  youth.  He  was  married 
Sept.  19,  t857,  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Lofftus,  a  native 
of  Sangamon  Co.,  III.,  where  she  was  born  Sept.  19, 
1841.  Mrs.  Strong  is  the  daughter  of  Andrew  J. 
and  Lavinia  (Meacham)  Lofftus,  who  were  natives  of 
Kentucky.  One  year  and  a  half  after  their  mar- 
riage, they  located  on  the  farm  where  they  have 
since  resided. 

Mr.  Strong  enlisted,  Aug.  2,  1862,  in  the  83d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  in  the  military  service  of  his 
country  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Fort  Donelson 
was  the  most  important  engagement  in  which  he 
took  part.  After  obtaining  his  discharge,  he  returned 
to  his  property  in  Warren  County  and  resumed  the 


•a- 


438 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


occupation  of  a  farmer.  The  place  is  in  a  condition 
calculated  to  reflect  credit  on  his  exertions  and  the 
quality  of  his  good  sense  and  judgment. 

He  is  connected  in  membership  with  Roseville 
Lodge  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  with  Kirkwood  Post,  No. 
81,  G.  A.  R.  The  five  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Strong  are  named  J.  Arthur,  F.  Lavinia,  Mattie  A., 
George  A.  and  L.  Grant. 


If  ames  H.  McQuiston,  of  Spring  Grove,  Tp., 
has  been  for  nearly  30  years  a  resident  in 
Warren  County.  He  is  a  descendant  from 
parents  who  were  born  in  the  southern  section  of 
the  Union.  His  father  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio,  where  James  H. 
was  born,  May  29,  1829.  Joseph  G.  McQuiston,  his 
father,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  April  12,  1799. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Hogue,  Sept.  5,  1827.  They 
had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  The 
son  was  reared  in  Preble  County,  and  was  brought  up 
to  the  profession  of  a  farmer,  in  which  vocation  his 
father  passed  his  life  principally.  He  received  only 
the  education  of  the  common  schools,  and,  in  1856, 
he  accompanied  the  family  of  his  father  to  Warren 
County.  Another  brother,  William  H.,  came  at  the 
same  time.  The  father  had  made  the  journey  to  the 
county  in  the  previous  spring  and  had  bought  the 
northeast  portion  of  section  33,  in  the  township  of 
Spring  Grove.  The  farm  had  been  placed  under 
some  improvement  by  the  former  owner.  It  had  on 
it  a  double  log  house,  and  60  acres  had  been  fenced. 
There  were  also  about  55  acres  under  the  plow,  and 
these  seemingly  trifling  improvements  made  quite  an 
item  toward  getting  a  start  in  the  way  of  establishing 
a  home.  Among  the  first  things  that  were  done  was 
the  construction  of  a  frame  house,  into  which  the 
family  moved  as  soon  as  it  was  in  readiness  for  their 
occupancy.  The  mother'died  there,  Oct.  2,  1870. 
The  father  survived  until  July  5,  1879.  As  long  as 
the  parents  lived  the  son  was  an  inmate  of  the  pa- 
rental household.  On  the  demise  of  his  father,  he 
succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  homestead,  where 
he  is  now  the  resident  owner  and  occupant.  He  has 
a  handsome  residence  and  substantial  farm  build- 


ings, and  an  abundance  of  water  on  the  place  for 
stock  purposes.  Mr  McQuiston  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Laura  E.  Moore,  May  29,  1867.  They  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  children  :  Frank  E., 
George  J.,  Ada  May  and  Nina  M. 

Mrs.  McQuiston  is  a  native  of  Mercer  Co.,  Pa. 
Together  with  her  husband  she  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  McQuiston  is  a 
Republican  in  political  principles. 

A  view  of  his  residence  appears  on   another  page. 

The  grandparents  of  Mrs.  McQuiston  were  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Bell)  Ewing.  They  were  both  natives 
of  Ireland.  They  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
in  Philadelphia.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  McQuiston 
was  born  in  Juniata  Co.,  Pa.,  March  6,  1802,  and  re- 
sided there  until  she  was  12  years  of  age.  She  mar- 
ried George  Moore,  Feb.  15,  1823.  He  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Mr.  Moore  and  family  came 
West  in  1855,  and  settled  in  Mercer  County,  111.,  and 
afterwards  became  residents  of  Warren  County.  Mr.l 
Moore  died  Sept.  8,  1885,  having  attained  the  ven- I 
erable  age  of  89  years.  His  widow  still  survives  and 
now  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  McQuiston. 


ames  F.  Pollock  was  a  settler  in  the  county 
in  which  he  is  a  useful  and  honored  citizen, 
in  1837.  He  made  his  first  acquaintance 
with  it  in  1831,  when,  accompanied  by  several 
t  others,  he  came  from  Ohio  on  a  prospecting 
tour.  His  stay  occupied  but  a  few  weeks,  and 
he  went  back  to  Ohio.  The  journey  was  a  memora- 
ble one,  from  the  fact  that  the  going  and  returning 
was  accomplished  by  teams  overland. 

Mr.  Pollock  was  born  in  NovaScotia,  Dec.  5,  1806. 
William  Pollock,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Scotland. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Fulton,  and 
she  was  of  New  England  birth  and  parentage.  They 
came  to  the  "  States  "  when  their  son  was  four  years 
of  age,  located  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  were  among 
the  pioneers  of  that  section.  They  maintained  their 
residence  there  nine  years.  In  1819  they  made  an- 
other removal  to  Greene  County,  the  same  State, 
where  Mr.  Pollock  of  this  sketch  grew  to  the  estate 
of  manhood.  He  was  a  farmer  by  training,  and 


^&&§®&yimpfr.  ~4gj*^£Z&-3SBK!F~sl 

'"•&&®^^n^M'&  a  r^>t^«^v^^^?*^c.^?;-v ^.  '-55^6 

- 


RESIDENCE  OF  JAMEB  H  .  NI9  QUI5TDN  ,    SEC. 33. SPRING  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


or   MRS.  M.E.HAN  EY,  COR.  RENO&.CENTRE  STS.  MONMOUTH 


-§• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


439 


: 


when  he  was  22  years  of  age  he  set  out  to  acquire  a 
knowledge  of  the  irade  of  a  blacksmith.  He  served 
a  year  and  then  engaged  in  the  variety  of  work  com- 
mon to  the  class  known  as  journeymen  and  operated 
in  Greene  County  a  number  of  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1837  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  drove  across  the 
distance  that  intervened  with  a  pair  of  horses,  ac- 
companied by  his  wife  and  two  children.  They  man- 
aged their  affairs  while  on  the  journey  after  the  man- 
ner common  to  emigrants,  and  which  was  a  neces- 
sity, from  the  fact  that  there  being  no  public  route 
of  travel,  there  were  no  hotels,  even  if  the  travelers 
were  in  condition  to  pay  for  their  entertainment, 
which  was  not  always  the  case.  After  a  journey  of 
six  weeks,  they  arrived  in  Warren  County.  They  lo- 
cated at  Little  York,  in  Sumner  Township,  and  there 
Mr.  Pollock  bought  a  lot  and  built  a  house.  He  also 
erected  a  shop  and  engaged  in  general  blacksmith- 
ing.  There  was  plenty  to  do  in  a  new  country  and 
he  made  plows  and  all  small  articles,  such  as  his 
patrons  needed  and  also  did  shoeing  and  repairing. 
He  operated  in  that  capacity  three  years,  and  then 
engaged  in  mercantile  business,  in  which  he  contin- 
ued until  1849.  He  sold  out  his  store  and  in  the 
last  year  named  became  interested  in  packing  pork, 
in  which  he  engaged  four  years.  In  1853  he  decided 
on  a  change  of  base  and  crossed  the  plains  to  Ore- 
gon. He  left  home  in  May,  and  reached  the  head 
of  the  Williamette  Valley  in  October,  passing  more 
than  five  months  on  the  route.  He  took  with  him  a 
large  drove  of  cattle,  leaving  with  160  head  and  ar- 
riving at  his  destination  with  104.  He  sold  his  herd 
after  his  arrival  and  remained  on  the  Pacific  coast 
three  years.  When  he  returned  East  he  came  via 
what  was  known  in  the  days  when  the  gold  fever 
was  at  its  height  as  the  "  Nicaragua  route."  After  his 
arrival  at  his  home  he  again  opened  a  commercial 
enterprise  at  Little  York,  and  after  prosecuting  his  in- 
terests in  that  direction  two  years,  sold  his  business 
and  its  relations  for  the  purpose  of  devoting  his  time 
to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  His  farm  is  in  a  loca- 
tion which  increases  its  value  and  desireableness 
and  lies  on  section  36,  adjoining  the  village.  He  has 
always  maintained  a  tenant  on  the  place. 

Rebecca  McFarland  became  his  wife  July  30, 
1833.  She  was  a  native  of  Greene  County,  Ohio, 
and  was  born  Nov.  2,  1815.  She  died  Aug.  14,  1869. 
Eight  of  their  children  are  now  living.  Margery  is 
the  widow  of  George  Carpenter,  and  is  a  resident  of 


Little  York.  Martha  A.  married  Thomas  Steven- 
son, and  they  removed  to  Oregon.  Amelia  is  the  wife 
of  H.  A.  Reynolds,  of  Little  York.  John  S.  and  Wil- 
liam R.  are  residents  of  the  same  place  and  are  both 
married.  Caroline  is  married  to  George  Davis,  and 
they  live  in  Kansas.  Anhur  P.  is  a  citizen  of  Little 
York.  Eulalia  M.  is  Mrs.  William  McDill,  and  re- 
sides in  Little  York.  Esta  L  is  married  to  Walter 
Hartley,  and  lives  in  Henderson  County. 

Mr.  Pollock  was  the  first  Postmaster  at  Little  York. 
When  he  went  to  Oregon  he  resigned  the  position, 
but  was  re-appointed  on  his  return,  at  the  time  he 
resumed  commercial  business.  Politically,  Mr.  Pol- 
lock has  always  been  a  staunch  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 


ohn  Randolph  Webster,  M.  D.,  a  promi- 
nent physician  and  surgeon  at  Monmouth, 
was  born  in  Penn  Hill  Township,  Lancas-  * 
ter  Co.,  Pa.,  July  18,  r835,  and  was  the  second 
son  and  third  child  of  Dr.  Samuel  and  Deborah 
(Kirk)  Webster,  natives  also  of  Lancaster 
County  and  descendants  of  the  Scotch-Irish.  The 
family  came  to  Monmouth  in  r837,  and  here  their 
children  grew  to  men  and  women.  In  his  profession, 
Dr.  Samuel  Webster  stood  at  the  head  in  this  com- 
munity for  many  years  before  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  Superior  City,  Wis.,  in  1858,  while  there  on 
business.  The  most,  and  probably  only,  important 
office  which  he  filled  was  that  of  State  Senator,  in 
1851-52,  being  elected  on  the  old  Whig  ticket.  His 
widow  lives  at  Monmouth  at  this  writing  (January, 
1886)  aged  about  75  years. 

John  Randolph  Webster  was  educated  at  Macomb, 
111.,  and  at  Juniata  Academy,  in  Perry  Co.,  Pa., 
completing  his  literary  course  in  1852-53.  He  was 
22  years  of  age  when  he  began  reading  medicine 
with  Dr.  D.  B.  Rice,  now  of  Oregon,  as  preceptor, 
and  soon  after  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  Chi- 
cago, from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  the 
class  of  r858.  Returning  to  Monmouth,  he  prac- 
ticed medicine  a  few  years,  when  he  again  took  to 
his  studies,  this  time  at  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia.  From  here  he  graduated  as  M.  D.  in 


440 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1864  and  returned  to  Monmouth,  where  he  has  for 
many  years  held  a  high  rank  as  physician  and  sur- 
geon. He  is  a  member  of  the  United  States  Med- 
ical Society,  the  Military  Tract  Medical  Society, 
State  Medical  Society,  and  local  medical  organiza- 
tions. In  1862,  he  received  the  appointment  of 
Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  but  was 
taken  sick  at  Cairo  and  compelled  to  return  home. 

Though  a  Republican  in  faith,  he  is  no  politician. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order.  His  parents 
were  Quakers,  and  he  leans  more  to  that  than  any 
other  Church.  As  a  business  man  he  is  more  than 
ordinarily  brilliant.  Beginning  life  as  a  poor  boy,  he 
has,  before  reaching  the  meridian  of  life,  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  competency.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Second  National  Bank,  in  1875, 
and  two  years  later  became  its  Vice-President,  a 
position  he  has  since  held. 

Dr.  Webster  was  married  at  Monmouth,  Sept.  23, 
1858,  to  Miss  Susan  Nye,  daughter  of  Mr.  Elisha 
Nye,  now  of  California,  and  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts. The  Doctor's  children  living  are  Harry  B., 
connected  with  the  Second  National  Bank ;  and 
Ralph  W.,  a  student.  Frank,  his  second  son,  died 
when  about  two  years  of  age. 


William  Laferty,  deceased,  was  born  at 
Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  9,  1818, 
and  died  at  Monmouth,  Jan.  5,  1877.  His 
father  died  while  he  was  but  a  little  child, 
four  years  old.  His  mother  lived  to  the 
green  old  age  of  98  years,  her  death  occurring  in 
July,  1878.  He  was  taught  in  early  life  to  earn  his 
own  bread  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow.  His  oppor- 
tunities for  education  were  limited  to  the  winter 
terms  of  the  Pennsylvania  common  schools,  and  as 
he  was  but  a  mere  youth  when  apprenticed  to  the 
carpenter's  trade,  these  were  but  few. 

He  came  to  Monmouth,  in  1836,  and  here  worked 
at  his  trade  about  20  years.  In  1856,  he  was  elected 
Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and  Recorder  of  Deeds, 
and  filled  the  two  offices  for  eight  consecutive  years. 


He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  and  one  year  later  (1865)  became  its  President, 
a  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Prior 
to  his  election  as  Circuit  Clerk  he  held  various 
minor  offices,  such  as  Supervisor,  Assessor,  School 
Director,  etc.  He  was  for  several  years  one  of  the 
Trustees  of  Monmouth  College,  and  held  at  the 
same  time  the  positions  of  Trustee  and  Treasurer  of 
Warren  County  Library.  He  was  two  years  Presi- 
dent of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  of  Warren  and 
Henderson  Counties  and  was  the  Treasurer  of  that 
organization  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Like  most  of 
the  pioneers  who  came  to  this  country  at  an  early 
day,  he  had  to  struggle  against  the  vicissitudes  of 
poverty  and  obscurity.  He  landed  in  Warren  County 
with  $60  in  money,  but  being  a  man  of  pluck,  energy 
and  unyielding  integrity,  he  soon  became  one  of  the 
prominent  men  of  the  county  and  died  worth  $75,- 
ooo,  all  of  which  he  left  by  will  to  his  widow.  In  all 
his  relations  in  life,  Mr.  Laferty  was  an  honest  and 
honorable,  a  sterling  man,  a  man  whose  integrity  was 
never  questioned.  By  his  large  circle  of  acquaint- 
ances he  was  highly  esteemed  and  it  may  well  be 
said  of  him  thai  those  who  know  him  best,  loved  him 
most. 

In  his  death  his  friends  and  associates  lose  a  safe 
and  prudent  counsellor,  the  community  a  valuable 
citizen,  and  all  public  and  private  enterprises  of 
Monmouth  a  liberal  supporter. 

Jan.  5,  1877,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  of  Monmouth,  at  a  meeting  called 
for  the  purpose,  adopted  the  following  resolutions  : 

WHEREAS,  it  has  pleased  our  Heavenly  Father  to 
remove  from  our  number,  by  the  hand  of  death,  our 
much  esteemed  President,  William  Laferty,  who  has 
so  faithfully  filled  the  office  for  the  past  12  years,  it 
is  but  just  that  a  fitting  recognitron  of  his  many  vir- 
tues be  expressed ; 

Resolved,  That  in  his  death  we  lose  a  friend  and 
companion,  a  good  and  faithful  officer  who  was  es- 
teemed by  us  all ;  a  citizen  whose  upright,  honest 
and  noble  life  was  a  standard  of  emulation  for  every 
one. 

Resolved,  That  the  heart-felt  sympathy  of  this 
board  of  directors  be  extended  to  his  family  in  this 
their  deep  affliction,  and  that  a  copy  of  these  resolu- 
tions be  presented  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

The  Committee  of  the  Warren  County  Library  and 
Reading  Room,  upon  the  same  day  adopted  the  sub- 
joined resolutions  in  respect  to  his  worthiness  : 

WHEREAS,  Since  our  last  meeting  it  has  pleased 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


441 


our  common  Lord  to  remove  from  time   to  eternity 
our  friend  and  fellow  trustee,  William  Laferty; 

Resolved,  That  this  association,  deeply  sympathiz- 
ing with  his  afflicted  widow  and  relatives,  cordially 
record  on  our  minutes  our  high  sense  of  his  sterling 
qualities  as  a  man,  a  husband,  a  citizen,  and  of  his 
faithfulness  as  a  member  and  officer  of  our  Board, 
who,  after  years  of  devotion  and  liberality  for  its  in- 
terests, has  died  respected  and  lamented  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

Resolved,  That  the  city  papers  be  requested  to  in- 
sert the  above  in  their  earliest  issues. 

J.  M.  JAMIESON, 
R.  C.  MATTHEWS, 

Committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Faculty  and  Trustees  of  Mon- 
raouth  College,  held  Jan.  6,  the  following  action  was 
taken : 

WHEREAS,  In  the  Providence  of  God  we  are  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  our  honored  friend  and 
fellow-citizen,  William  Laferty; 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  the  widow  and  family 
our  sympathy  in  this  hour  of  bereavement;  that  we 
unite  with  this  entire  community  in  sorrow  over  the 
death  of  one  who  was  everybody's  friend  and  helper, 
noble,  useful,  kind  and  true;  and  that  we  sadly  feel 
L,  how  great  is  the  loss  of  the  College  in  being  deprived 
of  his  watchful  care  and  counsels. 

Mr.  Laferty  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  dur- 
ing the  late  war  was  an  active  supporter  of  tbe 
Union  cause. 

He  was  married  in  Berwick  Township,  this  county, 
Jan.  i,  1844,  to  Miss  Sarah  Tiffany,  who  was  born  in 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  4,  1817.  There  were  born  to 
them  three  children,  aH  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Laferty  was  the  adopted  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Olive  (Kingsley)  Cable  (her  mother  having  died  dur- 
ing her  infancy).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cable  were  natives 
of  New  England  and  of  German  and  English  extrac- 
tion. She  was  educated  in  New  York  and  taught 
the  first  school  ever  opened  in  Berwick,  Warren 
County.  The  large  fortune  left  her  by  her  husband, 
together  with  its  increase,  amounting  in  all  to  nearly 
$100,000,  was  placed  by  a  trusted  agent,  John  Brown, 
familiarly  known  as  "  Deacon  Brown,"  in  the  hands 
of  the  Cashier  of  the  Bank,  of  which  Mr.  L.  was 
so  long  a  time  President.  The  conduct  of  the 
Cashier,  B.  T.  O.  Hubbard,  appears  to  have  been 
limited  only  by  his  opportunities  and  the  whole  sum 
of  Mrs.  Laferiy's  money,  together  with  several  hun- 
dred thousands  of  dollars  belonging  to  other  people, 
was  swept  away.  Suit  was  brought  against  both  Mr. 


Brown  and  Mr.  Hubbard,  which,  while  pending,  was 
compromised  by  Brown,  so  far  as  he  was  concerned, 
by  his  payiug  Mrs.  Laferty  $10,000,  and  the  cost  of 
the  suit.  Mrs.  Laferty,  now  in  good  health,  with  an 
adopted  daughter,  resides  at  the  old  homestead. 


M.  Capps,  a   prosperous  agriculturist  and 
stock-raiser  on  section  15,  Roseville  Town- 

!ship,  is  a.  son  of  John  and  Mirain  (Cole) 
iy~  Capps,  and  was  born  in  Edmonson  Co.,  Ky., 
in  1835.  His  parents  came  to  Illinois  in 
1864,  locating  in  Berwick  Township.  They 
remained  there  but  four  years,  when  they  removed  to 
Creston,  Iowa,  where  the  father  is  living  a  retired 
life  in  peace  and  quiet  with  his  estimable  companion, 
who  assisted  him  in  all  his  labors  and  partook  of  all 
his  trials.  They  have  a  family  of  eight  children 
living. 

I.  M.  Capps  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  21  years,  assisting  in  the 
labors  on  the  farm,  and  received  at  their  hands  a 
good  common-school  education.  After  arriving  at 
his  majority,  he  worked  out  for  one  year  in  his  native 
State,  and  in  1857  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Lenox 
Township.  During  the  first  summer  after  his  arrival, 
he  hired  out  by  the  month,  and  attended  school  dur- 
ing the  winter,  which  course  he  also  followed  the 
ensuing  summer  and  winter,  at  the  enH  of  which 
time  he  rented  a  farm,  and  worked  for  four  years 
solely  in  his  own  interest.  He  then  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides  and  which  contains 
275  acres.  He  has  made  all  of  the  excellent  im- 
provements with  which  it  is  now  provided.  He  is 
also  engaged  in  the  stock  business. 

March  7,  1861,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Capps  and 
Miss  Mary  S.  Dillon  was  solemnized.  Miss  Dillon, 
who  was  born  in  Logan  Co.,  Ky.,  was  the  daughter 
of  William  Dillon,  who  moved  with  his  family  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Floyd  Township,  this  county, 
when  Mary  was  but  eight  years  of  age.  She  became 
the  mother  of  eight  children,  namely  :  John  F., 
Nina  C.,  Edward,  Nellie,  Winnie,  Fannie,  Myra  and 
Bertie.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Capps  occurred  Oct.  6, 
1885.  She  was  a  lady  of  estimab'le  character  and 


442 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


greatly  admired  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. She  was  a  devoted  Christian  lady  and 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  She  was  buried 
in  the  Union  Cemetery. 

Politically,  Mr.  Capps  is  a  Deirocrat,  and  has 
held  many  of  the  official  positions  of  his  township. 
He  is  at  present  serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
School  Director.  He  belongs  to  the  Order  of  A. 
O.  U.  W. 


ohn  T.  fleed  is  a  farmer  on  section  22  in 
\  the  township  of  Point  Pleasant,  who  set- 
tled in  Warren  County  in  1850.  He  was 
born  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  4,  1832.  His 
father,  Burrus  Allen  Reed,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  was  born  in  1808.  He  married 
Matilda  Thomas,  who  was  born  in  1807  and  died 
Oct.  27,  1881.  '  After  their  marriage,  about  1828, 
they  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  Morgan  Co.,  Ind., 
on  pack-horses,  their  culinary  outfit  being  only  a 
coffee-pot  and  frying-pan,  and  their  only  mechanical 
implement  an  ax.  In  Morgan  County  Mr.  Reed 
purchased  a  tract  of  timber  land,  on  which  he  cleared 
a  farm  and  of  which  he  was  the  owner  and  occupant 
until  1850,  when  he  sold  the  property  and  came  to 
Illinois,  with  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and 
1 1  children,  making  the  journey  with  ox  and  horse 
teams  and  consuming  three  weeks'  time.  They 
stopped  first  in  the  township  of  Greenbush,  for  two 
years;  but  Mr.  R.  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in 
Swan  Township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  Oct.  i,  1885.  His  n  children  are 
all  yet  living,  and  all  in  this  State  except  James  L., 
who  resides  in  Nebraska,  and  W.  B.,  who  is  a  farmer 
in  Northwestern  Iowa.  Matilda  E.  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Edward  Campbell,  and  they  reside  in  McDonough 
County,  this  State.  The  sons  are  all  Democratic  in 
their  political  views. 

Mr.  Reed  was  18  in  the  same  year  in  which  his 
parents  removed  to  Illinois.  He  has  a  clear  remem- 
brance of  the  incidents  of  the  journey,  which  was  not 
particularly  distasteful,  as  he  had  few  of  the  respon- 
sibilities resting  on  him  and  he  was  at  liberty  to  en- 
joy what  there  was  of  novelty  or  interest  in  the  trip. 


He  obtained  employment  in  Swan  Township  without 
any  difficulty,  and  he  continued  to  labor  as  a  farm 
assistant  until  1855.  He  then  began  to  operate  as 
a  renter,  and  from  that  time  has  been  independent, 
carrying  on  his  business  in  his  own  interest.  He 
pyssessed  energy  and  good  judgment,  and  conse- 
quently enjoyed  success.  In  1858  he  became  by 
purchase  the  owner  of  the  farm  on  which  he  has 
since  resided  and  carried  out  his  plans.  The  gen- 
eral appearance  and  character  of  his  property  gives 
evidence  of  the  quality  of  the  above  mentioned  char- 
acteristics. The  farm  is  all  enclosed  and  the  por- 
tion in  need  of  draining  has  been  ditched  and  tiled, 
and  is  in  the  most  valuable  condition,  as  is  the  case 
in  instances  where  that  process  is  necessary. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Reed  to  Sarah  E.  Jones  was 
celebrated  April  17,  1856.  She  was  born  in  New 
York,  Sept.  9,  1833.  Her  parents  were  Edward  and 
Sarah  (Hedley)  Jones.  The  oldest  of  the  n  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  is  named  George  H., 
and  he  is  a  resident  of  the  same  township  in  which 
his  father  and  mother  reside.  Albert  B.,  Warren  E., 
Matilda  A.,  Charles  T.,  William  C.,  Chester  E., 
Martha  and  Mary  (twins),  Nettie  M.  and  Aquilla 
are  the  names  of  the  others. 

In  his  political  faith  and  connections,  Mr.  Reed  is 
a  Democrat.  The  parents  became  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  in  their  youth. 


.' 

T  I 


onathan  Russell,  who  is  at  present  receiv- 
ing medical  treatment  at  the  insane  asy- 
lum at  Jacksonville,  where  he  was  confined 
in  1878,  on  account  of  sickness,  the  same  hav- 
ing caused  his  partial  derangement,  was  born 
in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  March  5,  1819.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  his  native  State  until  1860,  when 
he  came  to  this  county  and  located  in  Lenox  Town- 
ship, and  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  followed  that  occupation  until  1878,  when  a 
severe  case  of  sickness  caused  him  to  become  par- 
tially deranged  and  he  was  confined  as  above  stated. 
The  first  marriage  of  the  subject  of  this  notice 
took  place  in  York  State  Jan.  i,  1842,  Miss  Amanda 
Lyon  becoming  his  wife.  Of  their  union  four  chil- 


-   '  U 


I"  ' 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


445 


dren  were  born — Mary  A.,  Amy  J.,  William  I),  and 
Thomas  W.  Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of  Robert  L.  Mc- 
Reynolds,  a  merchant  of  Roseville  Township  ;  Amy 
J.  married  Aaron  T.  Lewis,  a  resident  of  Denver, 
Col. ;  William  D.  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  66th  III.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  died  of 
lung  fever,  caused  by  exposure,  after  the  battle  of 
Resaca,  Ga.,  in  June,  1864;  Thomas  W.  resides  in 
Nebraska. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Russell  took  place  in 
Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  10,  1852,  when  Miss  Lyda 
A.  Evans,  daughter  of  William  and  Ann  (Gallup) 
Evans,  natives  of  York  State,  became  his  wife.  Her 
father  died  in  Pennsylvania  and  her  mother  in  York 
State.  Their  children  were  six  in  number,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Russell  was  second  in  order  of  birth.  She  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  Aug.  23,  1829,  and  of  her 
union  with  Mr.  Russell  six  children  were  born — 
Judson  B.,  Amanda  C.,  Charles  E.  and  Myra  L.  are 
living;  Emma  E.  and  John,  who  are  dead,  are  buried 
at  Monmouth.  Judson  B.  is  a  resident  of  Roseville 
Township,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation;  Amanda 
C.  became  the  wife  of  J.  R.  Ewan,  who  is  a  farmer 
of  Lenox  Township;  Charles  E.  also  follows  the  oc- 
cupation of  a  farmer  in  Lenox  Township;  Myra  L. 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Oscar  H.  Ewan,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Lenox  Township. 

Mrs.  Russell,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


;  athaniel  B.  Hoornbeek,  a  practicing  phy- 
sician at  Youngstown,  Swan  Township,  is 
a  native  of  New  York,  having  been  born 
in  Ulster  County,  that  State,  March  2,  1854. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  Hoornbeek,  a  prom- 
inent and  well  known  citizen  of  th<;  county, 
who  was  born  May  3.  1824,  >n  Ulster  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  came  to  this  State  in  1854,  locating  in  this 
county.  He  was  married  April  2,  1851,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  B.  Bruyn,  also  a  native  of  Ulster  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  where  she  was  born,  Dec.  23,  1827.  To  them 
were  born  seven  children — Esther,  Nathaniel,  Ben- 
jamin, Adelia,  Emeline,  John  W.  and  Catherine. 


Their  son,  Nathaniel  (Dr.  Hoornbeek),  formed  a 
matrimonial  alliance  Dec.  24,  i88r,  with  Miss  Jes- 
sie L.  Gilbert,  born  Sept.  12,  1858.  They  have  three 
children — Lillian,  born  Oct.  21,  1882;  Edwin  J., 
Jan.  7,  1884  (who  died  July  26  of  the  same  year) ; 
and  Clyde  H.,  June  27,  1885.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Hoornbeek  were  Edwin  A.  and  Jane  H.  (Loftis)  Gil- 
bert. Her  father  was  born  in  1830,  in  New  York, 
and  her  mother  in  1836,  in  Kentucky.  They  were 
married  Dec.  24,  1854,  and  had  eight  children — 
Edwin,  Ella  G.,  Jessie  I.,  George  E.,  Greely  H., 
Mary  B.,  Harry  V.,  Rose  C.  and  Fannie  E. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  obtained  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  Warren  County, 
supplemented  by  a  full  course  at  Monmouth  College, 
of  which  thorough  institution  he  is  a  graduate  of  the 
class  of  '77,  witli  the  degree  of  A.  B.  The  Doctor 
graduated  second  in  the  classical  course. 

Dr.  Hornbeek  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
under  the  instruction  of  Webster  and  Killgore,  at 
Monmouth,  111.,  in  1878.  He  read  with  them  for 
about  three  years,  then  attended  one  term  at  the 
Iowa  Medical  College,  and  took  a  course  of  lectures 
at  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  receiving  his  di-"* 
ploma  from  that  institution  Feb.  22,  1881.  Locating 
at  Walnut  Grove,  McDonough  County,  the  following 
year  (March  9),  he  hung  out  his  shingle  and  at  once 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  remain- 
ing there,  however,  only  six  months,  removing  thence 
to  Youngstown,  Warren  County,  in  October,  1881, 
where  lie  purchased  a  fine  residence  and  established 
himself  in  the  drug  business,  in  connection  with  his 
practice  of  medicine.  By  careful  attention  to  a  cir- 
cle of  patients,  which  has  constantly  increased,  he 
has  built  up  a  practice  which  brings  him  in  an  am- 
ple income,  independent  of  which  his  drug  business 
has  proved  very  lucrative.  In  religion,  the  Doctor 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  his  wife  be- 
ing of  the  Baptist  persuasion.  Politically,  he  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party. 

Dr.  Hoornbeek  is  a  young  and  enterprising  profes- 
sional gentleman,  with  a  bright  future  before  him. 
Aside,  however,  from  being  a  leading  and  well-known 
physician,  he  has  won  his  way  to  a  prominent  and 
influential  position  as  a  citizen  of  the  county  in 
which  he  was  reared  from  early  childhood.  He  is, 
perhaps,  as  well  known  as  any  of  the  oldest  prac- 
titioners of  the  county,  and  in  presenting  his  portrait 


446 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


in  this  ALBUM,  which  we  do  on  the  accompanying 
page,  we  feel  that  it  is  in  every  way  worthy  to  be 
classed  with  those  given  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
county. 


: 


esse  Catt,  a  well  known  fanner  located  on 
'£  section  34,  Berwick  Township,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  the  occupation  of  an  agricul- 
turist, was  born  in  Columbiana  Co., Ohio,  Aug 
27,  1824.  He  is  the  son  of  George  Catt,  a 
Pennsylvania  farmer,  who  was  born  in  that 
State  March  5,  1781.  The  father  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Kentucky  when  a  lad,  where  they  re- 
mained some  eight  years.  The  family  then  removed 
to  Pennsylvania,  and  resided  in  that  State  for  some 
years,  when  they  went  to  Ohio.  From  the  latter 
State,  George  Catt,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  engaged  in  the  vocation  of  a 
farmer,  and  died  about  1857,  leaving  three  children. 
The  father's  marriage  took  place  about  1808,  at 
which  time  Miss  Mary  Smith  became  his  wife.  She 
was  born  Feb.  6,  <T<)o,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in 
1864.  Their  children  were  John,  born  Oct.  4,  1810; 
Rebecca,  Dec.  23,  1812;  Mary  A.,  Dec.  2,  1815; 
Hettie  E.,  June  i,  1822;  Jesse,  Aug.  27,  1824.  Re- 
becca and  Hettie  are  deceased. 

Jesse  Catt,  of  whom  we  write,  has  followed  the 
vocation  of  an  agriculturist  all  his  life.  He  is  pleas- 
antly situated  on  a  fine  farm  of  208  acres,  on  section 
24,  Berwick  Township,  of  which  he  is  the  owner, 
and  is  actively  engaged  in  its  cultivation.  On  his 
place  is  a  good  dwelling  and  barn,  32  x  32  feet  in 
dimensions,  and  the  appearance  of  his  farm  to 
passers  by  is  indicative  of  that  push  and  energy 
characteristic  of  its  proprietor.  In  their  religious 
associations,  Mr.  Catt  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Christian  Church,  and  have  been  consistent  members 
of  that  denomination  for  six  years.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Catt  belongs  to  that  class  of  Democrats  known  as 
Jacksonians.  He  has  been  Road  Commissioner 
three  years  and  Township  Assessor  eight  years. 

Mr.  Catt  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  June  25, 
1846,  with  Miss  Cyrena  Tibbits.  She  was  born  Jan. 
i,  1827, -in  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  and  has  borne  her  hus- 


band ten  children — William  G.,  born  Oct.  2,  1847  ; 
Martha  A.,  Dec.  25,  1848;  George  W.,  Feb.  7,  1850; 
Mary  A.,  July  18,  1852;  Sarah  E.,  May  28,  1855; 
James  A.,  Oct.  12,  1856;  Henry  Lewis,  Dec.  24, 
1858;  Joel  B.,  Dec.  24,  1860;  Cyrus  D.,  Nov.  12, 
1862;  Samuel  E.,  Jan.  7,  1864,  all  of  whom,  except 
James,  Henry  L.  and  Joel  B.,  are  living. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Catt  were  Seth  and  Mary 
(Tolbert)  Tibbets.  They  were  married  about  1824. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Maine,  in  t8oo,  and  died  on 
the  Ohio  River  in  1842  of  yellow  fever.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Catt  was 
born  in  1808,  and  is  still  living,  residing  in  Indiana. 
They  have  nine  children — Missouri  A.,  Cyrena, 
Frances  L.,  Martha,  William  R.,  George,  Elizabeth, 
Sarah  E.  and  Samuel. 


R.  Nevins,  who  is  passing  the  sunset  of 
his  life  in  retirement  in  Roseville,  and  a 
gentleman  whose  success  in  life  is  attri- 
butable to  his  push,  pluck  and  perseverance, 
was  born  in  Mercer  County,  this  State,  Aug.  21, 
1838.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Nevins,  of  this  no- 
tice, William  I.  and  Mary  A.  (Pierce)  Nevins,  were 
natives  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  Clark  Co., 
Ohio,  respectively.  The  former  was  born  Aug.  9, 
1801,  and  was  one  of  the  seven  children  of  John  W. 
Nevins.  The  latter  was  born  Dec.  22,  1774.  He 
has  two  sisters  yet  living;  Adrianna  was -born  July 
28,  1797,  and,  though  living  an  advanced  age,  with- 
out the  aid  of  glasses,  she  can  make  as  fine  a  shirt  as 
any  one  a  half  century  younger.  She  lives  in  Louisa 
Co.,  Iowa.  Eliza  was  born  Feb.  15,  1805,  and  lives 
in  Millersburgh  Township,  Mercer  County,  this 
State.  Mr.  William  I.  Nevins  was  twice  married, 
the  first  time  being  in  1821,  to  Mary  A.  Curry,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children — Nancy  E,  Sarah  A., 
Hannah  M.,  Rachel  A.  and  James,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. By  his  second  wife,  who  was  Mary  A.  Pierce, 
he  had  nine  children,  as  follows :  Joel  F.,  born 
April  21,  1831,  died  Jan.  21,  1833.  The  family 
lived  at  that  time,  three  miles  from  any  other  house, 
and  he  was  taken  with  the  croup  after  sundown  and 
died  before  daybreak;  Mary  E.,  their  second  child, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


447 


born  Sept.  24,  1833;  Rebecca  E.,  Oct.  24,  1835,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Abingdon  Township; 
John  R.  Aug.  21,  1838;  William  D.,  Sept.  21,  1840, 
who  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  Ninth  Reg.  111.  Vol.,  and 
was  lost  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862 ;  Henry 
W.,  born  Jan.  9,  r843.  He  was  drafted  and  served 
nine  months  in  the  late  War;  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Kingston;  marched  to  Richmond;  was  paroled  in  18 
days  and  sent  to  St.  Louis,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
Springfield  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  From  the  time  he 
left  camp  at  Springfield,  he  was  not  three  days  in  one 
place  until  the  first  of  March,  when  he  arrived  at 
New  Berns,  N.  C.,  nor  had  he  his  clothes  off,  except 
to  change.  During  these  five  months  he  was  in  13 
different  States.  David  M.  was  born  Feb.  8,  1845, 
and  was  drowned  at  Clarkesville,  Tenn.,  March  6, 
1865,  while  serving  in  Co.  D,  83d  Vol.  Inf. ;  Adrianna 
J.,  born  March  30,  1847  ;  Cornelia  L.;  Jan.  9,  1851. 
Ten  of  these  have  lived  to  be  married  and  nine  are 
still  living.  William  I.  Nevins  lived  to  see  12  of  his 
children  united  with  the  Church,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  he  had  50  grandchildre  i  and  20  great- 
gra'id-children.  Two  of  his  daughters  have  borne 
twins,  as  also  has  one  of  his  granddaughters.  Three 
of  his  sons  volunteered  in  the  late  War  and  the 
fourth  was  drafted. 

Mr.  W.  I.  Nevins,  with  his  family,  came  to  Illi- 
nois, Oct.  25,  1832,  and  "took  up"  160  acres  of  land 
nine  miles  north  of  Monmouth,  in  Warren  County, 
on  which  they  resided  for  two  years.  They  were  very 
early  settlers  here,  and  when  they  first  came,  there 
were  but  three  houses  in  Monmouth,  one  of  which  still 
stands  on  the  west  side  of  the  square  and  is  used  as 
a  blacksmith  shop.  His  wife  assisted  in  digging  the 
first  well  north  of  Cedar  Creek,  turning  the  windlass 
in  drawing  up  the  dirt.  The  well  was  50  feet  deep. 
When  he  first  came  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Nevins  had  less 
than  $5,  one-half  of  which  he  gave  to  building  a 
church  at  Sugar  Tree  Grove,  Warren  County,  and 
at  that  time  had  a  wife  and  four  children  to  support 
and  had  to  walk  eight  miles  to  church.  He  had  no 
stock  and  money  would  not  buy  any.  He  got  his 
support  mainly  by  working  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
while  his  wife  attended  the  crops. 

After  passing  two  years  on  their  claim,  the  elder 
Nevins  sold  his  interest  in  ii  and  moved  to  Abingdon 
Township,  Mercer  County,  where  he  rented  land  for 
two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  pur- 
chased 320  acres  in  Ohio  Grove  Township,  Mercer 


County,  on  which  they  moved  and  where  the  father 
engaged  energetically  and  vigorously  upon  its  im- 
provement and  continued  to  reside  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  June  9,  1877.  He  was  the  father  of 
14  children,  and  was  a  gentleman  of  considerable 
property,  having  accumulated  the  same  through  his 
own  industry  and  energy,  and  was  always  ready  to 
assist  in  any  and  every  good  cause  that  tended  to 
benefit  the  people.  He  was  Provost  Marshal  for 
Mercer  County  during  the  War  and  enrolled  that 
county  three  times,  and  was  generally  know  as  Col. 
Wm.  I.  Nevins.  He  raised  a  company  to  go  to  the 
Mexican  War  in  1846,  but  which  was  not  accepted. 
William  I.  Nevins  was  a  gentleman  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability  as  a  business  man  and  died  in  the 
faith  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  article,  was 
an  inmate  of  the  parental  household  umil  he  attained 
the  age  of  22  years.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  the  district  schools,  and  the  major  portio;i  of  his 
years,  prior  to  that  time,  were  passed  on  the  farm. , 
After  leaving  home,  J.  R.  worked  out  for  a  year,  when 
he  rented  land  and  occupied  his  time  for  anoiher 
year  in  .its  cultivation.  His  father  then  gave  him 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  settled  in  April  and  re- 
mained until  Aug.  9,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
D,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  battle, 
of  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  3,  1863.  He  was  also  en- 
gaged in  every  battle  in  which  the  company  took 
part  and  served  his  country  for  about  three  years, 
during  which  time  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Corporal. 

After  returning  from  the  War,  Mr.  Nevins  sold  the 
40  acres  his  father  had  given  him  and  purchased  80 
acres  in  Mercer  County.  On  the  latter  farm  he  re-' 
mained  for  about  three  years,  when  he  soil  the  same 
and  came  to  Roseville  Township,  this  cninty,  and 
purchased  60  acres  on  which  he  resided  two  and  a 
half  years;  thereafter  sold  his  60  acres  and  pur- 
chased the  1 20  acres  which  he  now  owns  and 
on  which,  since  then,  he  has  been  actively  engaged 
in  farming  or  stock-raising.  In  addition  to  his  120- 
acre  farm,  Mr.  Nevins  owns  a  residence  and  three 
lots  in  Roseville. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Nevins  took  place  Nov.  29. 
1861,  when  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Barnes,  a  native  of 
Indiana,  became  his  wife.  They  have  had  no  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Nevins  who  is  one  of  the  oldest  men  liv- 
ing, born  in  Mercer  County,  is  a  believer  in  and 


-9- 


448 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 


emual  Wagy  is  an  enterprising  and 
thrifty  farmer  of  the  township  of  Point 
Pleasant.  His  father  was  born  July  4 
1805,  in  Virginia,  and  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Ohio  when  he  was  six  months  old.  Abra- 
ham Wagy  was  among  the  earliest  of  the  per- 
manent white  settlers  there,  and  he  passed  his  early 
life  in  Ross  County.  He  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
the  business  of  wagon-making,  and  married  Loieo 
Cooper,  a  native  of  that  State,  and  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  1806.  In  1848  Abraham  Wagy,  with  his 
family,  removed  to  Illinois.  He  settled  on  a  farm, 
which  he  bought  in  the  vicinity  of  Olena  and  also 
became  a  property  owner  i.  that  village.  He  opened 
a  wagon  shop  there  for  the  prosecution  of  his 
trade  and  worked  at  it  while  his  sons  in. proved 
tthe  land  he  owned.  He  sold  his  farm  after  a  few 
years  and  bought  1 60  acres  on  Haney  Creek  prairie. 
lOn  this  he  resided  from  that  time  until  1882  and  then 
removed  to  his  present  place  of  abode,  in  Gladstone. 
Mr.  Wagy  remained  in  the  family  of  his  father  and 
mother  until  1864.  In  that  year  he  caught  the  gold 
fever  and  started  with  an  ox-team  for  Montana.  Af- 
ter two  months  of  travel  he  arrived  at  Virginia  City, 
and  was  glad  to  reach  his  destination  after  such  an 
experience  as  he  had  had  of  the  adventurous  career 
of  gypsies,  as  he  had  managed  his  own  domestic  af- 
fairs on  the  road.  For  a  time  lie  prospected  and 
mined  in  that  Territory,  operating  in  the  vicinity  of 
Virginia  City.  He  went  thence  to  Boise  City,  in 
Idaho,  where  he  remained  a  short  time  only.  He 
returned  to  Illinois  with  the  intention  of  going  back 
soon  to  the  Territories,  but  his  father  prevailed  on 
him  to  remain  and  take  ch;irge  of  the  homestead. 
He  yielded  to  his  solicitation  and  managed  the  place 
one  year.  He  then  rented  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  and 
operated  on  that  through  the  next  year.  In  1866  he 
bought  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  31,  in  Point 
Pleasant  Township.  The  section  was  wholly  unim- 
proved, and  the  proprietor  has  applied  his  time  and 
energies  with  the  best  effect  and  the  place  is  now  in 


splendid  cultivation;  He  is  now  the  owner  of  the 
entire  half-section  lying  in  the  north  of  section  32, 
which  swells  his  possessions  to  480  acres.  He  is  en- 
gaged in  raising  fine  graded  stock — horses,  hogs  and 
cattle. 

Mr.  Wagy  has  been  twice  married.  March  29, 
1866,  he  formed  a  matrimonial  union  with  Sarah  A. 
Hill.  She  was  born  in  Vermont  and  died  in  1878, 
leaving  six  children.  They  were  named  William  S., 
Lemuel  F.,  Elzie,  Gracie,  Lovisa  and  Sarah  A.  In 
June,  1885,  Mr.  Wagy  was  a  second  time  married,  to 
Virginia,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Riggs. 
Mrs.  Wagy  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Wagy  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Raritan  Lodge,  No.  727,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
of  Raritan  Lodge,  No.  201,  A.  O.  U.  W. 


ames  Bagley,  a  former  resident  of  Point 
j?  Pleasant  Township,  now  deceased,  was 
one  of  the  numerous  class  of  citizens  of 
whom  the  biographer  can  truly  say,  "  he  was  a 
self-made  man."  He  was  a  native  of  County 
Monaghan,  Ireland,  and  was  born  in  May, 
1835.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  origin  and  was  reared 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  bor.i  and  bred 
a  fanner  and  was  wholly  educated  in  the  district 
schools.  He  remained  in  his  native  country  until  he 
was  19  years  of  age,  when  he  sailed  for  America  and 
landed  at  the  port  of  New  York  nearly  out  of  money. 
He  proceeded  up  the  Hudson  River  until  he  arrived 
in  Washington  County,  in  the  same  State,  and  there 
he  obtained  employment  as  afarm  hand.  While  there, 
he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mary  King,  who  be- 
came his  wife.  She  was  the  daughter  of  James  and 
Margaret  King,  and  was  born  in  the  same  county  in 
the  old  country  as  Mr.  B.,  Dec  29,  1830.  Their 
marriage  took  place  in  1854.  Mrs.  Bagley  came  to 
America  in  185  i,  and  settled  in  Washington  County. 
After  a  residence  there  of  several  years  they  came 
West.  They  made  their  first  location  in  Henderson 
County,  where  they  operated  as  renters  six  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  they  came  to  Point  Pleasant 
Township  and  bought  the  west  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  7,011  which  there  were  at  that 
time  no  improvements  of  any  kind.  Mr.  Bagley 


UV" 

U|     vp.t 


SON,i.Ec,3A.  SPRING  GROVETOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  FLORA  SIGAFOOS,  SEC. 33.  SPRING  GROVE  TOWNS  HI  P. 


•§• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


45* 


built  a  small  frame  bouse  and  improved  all  the  land. 
He  also  set  out  fruit,  shade  and  ornamental  trees, 
and  lived  on  the  place  until  the  date  of  his, death, 
which  occurred  Jan.  21,  1883.  Following  is  the  rec- 
ord of  the  three  children  who  are  still  living  :  Rob- 
ert S.  lives  in  Raritan  ;  M  argaret  is  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Caldwell,  of  Roseville;  the  remaining  child  a 
daughter,  is  named  Martha  E.  She  resides  with  her 
widowed  mother  on  the  homestead,  which  is  man- 
aged by  a  renter.  The  place  is  made  beautiful  and 
valuable  by  a  grove  of  natural  timber,  and  is  consid- 
ered one  of  the  most  pleasant  homes  in  the  county. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Bagley  came  to  America  in 
1858,  and  located  in  Henderson  Co.,  111., where  their 
lives  terminated.  Of  their  sons,  Joseph  F.  and  Al- 
exander King  live  in  Henderson  County  and  Samuel 
resides  in  Iowa. 


Carles  F.  P.  Yarde,  a  grocer  at  Alexis,  is 
a  native  citizen  of  Warren  County,  where 
he  was  born  in  the  township  of  Kelly,  Oct. 
6,  1852.  A  sketch  of  his  parents  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Aaron  and 
Charlotte  (Cousins)  Yarde,  his  father  and 
mother,  were  pioneers  of  Kelly  Township,  where  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  the  farm.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  and  at  a  suitable  age 
became  a  student  at  the  business  college  in  Gales- 
burg,  whence  he  was  graduated  when  he  was  18. 
After  the  termination  of  his  educational  course,  he 
passed  six  months  in  farming.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  came  to  Alexis  and  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  a  clerkship  in  the  employ  of  Thomas  Leveridge,  a 
merchant  of  that  place.  After  an  experience  of 
three  and  a  half  years,  he  embarked  in  business  in 
his  own  behalf,  associated  with  M.  G.  Bellinger. 
They  bought  the  grocery  establishment  of  W.  A. 
Elder  and  conducted  their  joint  business  four  and  a 
half  years.  At  that  time  Mr.  Bellinger  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Frank  Wray,  and  the  firm  name  became 
Yarde  &  Wray.  A  little  less  than  a  year  after  the 
change  was  made,  Mr.  Yarde  bought  the  interest  of 
his  partner  and  has  since  managed  his  affairs  alone. 
Feb.  i,  1881,  Mr.  Yarde  was  married  to  Rettie 
McKelvey.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Jane 


(McMillen)  McKelvey,  and  was  born  in  Belmont 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  June,  1860.  She  is  the  fourth  in  order 
of  birth  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  viz.:  Robert 
S.,  Amy  I.,  Mary  A.,  Henrietta  (the  wife  of  Mr. 
Yarde),  William  S.,  Vernon,  Joseph,  and  two  de- 
ceased. The  parents  of  Mrs.  Yarde  were  born  in 
Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  the  father  Feb.  4,  1830,  the 
mother  Dec.  16,  1833.  On  the  paternal  side,  the 
grandparent?  were  born  in  Ireland,  in  the  Counties 
Tirone  and  Kerry  respectively,  and  on  the  maternal 
side  her  grandparents  are  of  Irish  descent. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yarde  are  members  of  the   United 
Brethren  Church. 


rederick  Sorenson,  a  farmer  of  the  town- 
ship of  Spring  Grove,  is  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  of  foreign  birth,  having 
been  born  in  Schlessvvig-Holstein,  Nov.  26, 
1850.  He  was  reared  under  the  customs  of 
the  land  of  his  nativity,  and,  after  completing 
the  time  which,  by  law,  he  was  required  to  pass  in 
school,  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  home  farm,  until 
1869,  when  he  determined  to  seek  a  fortune  in  that 
far  more  congenial  clime,  "  The  land  of  the  free,  and 
the  home  of  the  brave."  To  resolve  was  to  execute, 
and  April  22,  1869,  he  sailed  from  Hamburg  and  was 
landed  in  Portland,  Maine.  He  came  thence  direct- 
ly to  Warren  County,  where  he  had  been  preceded 
by  an  older  brother,  Martin.  He  had  no  trouble  in 
obtaining  employment  at  farming,  cheerfully  going  to 
work  for  $10  a  month.  He  was  wholly  ignorant  of 
the  English  language  and  when  the  winter  season 
came  he  attended  school  for  the  purpose  of  familiar- 
izing himself  with  the  language  of  his  adopted  coun- 
try. He  not  only  accomplished  that  purpose  but 
acquired  a  highly  creditable  English  education. 

In  1870  his  parents  also  immigrated  to  America, 
settling  in  Warren  County,  where  his  father  bought 
40  acres  of  land  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
21,  on  which  Frederick  and  a  brother  went  to  woik, 
speedily  putting  it  in  a  condition  for  profitable  farming. 
In  the  succeeding  year  they  became  by  purchase  the 
owners  of  the  remaining  tzo  acres  of  the  quarter-sec- 
tion on  which  they  had  located.  Mr.  Sorenson  has 
always  been  a  part  ow?er  of  the  place  in  company 
with  his  parents. 

He  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Catherine  John- 


-§• 


452 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


son  in  1883.  She  is  a  native  of  the  same  German 
province  in  which  her  husband  was  born.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  worthy  couple — Carl,  a 
son,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  The  members  of 
the  household  are  connected  in  membership  with 
the  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  Sorenson  is 
a  Republican.  A  view  of  Mr.  Sorenson's  home- 
place  appears  on  page  450. 

Andrew  C.  Sorenson,  the  father  of  the  gentleman 
whose  biography  has  just  been  briefly  sketched,  was 
also  born  in  Schlesswig-Holstein,  in  i8n,and  was 
reared  under  the  lej;al  regulations  of  his  native  land, 
receiving  the  education  provided  by  law.  He  mar- 
ried Annie  Mathiason  of  the  same  province.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  a  well-to-do  farmer,  and  on  his 
death  the  son-in-law  became  the  owner  of  the  estate 
by  purchase.  It  was  his  homestead  and  there  his 
children  were  born  and  reared,  until  1870,  in  which 
year  the  transfer  of  the  entire  family  to  the  Continent 
of  America  took  place,  their  settlement  in  Warren 
County  being  effected  as  before  mentioned.  The 
elder  Sorensons  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
and  all  save  two  are  still  living.  Hansine  is  the  wife 
of  Paul  Sorenson,  and  they  are  settled  in  Iowa. 
Martin  is  a  citizen  of  prominence  as  a  farmer  and  a 
friend  of  good  order  and  progress  in  Spring  Grove 
Township.  Annie  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Hansen,»of 
the  same  township.  Frederick  is  the  next  in  order 
of  birth.  Mary  is  married  to  Martin  Thuson,  of 
Monmouth.  Caroline,  who  is  now  a  student  at  Mon- 
mouth  College,  lives  in  the  same  township  where  her 
parents  located. 


.  ames  Owen,  of  Point  Pleasant  Township, 
jjf?-  is  one  of  the  prominent  members  of  the 
farming  community  of  Warren  County.  He 
is  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  fine  land  located 
on  section  12,  which  is  in  an  exceedingly  good 
condition  for  successful  farming.  Mr.  Owen 
is  a  descendant  from  ancestors  who,  by  their  bravery 
in  the  contests  with  Great  Britain,  for  the  liberty  of 
this  cou.itry,  earned  for  their  succeeding  generations 
the  indisputable  rights  of  American  citizens.  He 
was  born  in  Tennessee  (Hawkins  County)  Dec.  17, 


1819,  and  is  the  son  of  James  Owen.  The  latter  was 
the  son  of  William  Owen,  who  was  born  in  South 
Carolina,  and  was  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Among  the  battles  in  which  he  is  on  record 
as  having  been  a  participant,  were  King's  Mountain, 
Cowpens,  Eutaw  Springs  and  Camden,  besides  many 
smaller  engagements.  He  died  in  Hawkins  Co., 
Tenn.  His  son,  James  Owen,  was  born  in  Anson 
Co.,  N.  C.,  March  25,  1789,  and  he  was  only  six 
months  old  when  the  family  removed  to  Tennessee, 
where  they  were  pioneers  of  Hawkins  County.  The 
Indians  of  that  section  of  the  country  were  still 
troublesome  and  for  a  short  time  after  the  arrival  of 
the  family  in  that  State,  they  resided  in  a  fort 
James  Owen,  6r.,  there  reached  the  years  of  maturity 
and  was  still  a  young  man  when  the  War  of  1812 
again  called  the  citizens  of  America  to  defend  her 
from  British  encroachment.  He  enlisted  and  was  in 
the  action  called  the  battle  of  Horse-Shoe.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lanlor,  who  was  born  in  Rockbridge  Co., 
Va.,  about  two  miles  from  the  Natural  Bridge.  After 
marriage,  Mr.  Owen  settled  on  a  portion  of  the  large 
tract  of  land  which  his  father  had  bought  in  Haw- 
kins County.  Not  being  a  friend  to  the  slave  ele- 
ment, however,  he  at  last  resolved  to  emigrate  to 
some  one  of  the  free  States,  and,  accordingly,  made 
preparations  to  leave  the  section  in  which  he  had 
been  born  and  reared.  He  set  out  with  a  horse  and 
carriage,  containing  all  his  household  goods.  His  wife 
rode  on  horseback,  carrying  the  two  youngest  chil- 
dren, while  the  two  eldest  daughters,  aged  respec- 
tively 14  and  1 6,  walked  the  entire  distance  to  their 
destination, *in  the  State  of  Indiana.  All  else  was 
abandoned  by  Mr.  Owen  in  his  eagerness  to  retreat 
from  the  hated  institution,  being  determined  that  his 
children  should  not  grow  up  within  its  influence.  A 
location  was  made  in  Floyd  County,  where  they  set- 
tled on  80  acres  of  timber.  A  "  patch  "  of  land  was 
cleared  and  a  log  house  erected.  The  heavy  timber 
was  removed  by  hard  and  persistent  labor  and  there 
the  wife  and  mother  died  in  1835.  In  the  year  fol- 
lowing that  event,  Mr.  Owen  sold  his  place  and  again 
set  forth  with  his  family  for  a  new  start  in  the  role  of 
a  pioneer.  He  and  his  four  children  rode  on  horse- 
back to  McDonough  Co  ,  111.,  at  which  place  they 
stopped  and  located,  instead  of  going  to  Flint  Hills 
(now  the  city  of  Burlington),  Iowa,  where  they  had 
originally  intended  to  settle.  They  made  their  home 
in  the  northwest  part  of  McDonough  County,  at  a 


: 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


453 


point  designated  as  the  "  Job  Settlement,"  where  a 
tract  of  land  was  purchased,  on  which  they  resided 
until  1844.  The  father  then  sold  out  again  and  went 
to  Missouri,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time, 
returning  to  Illinois  and  locating  in  Henderson 
County.  There  James  Owen,  the  subject  of  this 
biography,  who  had  never  been  separated  from  his 
father  during  the  many  migrations  of  the  family, 
bought  80  acres  of  land  on  which  his  father  died  in 
October,  1845. 

On  the  small  farm  in  Henderson  County,  where  a 
frame  house  had  been  built  and  some  other  nominal 
improvements  made,  Mr.  OweV>  resided  until  1851, 
when  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Warren  County.  He 
made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in  Swan  Township, 
of  which  he  was  the  occupant  between  two  and 
three  years.  He  then  sold  out  and  bought  the  farm 
upon  which  he  now  lives,  located  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  12,  in  Point  Pleasant  Township. 
No  improvements  of  any  character  had  been  made  on 
it,  but  the  owner  soon  accomplished  the  necessary 
work  which  put  it  on  a  footing  of  equality  with  the 
'  numerous  farms  of  value  in  the  county.  It  is  also  sup- 
plied with  all  the  needed  outbuildings  of  substantial 
structure.  Besides  400  acres  under  cultivation  Mr. 
Owen  is  the  owner  of  50  acres  of  good  timber  land  in 
Swan  Township. 

Mr.  Owen  had  small  advantages  for  obtaining  any 
education  in  the  schools,  but  his  mental  calibre  is 
such  as  to  supply  all  deficiencies  of  that  character. 
He  was  fond  of  reading  and  possessed  the  natural 
sagacity  to  render  it  a  source  of  profit  and  a  means  of 
intellectual  cultivation.  His  powers  as  a  natural 
mathematician  are  something  remarkable,  and  he 
probably  stands  at  the  head  of  that  class  of  geniuses 
in  the  State.  He  is  a  Republican  l>y  inheritance  and 
inclination  and  has  been  a  strong  adherent  of  the 
party  since  its  organization. 

July  23,  1846,  Mr.  Owen  was  married  to  Demarus 
E.  Emerich.  She  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ohio, 
July  14,  1829,  and  became  the  mother  of  11  chil- 
dren. They  were  named  James  C.,  Jacob  E.,  Sarah 
A.,  John  A.,  Joseph  S.,  Mary  J.,  Lucinda,  Mary  F., 
Cassius  C  ,  Williim  C.  and  George  G.  The  eldest 
son  (James  C.)  was  born  May  6,  "1847,  and  died 
June  2,  1880,  from  disease  contracted  during  his  ser- 
vice in  the  late  war  as  a  member  of  Co.  H,  83d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.  He  left  a  wife  and  four  children.  Mary  J. 


died  at  the  age  oLnine  years.  Lucinda  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mary  F.  also  died  in  early  childhood.  Cas- 
sius C.  was  born  May  i,  1861,  and  died  Sept.  21, 
1885.  He  left  a  wife  and  one  child. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Owen  were  Jacob  and  Abigail 
(Cooper)  Emerick,  natives  respectively  of  Virginia 
and  Ohio.  They  removed  hither  in  1832.  The 
father  died  March  12,  1855,  near  Fort  Scott,  Kan. 
The  mother  died  Nov.  i,  1877. 


errit  Paddock  ranks  among  the  well-to-do 
and   well   known    agriculturists,    who   in 
early  life  engaged  actively  and  arduously 
in   the   labor  incident  to  a  farm,  and  whose 
efforts  have  been  crowned  with   success,  thus 
enabling  him  to  spend  the  remaining  years  of  . 
his  life  in  retirement  in  the  peaceful  village  of  Kirk- 
wood.     He  is  a  native  of  Oneida  Co.,   N.   Y.,  and 
was  born  on  the   igth  of  September,  1822;  his  par-  . 
ents  are  John  and  Polly  (Christian)  Paddock.     They 
were  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York,  where  they 
resided  until  their  death,  which  occurred  in  Decem-  . 
ber,  1867,  and  in  April,  1840,  respectively. 

Merrit  continued  a  member  of  the  family  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  20  years,  attending  the  district 
schools  and  working  on  the  farm.  After  leaving 
home  he  worked  out  for  six  months,  receiving  for  his 
salary  $10.50  per  month,  and  in  1842  he  rented  a 
farm  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  of  60  acres,  which  he  re- 
mained on  for  one  year.  He  then  moved  to  Lewis 
County,  same  State,  and  there  worked  a  farm  for  two 
years  having  only  rented  it,  when  he  made  a  pur- 
chase of  some  land,  a  tiact  of  50  acres,  and  began 
its  improvement  and  cultivation,  continuing  for  two 
years  and  then  sold  it.  His  next  enterprise  was  to 
work  a  farm  on  shares,  also  occupying  himself  in 
other  pursuits,  until  1851,  when  he  removed  west- 
ward, locating  in  Prophetstown,  Whiteside  County, 
this  State,  where  he  purchased  1 30  acres  of  land  and 
remained  there  until  1853.  In  the  latter  year  he 
again  returned  to  Lewis  County,  in  his  native  State, 
and  remained  there  for  a  couple  of  years,  when  he 
returned  to  Prophetstown  and  purchased  40  acres  of 
improved  land  and  erected  thereon  a  good  residence 


454 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


and  barn,  fenced  the  same,  planted  trees,  etc.  He 
came  to  Warren  County  in  1861,  and  settled  in 
Tompkins  Township.  He  purchased  some  land  and 
engaged  actively  and  energetically  in  its  cultivation 
and  improvement,  and  by  subsequent  purchases  has 
increased  his  landed  possessions  until  now  he  is  the 
proprietor  of  143  acres.  He  resided  upon  the  same 
until  1872,  when  he  came  to  Kirkwood  and  there 
purchased  a  house  and  lot  where  he  has  since  lived, 
retired  from  the  active  labors  of  life. 

Mr.  Paddock  was  married  Feb.  20,  1845,  to  Miss 
Alvira  T.  Hall,  a  native  of  New  York,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  in  Lewis  County,  her  native  State. 
Mr.  Paddock  is  a  Republican  in  political  views,  and, 
with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  solid  and 
influential  men  of  Warren  County. 


i,apt.  Elisha  C.  Atchison,  one  of  Warren 
County's  successful  farmers,  and  a  gentle- 
man who  has  followed  that  vocation  more 
or  less  all  his  life,  is  at  present  lesiding  upon 
section  i,  Cold  Brook  Township.  He  was 
born  in  Sumner  County,  Central  Tennessee, 
Jan.  20,  1820.  The  father  of  Mr.  Atchison.  whose 
name  heads  this  notice,  Nathan  Atchison,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  having  been  born  in  Stafford  County, 
that  State,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  under  command  of  Gen. 
Jackson.  He  was  married  in  Tennessee,  after  at- 
taining his  majority,  his  wife  being  Lucretia  Barnard  , 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  who  moved  to  Tennessee 
with  her  parents  previous  to  her  marriage.  After 
their  marriage,  in  1829,  they  came  to  Gallatin  Co., 
this  State,  from  whence  they  removed  to  Madison 
County,  where  the  father  died  in  1843,  at  the  age  of 
67  years.  The  mother  died  in  Bunker  Hill,  Macou- 
pin  County,  in  1872,  aged  82  years.  They  were 
prominent  citizens  of  the  communities  in  which  they 
resided,  and  her  father  was  successful  in  his  chosen 
vocation,  as  an  agriculturist. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  notice  was 
about  nine  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  this 
State.  He  continued  to  reside  with  them  until  the 
death  of  his  father,  when  he  set  forth  to  fight  the 
battle  of  life  alone.  He  was  married  in  Knox  County, 


Nov.  24,  1846,  to  Miss  Nabbie  L.  Fuller,  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hulda  (Record) 
Fuller,  natives  of  Massachusetts  and  of  New  England 
parentage,  who,  after  marriage,  moved  to.  Marietta, 
Washington  County,  Ohio,  and  afterwards,  in  1844, 
came  to  this  State,  settling  in  Knox  County,  where 
her  father  died.  Her  mother  is  yet  living,  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Atchison,  and  has  attained  the  ven- 
erable age  of  90  years. 

Mrs.  Atchison,  wife  of  our  subject,  was  born  near 
Marietta,  Washington  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  16,  1826.  She 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  resided  at 
home,  assisting  her  mother  in  the  household  duties, 
until  her  marriage  to  Mr.  A.  Of  their  union  eleven 
children  have  been  born,  four  of  whom  are  deceased. 
The  names  of  the  living  are  George  W.,  who  married 
Mary  Mitchell ;  they  reside  in  Cold  Brook  Town- 
ship, and  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  one  of 
whom  is  now  deceased.  Hulda  L.  married  George 
Harlan  and  they  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  one 
deceased  ;  they  live  at  Dallas  City,  III.  John  H.,1 
William  E.,  Fred  and  Minnie  reside  at  home.  Mary 
M.  is  attending  school  at  Galesburg.  After  their, 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atchison  located  in  this"^ 
county  and  have  continued  to  reside  here,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  years  passed  in  Galesburg  and 
Monmouth,  until  the  present  time.  In  1856  Mr.- 
Atchison  purchased  a  portion  of  the  property  where  ' 
he  now  resides.  He  has,  by  subsequent  purchases, 
increased  his  lai.ded  interests  in  the  county,  until  he 
is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  240  acres,  in  Cold 
Brook  Township,  the  major  portion  of  which  is  under 
an  advanced  state  of  cultivation  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Universalist  Church.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Atchison  casts  his  vote  with  the  Democratic 
party.  He  has  been  Assessor  and  Collector  and  also 
Justice  of  the  Peace. 

In  September,  1862,  Mr.  Atchison  enlisted  in  Co. 
B,  load  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  private,  and  his  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Im- 
mediately after  enlistment  he  was  elected  Captain  of 
the  company,  which  he  organized,  and  went  into 
camp  at  Knoxville,  Knox  County.  From  there  he 
went  to  Louisville,  Ky  ,  and  afterwards  did  some 
skirmishing,  but  was  in  no  active  engagements.  Mr. 
A.  resigned  command  of  his  company  at  Gallatin, 
Tenn.,  and  returned  home,  where  he  lias  since  fol- 
lowed his  chosen  vocation,  agriculture,  meeting  with 
success  in  that  avenue  of  life. 


*3 


457 


oseph    B.  Malony,   manufacturer  of    har- 
ness   and  dealer  in  harness  and  saddlery 
goods  at  Roseville,  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Margaret  (Cairnes)  Malony,  and  was  born  in 
Cumberland   Co.,   Pa.,   Dec.    16,    1818.      His 
parents  were   natives  of  Ireland   and  came  to 
America  about   the  year  1810,  locating  in  the   Key- 
stone State  where  the  father  was  engaged  as  contrac- 
tor for  stone  work.     In  1824  he   removed  into  Ohio 
and    there  engaged    in  farming,  also   following  his 
trade  at  stone  work,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
first  flouring  mill  on  the  Maumee  River.     He  made 
the  Buckeye  State  his   permanent  home   and  died 
there  about  1826-7,  his  wife's  demise  occurring  in 
1846. 

Joseph  B.,  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  biographical  notice,  went  to  learn  the 
trade  of  saddle-maker  at  the  age  of  16,  at  which  he 
L  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  and  a  half  years, 
and  again  ten  months  under  the  instruction  of 
another  firm.  He  followed  the  same  in  the  States  of 
Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  finally  settled  down 
in  Canton,  Fulton  County,  this  State,  and  opened  a 
shop,  which  he  carred  on  for  12  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  he  removed  to  Vermont,  same 
county,  but  remained  only  a  year,  when  he  again  re- 
turned to  Canton  and  embarked  in  the  same  busi- 
ness for  four  years.  His  next  move  was  to  Prairie 
City,  McDonough  Co,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in 
business  and  remained  until  the  year  i86r. 

In  the  latter  year  the  call  was  made  for  brave 
hearts  and  strong  arms  to  defend  the  Union  flag,  and 
Joseph  B.,  a  very  patriotic  gentleman,  enlisted  in 
the  Seventh  Regt.  of  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  and  served  two 
years  and  four  months,  having  held  the  position  of 
Sergeant  Saddler,  but  was  discharged  on  account  of 
disability.  He  then  returned  to  Prairie  City  and 
again  embarked  in  business,  which  he  continued 
until  the  year  187  2,  then  coming  to  Roseville  and  in- 
teresting himself  in  his  present  enterprise,  in  which 
he  has  met  with  remarkable  success  and  is  doing  a 
constantly  increasing  business.  He  has  gotten  up 
many  new  improvements  in  harness  that  have  come 


into  general  use.  He  invented  the  first  pad  for  a 
saddle,  padding  for  a  saddletree  and  the  roller  at- 
tachment to  the  "Sensible  Combination  Buckle."  He 
is  also  the  inventor  of  a  combination  halter,  which  is 
not  only  the  best  in  use  but  cheap  and  durable. 

In  1841,  one  of  the  most  important  events  in  the 
life  of  Mr.  Joseph  B.  Maloney  occurred,  it  being 
his  marriage  to  Miss  Jane  Anderson,  and  of  their 
union  were  born  four  children — Richard  A.,  Joseph 
C.,  William  N.  and  James  M.  Mrs.  Malony 's  de- 
mise occurred  in  1850,  and  Mr.  M.  formed  a  sec- 
ond matrimonial  alliance  with  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife,  Miss  Catherine  Anderson,  and  they  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  five  children,  only  four  of 
whom  survive,  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  Nathaniel  L., 
Margaret  J.  and  Emma.  Mrs.  Maloney  died  in 
1872.  Mr.  Malony  is  a  Greenbacker  in  politics.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Rose- 
ville. 


ohn  Wesley  Bolon,  Sheriff  of  Warren ' 
P  County,  was  born  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio, 
Sept.  2,  1838.  His  parents,  John  and 
Eliza  (  Joyce  )  Bolon,  natives  respectively  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  were  married  in 
the  last  named  State ;  settled  at  once  in  Ohio, 
where  their  five  sons  and  four  daughter  were  born,  and 
where  the  senior  Mr.  Bolon  died  in  1848,  aged  about 
63  years.  John  Bolon  was  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
Bolon  and  a  descendant  from  a  long  line  of  English 
ancestry,  who  had  emigrated  to  America  many  years 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War.  John,  the  father  of 
Sheriff  Bolon,  lived  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming,  and  during  the  war  of 
1812,  enlisted  in  the  defense  of  his  country.  After 
he  grew  to  manhood  he  moved  to  Virginia,  where,  in 
London  County,  he  married  his  wife.  During  that 
same  year  he  came  to  Ohio.  His  wife  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  Thomas  B.  Joyce,  a  native  of  Ireland.  He 
had  come  to  Virginia  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  with  three  of  his  sons  took  part  in  that 
memorable  struggle.  He  was  likewise  one  of  the 
patriots  who  assisted  in  repelling  the  British  invasion 
during  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  Colonel  of  a  Vir- 
ginia regiment,  and  proved  himself  to  be  a  brave  and 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


gallant  officer.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  he  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  and  subsequently  to  Illinois,  and  re- 
sided with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Bolon,  until  his  demise, 
which  occurred  at  the  advanced  age  of  97  years.  In 
politics,  he  was  an  old  line  Whig.  Mrs.  Bolon 
brought  her  children  to  Warren  County  in  1855, 
after  living  four  years  in  Indiana,  and  in  Floyd 
Township,  this  county,  spent  the  rest  of  her  life, 
dying  at  the  home  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  in 
1868,  aged  76  years. 

John  W.  Bolon  was  pretty  thoroughly  educated  at 
Hillsboro  Seminary,  in  Indiana,  where  he  spent  four 
years,  and  after  coming  lo  Illinois  taught  school 
probably  two  years,  which,  for  himself,  was  an  excel- 
lent means  of  further  disciplining  and  forming  his 
mind.  Before  leaving  Indiana  he  read  law  some 
time  with  Judge  Niblock,  who  has  since  served  so 
many  years  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  of  that  State, 
but  abandoned  it  and  turned  his  attention  to  farming 
and  stock  dealing,  which  he  followed  uninterruptedly 
for  15  years.  He  now  rents  his  fine  farm  of  160 
acres  in  Floyd  Township.  While  a  resident  of  the 
township  he  served  the  people  12  years  as  Road 
Commissioner,  one  year  as  Constable,  eight  years  as 
Supervisor  and  14  years  as  School  Director.  He  has 
always  been  a  Republican  in  politics,  is  a  good  stump 
speaker,  and  in  1882,  as  candidate  for  Sheriff,  ran 
far  ahead  of  his  ticket. 

Mr.  Bolon  was  married  in  Floyd  Township,  Jan. 
21,  1857,  to  Lucinda  Sigrnan,  a  native  of  Guernsey 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Julia  (Spears) 
Sigman,  a  farmer  of  Floyd  Township.  His  ancestors 
were  German.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bolon's  children  are 
named:  Alfred  W.,  Charles  M.,  Emetine,  Nettie, 
Ella,  John  H.  and  Roy.  The  family  are  all  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
Bolo.i,  himself,  has  been  a  member  of  that  Church 
for  many  years  and  for  the  last  16  years  has  had 
license  to  preach  as  a  local  preacher.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  a  fervent  and  eloquent  teacher  and  is 
capable  of  doing  great  good  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity. 

Some  of  Mr.  Bolon's  children  have  been  married, 
namely:  Alfred  W.  married  Minnie,  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  Blair,  of  Abington,  111.  They  reside  on  the 
homestead  in  Floyd  Township,  and  carry  on  the 
farm;  Charles  Milton  married  Mary  Ada  Goddard, 
daughter  of  Henry  Goddard,  of  Floyd  Township,  this 


county.      He  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising 
in  Berwick  Township. 

Whatever  of  this  world's  goods,  Mr.  B.  possesses,  he 
has  most  diligently  labored  for.  He  inherited  noth- 
ing in  the  way  of  property  and  when  married  had 
only  $100  in  money.  He  has  been  a  hard  working, 
frugal  man  and  has  won  for  himself  a  most  enviable 
position  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow  citizens,  as 
well  as  a  fair  conpetency.  He  is  not  only  a  genial 
gentleman,  but  possesses  most  excellent  judgment 
and  nerve,  and  few  men  in  the  county  are  so  well 
fitted  for  the  position  he  holds.  Among  the  portraits 
of  the  leading  men  of  the  county  given  in  this 
book  may  be  found  tha.t  of  Mr.  Bolon.  He  is  a  truly 
representative  citizen,  and  honors  the  work  contain- 
ing his  features. 


ohn  A.  Gordon,  notary  public,  real  estate 
and  collecting  agent,  at  Roseville,  also  a  ^ 
surveyor  and  engineer,  was  born  Jan.  10, 
1835,  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  his  parents  being 
William  and  Sarah  (Dilley)  Gordon,  natives  of 
that  State.  The  parents  came  to  this  State  in 
1858,  and  purchased  80  acres  of  land  located  on 
section  32,  Roseville  Township,  on  which  they  lo- 
cated and  where  the  father  followed  the  occupation 
of  a  farmer  until  his  death,  in  May,  1876  His  wife 
still  survives  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead  one 
mile  east  of  the  village.  The  children  were  six  in 
number,  five  of  whom  attained  the  age  of  majority. 

John  A.  Gordon,  of  whom  we  write,  was  the  eldest 
of  his  parents'  children,  and  remained  at  home  until 
he  attained  liis  aist  year,  receiving  a  good  education 
and  assisting  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  He  had, 
prior  to  attaining  his  majority,  engaged  somewhat  in 
surveying  and  also  in  teaching  school.  During  the 
winter  of  1855-56,  he  was  engaged  in  the  latter  oc- 
cupation, in  New  Lebanon,  Pa.  In  September,  1856, 
he  came  to  Roseville,  but  previous  to  that,  during 
the  summer  of  that  year,  was  employed  by  the  Mil- 
waukee and  Missouri  River  Railroad,  in  Iowa,  mak- 
ing the  preliminary  survey.  In  1856,  the  winter  of 
that  year,  he  taught  school,  and  continued  in  that 
vocation  for  three  years.  He  next  engaged  as  clerk 


nr; 

WARREN  CO  UN  T  Y. 


459 


>i 


and  book-keeper  for  Emans  &  Woodmansee  and  was 
with  that  firm  one  year.  We  next,  in  1865,  find  him 
in  Chicago,  where  he  is  taking  a  regular  business 
course  of  study  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial 
College,  from  which  he  received  a  diploma.  He 
then  returned  to  Roseville  and  was  elected  County 
Surveyor,  which  position  he  held  until  August,  1870, 
when  he  engaged  with  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island 
and  St.  Louis  Railroad  as  station  agent  at  Roseville, 
and  held  that  position  two  years.  At  the  expiration 
of  this  time  he  became  interested  in  the  furniture 
business  and  continued  thus  for  ten  years,  when  he 
sold  out  and  opened  an  office  on  Penn  Avenue, 
where  he  is  at  present  located 

Mr.  Gordon  was  married  in  1861  to  Miss  Philena 
Dilley,  a  native  of  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  and  a  daughter 
of  Stephen  Dilley,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Gordon  is  a  strong  ad- 
vocate of  prohibition,  casts  his  vote  with  that  party, 
and  was  an  active  and  energetic  worker  in  the  cause. 
Mr.  Gordon  has  held  the  position  of  Police  Magis- 
trate and  Village  Trustee.  He  has  quite  an  interest 
in  the  village  plat  of  Roseville,  and  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  that  thriving  little 
village. 


rerrick  Livermore,  of  Sumner  Township,  is 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  1839  who  settled  in 
Warren  County,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
most  prominent  of  the  agriculturists  of  the 
township  in  which  he  is  located.  His  birth 
took  place  Aug.  28,  1830,  in  Washington  Co., 
Ohio.  His  father,  Andrew  Livermore,  was  a  native 
of  Shirley,  Middlesex  Co.,  Mass.  The  latter  was 
the  son  of  James  and  Polly  (Kelsey)  Livermore, 
The  ancestral  history  of  the  family  lias  been  pre- 
served in  the  annals  of  Shirley,  which  were  compiled 
by  the  Rev.  Seth  Chandler.  The  first  progenitor  in 
this  country  was  John  Livermore,  who  came,  at  the 
age  of  28,  to  the  New  World,  sailing  from  Ipswich, 
England,  in  April,  r6j4,  in  the  good  ship  Francis, 
John  Cutting,  Captain.  John  Livermore  located  in 
Watertown,  Mass.,  and  there  his  life  terminated, 
April  16,  1684.  He  was  a  potter  by  trade.  Oliver 


Livermore,  who  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  settle 
in  Shirley,  located  in  that  place  as  nearly  as  can  be 
ascertained  about  1767. 

Andrew  Livermore  was  but  seven  years  old  when 
his  parents  removed  from  the  "  Old  Bay  State  "  to 
the,  then,  far  distant  West.  The  journey  was  made 
in  the  fashion  so  often  recounted  in  this  and  other 
works  of  similar  character,  peculiar  to  the  time, 
when  there  were  practically  no  means  of  public 
travel.  The  long  and  difficult  route,  however,  was 
safely  traversed  by  team,  and  the  family  homestead 
established  in  Washington  Co.,  Ohio.  Andrew  Liv- 
ermore there  attained  to  the  age  and  condition  of 
manhood,  and  there  he  was  married  to  Betsey  Ful- 
ler. Slie,  too,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  having 
been  born  in  Essex  County,  in  1807.  Her  parents  be- 
came pioneers  of  the  "Buckeye  State"  when  she  was 
very  young.  After  marriage,  Andrew  and  wife  set- 
tled on  the  homestead  of  his  father,  in  Washington 
County,  and  resided  there  until  their  removal  to 
Warren  County,  in  1839,  that  journey  also  being 
made  in  the  primitive  fashion  of  the  earlier  period, 
the  family  traveling  to  Illinois  with  four  horses  and  a 
wagon.  They  brought  with  them  all  their  portable 
property,  and  passed  four  weeks  on  the  road. 

The  senior  Livermore  bought  a  farm  in  township 
1 1  (now  Kelly  Township),  and  there  proceeded  with 
the  work  common  to  the  pioneer  residents  of  a  new 
country.  He  built  a  hewed-log  house  and  split 
"  shakes  "  for  a  roof  and  puncheons  for  a  floor.  This 
place  was  occupied  by  the  family  until  1852,  when  it 
was  sold  and  they  removed  to  Point  Pleasant  Town- 
ship. The  father  bought  a  farm,  on  which  there  had 
been  a  log  house  erected.  Of  this  structure  they  took 
possession  until  time  and  circumstances  were  favor- 
able for  the  building  of  a  more  suitable  and  conven- 
ient abode.  The  farm  was  put  in  the  best  possible 
condition  and  was  the  home  of  the  father  until  his 
death.  His  demise  took  place  Feb.  30,  t88o.  The 
family  comprised  ten  children.  Derrick,  the  subject 
of  this  biography,  was  the  eldest.  Russell  was  born 
April  3,  1832.  His  death  transpired  Aug.  28,  1850. 
Andrew  P.  was  born  Aug.  28,  1834,  and  died  Feb.  5, 
1881.  John  K.  was  born  Aug.  9,  1836,  and  is  living 
in  Henderson  County.  Western  T.  was  born  Dec. 
29,  1838.  Jonas  was  born  June  19,  1841,  and  died 
May  8,  1862.  Oliver  was  born  July  29,  and  died 
Aug.  28,  1842.  Socrates  was  born  Nov.  10,  1843; 
Charles  C.,  Oct.  24,  1847;  William  R.,Oct.  6,  1850. 


• 


460 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Derrick  Livermore  was  nine  years  old  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Warren  County,  and  in 
that  county  he  has  ever  since  made  his  home.  He 
was  brought  up  on  the  homestead  of  his  parenis  and 
lived  with  them  until  he  became  the  head  of  a  fam- 
ily of  his  own.  His  marriage  to  Betsey  Stevens  oc- 
curred Jan.  8,  1851.  She  was  born  in  Sangamon 
Co.,  111.,  Feb.  15,  i83r,and  is  the  daughter  of  James 
and  Nancy  (Miles)  Stevens.  Her  father  and  mother 
were  natives  of  the  State  of  Kentucky,  and  joined 
the  early  pioneer  element  of  the  county  where  she 
was  born. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Livermore  bought 
80  acres  of  land  on  section  12,  in  the  township  of 
Cold  Brook,  in  the  same  county  where  he  had  passed 
the  years  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  manhood  and  which  he  has  so 
thoroughly  and  creditably  discharged.  He  built  a 
small  house  on  the  estate  and  proceeded  to  the  bus- 
iness of  a  farmer.  There  he  continued  to  reside 
until  he  sold  it  and  removed  to  Point  Pleas- 
ant Township,  in  1855,  where  he  bought  80  acres 
situated  on  section  10,  and  where  he  repeated  the 
experience  of  his  former  life  in  the  township  in  which 
he  at  first  located.  He  improved  the  land  and  made 
additional  purchases,  until  he  became  the  owner  of 
his  present  estate  of  400  acres,  the  whole  of  which  is 
under  thorough  cultivation.  The  family  of  Mr.  Liv- 
ermore includes  six  children.  Andrew  J.  resides  in 
this  (Point  Pleasant)  township.  Joshua  resides  in 
Page  Co.,  Iowa.  Eugenie  L.  is  married  to  B.  L.  Bird- 
sail,  of  Point  Pleasant.  Mary  A.,  Alice  E.  and 
Clara  are  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Livermore  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a 
Universalist  in  religious  belief. 


lohn  Nicol  Bruen,  deceased,  was  born   in 
Essex  Co.,  N.   J.,  Oct.  25,  1825,  and  died 
in  Monmouth,  Nov.  21,  1884.     His  father, 
William  Bruen,  was  a  descendant  from  Scotch 
ancestry,  and  his   mother,  Jane  (Williamson) 
Bruen,  from  the  German.     They  reared  three 
sons  and  five  daughters,  Mr.  Bruen  being  the  eldest. 
John  Nicol  Bruen  was  educated  at  Bloomfield,  N 


J.,  and  his  father,  who  was  a  shoe  manufaturer  on  a 
small  scale,  tried  to  educate  him  into  the  Order  of 
the  Knights  of  St.  Crispin,  but  young  Bruen  protested 
after  a  few  months'  application  to  the  rudiments  of 
the  trade,  and  the  year  1844  found  him  farming  in 
Henderson  County,  this  State.  An  uncle  of  his, 
Mr.  Bruen,  owned  an  unimproved  farm  of  160  acres 
some  ten  miles  from  Oquawka,  and  it  was  U|x>n  this 
tract  of  land  that  he  gave  our  subject  80  acres  if  he 
would  settle  on  it,  and  here  he  sought  to  establish  an 
independency.  Before  assuming  the  dignity  of  a 
farmer  on  his  own  account,  however,  he  hired  him- 
self out  to  a  neighbor  who  paid  him  the  paltry  sum 
of  $7  per  month,  probably  advancing  him  to  $8  per 
n.onth  when  he  had  grown  more  proficient  in  the 
essential  departments.  He  brought  with  him  from 
New  Jersey  a  squirrel  rifle  and  a  silver  watch.  The 
first  he  exchanged  for  fence  rails,  and  the  second  for 
prairie-breaking.  His  start  in  life  may  be  accurately 
surmised  from  these  facts,  and  it  is  proper  here  to 
state  that  he  left  his  family  a  handsome  competency. 
He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Mills,  Montgomery 
and  Pottawatomie  Counties,  Iowa,  all  of  which  ist 
now  in  a  good  state  of  improvement.  In  1882  lie 
had  between  2,000  and  3,000  acres  of  corn,  300  acre.' 
of  wheat,  200  of  oats  and  1,200  head  of  hogs.  He 
was  also  President  of  the  Illinois  Live  Stock  Com- 
pany in  Colorado,  in  which  he  was  a  heavy  stock- 
holder. 

His  first  marriage  was  in  1848,  to  Miss  Jane  Sharp- 
less,  of  Henderson  Co.,  111.,  who  died  in  1863,  leav- 
ing three  children — William  S.,  Charles  E.  and  Ida. 
Mr.  Bruen  came  into  Monmouth  in  1875,  and  lo- 
cated, bringing  with  him  the  accomplished  lady  now 
his  widow,  who  kindly  furnishes  the  data  from  which 
this  sketch  is  written.  Before  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Bruen,  which  occurred  in  Henderson  County,  Oct. 
10,  1865,  she  was  Miss  Mary  A.  Martin.  Her  par- 
ents were  Preston  and  Ann  E.  (Taylor)  Martin,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Kentucky  and  Virginia.  They 
were  married  in  the  first  named  State,  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1838  and  spent  some  years  in  Morgan  County 
but  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  was  spent  in  Hen- 
derson County,  where  the  present  Mrs.  Bruen  was 
born.  Mrs.  Martin  died  Dec.  15,  1881.  They  had 
previously,  on  the  23d  of  March,  1881,  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding.  Mr.  Martin  resides  at  Biggs- 
ville,  111.,  now  in  the  82d  year  of  his  age. 

Mcs.  Bruen  was  educated  at  Knox  College,  Gales- 


RESIDENCE:  OF  W*.  A. MITCHELL. SEC. 3.  HALE  TOWNSHIP. 


DRUGSTORE  or  E.  D.ALEXANDER  ft.  C°,  MAI  NST.  ALEXIS. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


4<>3 


burg,  111.,  and  taught  four  years  in  the  public  schools 
before  her  marriage.  Her  parents  reared  six  sons 
and  four  daughters.  Four  of  her  brothers  and  one 
brother-in-law  were  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
Rebellion.  She  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Her  husband  also  attended  that 
Church,  though  not  a  member.  He  was  always  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  support  of  the  Church.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  Democrat,  though  frequently  voting 
for  men  identified  with  other  parties.  He  was  for 
several  years  a  director  and  stockholder  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Monmouth.  The  success  of  Mr. 
Bruen  may  be  attributed  to  his  energy,  perseverance 
and  broad  grasp  of  business  enterprises.  No  man 
stood  higher  in  the  county  in  which  he  resided.  His 
word  was  always  as  good  as  his  bond. 


Sigafoos,  deceased,  was  formerly  a 
resident  on  section  33  of  Spring  Grove 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Sussex  Co.,  N. 
J.,  Aug.  31,  1832.  The  death  of  his  father 
when  he  was  in  infancy  left  him  in  the  sole  care 
of  his  mother,  and  he  remained  with  her  until 
he  was  nine  years  of  age,  when  she  was  again  mar- 
ried. He  then  undertook  the  management  of  his 
own  affairs  and  he  gave  his  attention  exclusively  to 
the  work  of  obtaining  a  good  and  available  educa- 
tion. He  had  already  made  considerable  progress 
and  he  prosecuted  his  studies  unlil  he  was  qualified 
to  teach  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  occupied  in 
that  business  until  his  transfer  of  his  interests  to  Il- 
linois, which  took  place  in  1853.  He  was  unmarried 
when  he  located  in  Warren  County,  and,  associated 
with  his  brother,  he  bought  a  farm  in  Lenox  Town- 
ship. He  passed  the  winters  in  leaching  and  through 
the  remainder  of  the  year  he  devoted  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits. 

March  18,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Flora  Shaw. 
Mrs.  Sigafoos  was  born  in  Hartland,  Genesee  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  27,  1840,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Adeline  (Stannard)  Shaw.  Not  long  after 
their  marriage,  Mr.  Sigafoos  bought  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  33,  in  Spring  Grove  Township. 
They  moved  into  a  log  house  which  stood  on  the 


place.  There  was  besides  a  frame  stable  and  some 
of  the  land  was  already  broken  to  the  plow.  The 
new  proprietor  re -built  the  stable  at  once,  and  in 
1871  he  erected  the  commodious  and  good  frame 
house,  which  has  since  been  the  family  residence. 
His  death  took  place  April  29,  1881.  The  four  chil- 
dren of  which  he  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  are 
as  follows :  Warren  H.,  residing  in  this  township, 
born  Dec.  2,  1859,  and  married  to  Dora  Robinson  in 
the  same  township;  Hattie  M.,  born  Oct.  20,  1864, 
and  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Hart  of  Cameron  ;  Myr- 
tle A.,  born  March  n,  1870;  while  the  birth  of  the 
youngest  child,  Laura  A.,  took  place  Nov.  19,  1870. 
Mr.  Sigafoos  was  always  prominent  in  his  interest  in 
educational  matters  and  discharged  the  duties  of 
School  Director  for  many  years.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican of  strong  principles. 

William  H.  Shaw  (father  of  Mrs.  Sigafoos)  was 
born  in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  27,  1802.  He  was 
reared  to  the  estate  of  manhood  in  his  native  State 
and  was  there  married  to  Adeline  Stannard,  March 
5,  1829,  who  was  born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July 
i,  1811.  They  located  their  home  in  Hartland,  in 
the  same  county,  and  were  there  resident  until  1841. 
In  the  year  previous  the  husband  had  come  to  the 
West  alone  to  seek  a  suitable  location  upon  which 
to  found  a  home.  He  came  by  the  regular  route  of 
public  travel  to  Chicago,  whence  he  came  to  Warren 
County  on  foot.  He  had  exchanged  his  farm  in 
Hartland,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  land  in  this  county 
and  on  his  way  thither  he  went  to  Whiteside  and 
Henry  Counties.  He  had  made  the  exchange  with- 
out seeing  the  property  in  Illinois,  but  on  looking  it 
over  he  was  entirely  satisfied  with  the  bargain  he  had 
made,  and  concluded  to  make  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  the  accommodation  of  his  family  in  War- 
ren County  and  establish  his  home  in  the  place  of 
which  he  had  become  the  owner.  The  farm  was 
situated  on  section  1 1,  in  the  township  of  Monmouth. 
There  was  a  log  cabin  on  the  farm,  of  which  he  took 
possession  and  passed  the  winter  on  it.  During  that 
season  he  built  a  frame  house  for  Mr.  Talbot.  He 
went  back  to  his  old  home  in  the  spring  for  the 
members  of  his  household,  and  with  them  returned 
to  Illinois  for  a  permanent  settlement.  They  reached 
their  home  in  June.  The  log  house  was  the  abode 
of  the  family  for  a  time,  when  the  father  erected  a 
more  suitable  and  comfortable  home. 

Mr..  Shaw  died  April   13,   1876,   his   wife  having 


- 


464 


WARREN  COUNTY 


departed  this  life  July  8,  1872.  Their  family  in- 
cluded seven  children  in  all.  Two  only  are  now 
living.  Flora  is  the  widow  of  Henry  Sigafoos  and 
lives  in  Spring  Grove  Township.  Henrietta  is  the 
wife  of  Barnej  Miller  and  they  reside  on  the  Shaw 
homestead,  in  Monmouth  Township.  A  view  of  the 
home  of  Mrs. 'Sigafoos  appears  on  page  450. 


and 


ewton  P.  Bruington,  a  resident  of  Alexis, 
has  retired  from  the  turmoil  of  an  active 
business  life.     He  is   a    native   citizen  of 
Warren  County,  having  been  born  in  the  town- 
ship of  Cold   Brook,   July    16,  1845.     Thomas 
Bruington,  his  father,  was  born  in  Breckenridge 
Ky.,  May  13,  1807.     He  was  the  son  of  James 
Jane    (McGlothlin)    Bruington.       He    was    of 
Scotch-English  origin,  the  mother  being  of  Scotch 
^descent 

I  Thomas  Bruington  was  reared  on  the  homstead  of 
his  parents,  in  the  land  of  handsome  women  and 
'.good  horses,  and  on  the  22d  day  of  January,  1822,  suc- 
cumbed to  the  charms  of  one  of  the  belles  of  the 
Blue-Grass  country  —  Miss  Jane  McGlothlin.  She 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county  as  her  husband  and 
was  born  Aug.  14,  1809.  In  1833,  the  father,  de- 
termining that  there  was  a  broader  field  wherein  to 
rear  his  growing  family,  set  out  for  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, traveling  with  his  household  in  the  conveyance 
common  to  the  journeyings  of  the  pioneers  of  those 
days.  He  owned  a  pair  of  oxen  and  a  wagon  and 
by  their  aid  the  route  was  made.  The  method  of  op- 
eration was  quite  after  the  gypsy  pattern  and  the 
journey  was  not  wholly  without  interest  and  pleas- 
ure, notwithstanding  its  tediousness.  The  cooking  was 
done  by  the  wayside  and  the  family  slept  in  the  wagon. 
Their  destination  was  Warren  Co.  and  on  their  arrival 
they  made  their  first  location  in  Barnett's  Grove,  in 
what  is  now  Cold  Brook  Township.  Mr.  Bruington 
took  a  timber  claim  and  built  a  log  house.  He 
placed  the  structure  in  the  midst  of  the  timber  and 
split  logs  to  make  its  roof.  He  cleared  a  few  acres 
of  timber  and  held  possession  of  the  property  there 
about  ten  years.  On  selling  out  he  moved  to  the  prairie 


in  the  same  township  and  built  another  log  house. 
This  the  family  occupied  a  few  ye.irs  and,  as  their 
circumstances  improved,  they  erected  a  frame  house 
for  their  accommodation.  The  father  improved  an 
entire  section  of  land.  About  the  year  1856  he  de- 
termined to  make  another  change,  and  on  again  sell- 
ing out,  he  bought  a  farm  in  Kelly  Township,  or 
rather  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  line  of  Mercer  County.  There  he  erected  a 
house,  which  was  one  of  the  first  frame  buildings  in 
this  locality.  There  he  improved  another  farm  and 
made  the  common  additions  of  fruit  and  shade  trees 
to  his  estate.  This  remained  the  homstead  while  he 
lived,  until  a  very  short  time  previous  to  his  death 
he  moved  to  the  property  belonging  to  the  lady  who 
became  his  second  wife,  in  the  same  township.  There 
he  passed  the  latest  years  of  his  life.  His  demise 
took  place  Oct  9,  1882.  His  first  wife  died  Sept.  18, 
1849.  1°  r^S9  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Annie  Goff. 
She  is  still  living.  The  issue  of  the  first  marriage 
was  nine  children,  and  six  are  yet  living.  James  is 
a  citizen  of  Kansas  ;  John  M.  lives  in  Texas.  Eliza- 
beth and  Jane  are  deceased.  George  is  a  resident  of 
the  township  of  Cold  Brook.  Thomas  lives  in  Mer- 
cer County.  Newton  P.  is  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch  and  is  a  resident  of  the  township  already 
named.  Eugene  lives  in  Spring  Grove  Township, 
and  one  child  not  mentioned. 

Newton  P.  Bruington  passed  the  years  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  his  native  county  ;  was  reared  on 
the  farm  and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  In 
1 8*1  he  went  to  Idaho,  crossing  the  plains  with  his 
brother  John.  They  had  a  mule-train  consisting  of 
four  animals  and  a  wagon.  They  set  out  from  War- 
ren County  on  the  rst  day  of  April,  of  the  year 
named.  They  made  a  halt  of  a  few  days  in  Marshall 
County,  Iowa,  and  with  that  single  exception  pushed 
on  to  Omaha  without  pausing.  There  they  replen- 
ished their  stock  of  provisions  and  started  from  there 
in  the  latter  part  of  April.  They  arrived  at  their 
destination  about  the  istot  August.  Mr.  Bruington 
interested  himself  in  mining  and  continued  that  ex- 
citing and  delusive  occupation  about  18  months.  He 
then  commenced  packing  goods  from  Umatilla  Land- 
ing to  the  camps  in  the  mountains.  In  1863  he  re- 
turned to  Warren  County.  As  soon  as  he  was  fairly 
at  home  he  resumed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  In 
1870  he  bought  land  in  North  Henderson  Township, 
Mercer  County,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  rearingof 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


465 


stock.  He  was  the  occupant  of  the  farm  in  North 
Henderson  Township  until  1879,  when  he  sold  out 
and  came  to  Alexis.  He  bought  a  suitable  residence, 
which  has  since  been  his  abode.  It  is  located  in 
that  part  of  Alexis  which  is  situated  in  Suez  Town- 
ship, Mercer  Co.  Mr.  Bruington  is  still  the  proprie- 
tor of  390  acres  in  North  Henderson  Township  and 
also  of  50  acres  in  Kelly  Township,  in  Warren 
County.  His  acreage  is  all  in  first-class  condition 
for  farming,  and  he  rents  a  part  of  the  land ;  the  re- 
mainder is  stocked  and  continues  under  his  manage- 
ment. He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Alexis  Lodge, 
No.  526.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

His  marriage  to  Nannie  Johnston  occurred  July 
13,  1872.  Mrs.  Bruington  was  born  in  Breckenridge 
Co.,  Ky.,  March  30,  1854,  and  is  the  daughter  of  P. 
W.  and  Martha  (Hayes)  Johnston.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Virginia.  On  the  paternal  side  she 
is  of  English  origin.  The  grandfather  came  to  this 
country  at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Virginia.  On 
the  maternal  side  she  comes  from  old  Virginia  stock. 
Blanche  and  Walter  are  the  names  of  the  children 
)>-  that  have  been  born  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Bruing- 
ton. Blanche  was  born  July  22,  1872;  Walter  was 
born  Aug.  30,  1878. 


,  illiam  E.  Porter,  a  member  of  that  well 
known  and  highly  respected  pioneer  fam- 
ily of  which  Joshua  Porter  was  the  head, 
was  born  Sept.  16,  1839,  and  is  the  third 
child  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Tinkham)  Porter, 
of  whom  a  sketcli  is  given  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  William  F.  was  born  in  what  is  now  Spring 
Grove  Township,  where  his  parents  had  located  as 
early  as  ^35.  They  came  from  New  York,  but  were 
both  natives  of  Vermont.  They  were  of  the  agri- 
cultural class  and  were  highly  esteemed  residents  of 
Spring  Grove  Township  until  their  deaths. 

William  E.  received  his  early  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  locality  where  his  parents  resided. 
When  not  attending  school,  his  boyhood  days  were 
spent  in  assisting  his  father  in  his  farm  work.  He 
first  set  out  in  life  on  his  own  account  upon  arriving 
at  the  age  of  21.  His  father  then  gave  him  a  farm 


of  80  acres.  He  subsequently  inherited  40  acres 
more.  He  now  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  128 
acres,  which  is  one  among  the  best  farms  in  Spring 
Grove  Township. 

Upon  the  2ist  of  July,-  1867,  Mr.  Porter  was  mar- 
ried to  Martha  E.,  daughter  of  Paul  and  Maria 
Hahn.  They  were  residents  of  Knox  County,  111., 
where  Mrs.  Porter  was  born.  Her  father  was  of 
German  parentage  and  her  mother  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. As  the  fruits  of  their  union,  Mr.  Porter  and 
wife  had  born  to  them  three  daughters — Altha  May, 
Edna  L.  and  Kate  E.  Mrs.  Porter  died  at  her  res- 
idence, May  13,  1874.  In  |x>litics,  Mr.  Porter  has 
always  been  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the  prin- 
ciples promulgated  by  the  Democratic  party. 


ohn  Hodgson,  one  of  the  prominent  young 
business  men  of  Warren  County,  carrying  on 
the  trade  of  a  merchant  in  Larchland,  is  a 
son  of  George  and  Margaret  (McKinn)  Hodg-  ^ 
son,  natives  respectively  of  England  and  Scot- 
land. They  settled  in  the  latter  country,  where 
they  died.  Their  family  consisted  of  eight  children, 
John,  our  subject,  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth. 

John  Hodgson  was  born  in  Scotland,  on  the  zist 
of  June,  1843,  and  when  about  14  years  of  age  came 
to  Canada  and  there  remained  about  two  months. 
He  next  came  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  a  year  later  to 
Henderson  County,  this  State,  remaining  in  the  latter 
place  until  his  enlistment  in  the  army,  which  occurred 
in  September,  1861,  in  Co.  K,  361)1  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He 
served  three  years  without  receiving  any  serious  in- 
juries. Upon  his  return  from  the  war  he  located  in 
Warren  County  and  immediately  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  which  he  continued  for  about  eight 
years,  when  he  bought  out  the  stock  of  general 
merch  indise  where  he  is  at  present  located,  in  com- 
pany with  John  M.  Young,  the  latter  gentleman  sell- 
ing out  his  interest  in  1877;  and  Mr.  Hodgson  at 
present  conducts  the  entire  business.  He  has  an 
excellent  trade  and  it  is  constantly  increasing.  Mr. 
H.  has  been  Postmaster  of  Larchland  for  nearly  1 1 
years. 

His  first  marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  241)1  of 
December,  1865,  in  Monmouth,  the  other  contract- 


•x- 


t 


466 


WAKREW  CO  UNTY. 


ing  party  being  Mary  F.  Stormont.  They  became 
the  parents  of  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
Mrs.  Hodgson's  demise  occurred  near  Kirkwood 
about  ten  months  after  her  marriage.  Mr.  Hodgson 
was  again  married  Sept  5,  1872,  near  Kirkwood,  to 
Ella  S.  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Warren  County, 
Dec.  23,  1845.  Of  the  latter  union  nine  children 
have  been  born — Robert  R..,  Horace  J.,  Margie  M., 
Ada  M.,  Minnie  E.,  John,  Willie,  George  and  one 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  H.  has  been  Township 
Clerk,  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  held  other  minor 
offices  within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  the  community 
in  which  he  resides.  Himself  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  politically 
Mr.  H.  affiliates  with  the  Prohibition  party. 


.  ames  S.  Byner,  a  resident  on  section  21, 
Spring  Grove  Township,  became  an  inhab- 
itant of  Warren  County  in  1838,  when  he 
was  ten  years  of  age.  Jacob  Ryner,  his  father, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he 
married  Rachel  Spencer,  In  the  paternal  line 
the  family  is  of  German  origin  and  on  the  other  side 
it  is  of  English  extraction.  The  grandfather  of 
Jacob  Ryner  was  born  in  Germany.  The  wife  of  the 
latter  was  a  daughter  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
In  1829,  Jacob  Ryner  removed  with  his  wife  and 
children  to  the  State  of  New  York.  He  passed  four 
years  in  the  State  trying  to  find  what  he  considered 
a  suitable  place  for  a  permanent  location,  and  event- 
ually removed  to  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  The  family  re- 
mained there  until  1*838,  when  the  transfer  to  Warren 
County  was  made.  The  elder  Ryner  was  well-to-do 
and  he  came  to  Illinois  with  a  couple  of  two-horse 
teams  and  two  wagons,  and  they  journeyed  all  the 
intervening  distance  with  their  aid.  They  drove  a 
small  red  cow  which  supplied  the  necessary  ac- 
companiment to  the  corn  mush  which  formed  the 
principal  part  of  the  daily  bill  of  fare.  After  a  jour- 
ney lasting  nearly  two  months  they  arrived  in  War- 
ren County.  The  father  at  first  rented  land  of  Ban- 
nister Gates,  in  Monmouth  Tp.,  and  in  this  manner 
continued  to  operate  three  years.  In  1841  he  bought 
a  farm  of  a  man  named  Talbot  which  was  located  on 


section  i  in  the  same  township.  This  was  the  home- 
stead until  the  death  of  the  father,  when  80  acres 
had  been  improved.  The  mother  is  still  living.  She 
has  borne  1 1  children,  nine  of  whom  still  survive  : 
Spencer  resides  in  Alexis.  Daniel  is  a  citizen  of 
Wayne  Co.,  Iowa.  Josiah  lives  in  Cold  Brook  Town- 
ship. Jonathan  is  a  resident  of  Clinton  Co.,  Iowa. 
Emmeline  married  Ethan  Cox,  of  Independence,  Ore- 
gon. James  S.  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Henry 
lives  in  Clinton  Co.,  Iowa.  Jacob  resides  on  the 
homestead.  Eliza  is  married  to  Edward  Morrow,  of 
Nebraska.  About  the  year  1845,  the  parents,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jacob  Ryner,  went  to  Philadelphia  on  a 
visit.  They  journeyed  with  their  own  team,  making 
the  entire  trip  with  horses  and  a  lumber  wagon. 
They  started  in  August  and  returned  to  their  home 
in  Warren  County  in  November  of  the  same  year. 

Mr.  Ryner,  of  this  sketch,  was  in  the  first  year  of 
his  life  when  his  parents  removed  to  New  York,  and 
was  a  small  lad  when  the  transfer  of  the  family  was 
made  to  Ohio.  After  their  removal  to  Warren  County    ' 
he  remained  with  them  until  1852,  when  he  joined  a' 
party  whose  purpose  it  was  to  cross  the   country   to 
the  Pacific  coast.      He  drove  an  ox-team  to  Oregon,  t 
and  arrived  there  after  five  months  of  travel.       He  "^ 
remained  there  two  years,  and  during  the  time   was 
engaged  in  farming.     In  1854  he  started  for  another 
overland   journey    with    packed    mult      across    the 
plains  toward  the  scenes  of  his  early  childhood. 

Sept.  14,  1854,  he  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Wal- 
lace. She  was  born  in  Kentucky.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  located  in  Cold  Brook  Township.  They 
maintained  a  residence  there  for  i  ?.  years  when  they 
sold  their  property  preparatory  to  a  removal  to 
Monmouth  Township.  Mr.  Ryner  bought  a  farm 
there  on  which  he  was  the  resident  owner  two  years. 
He  sold  out  again  and  went  to  Iowa  and  bought  a 
farm  in  Wayne  County.  After  a  residence  of  six 
years  in  the  Hawkeye  State  he  returned  for  a  per- 
manent location  to  Warren  County.  He  bought  a 
farm  of  satisfactory  location,  upon  which  he  is  now 
living.  It  is  in  good  agricultural  condition  and  is 
well  supplied  with  farm  buildings. 

Mr.  Ryner's  wife  died  in  July,  1859,  leaving  two 
sons,  George  and  Charles.  He  was  subsequently 
married,  Oct.  29,  1859,  to  Mary  E.  Gordon,  the 
daughter  of  William  S.  and  Anna  (Wilson)  Gordon. 
The  former  was  a  native  of  Washington  Co.,  Ky., 
and  a  son  of  Rev.  Joel  and  Nancy  Gordon.  Rev. 


• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


469 


Joel  Gordon  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  at  a  very 
early  day  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  settled 
in  Kentucky,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  yet  was  the 
owner  of  slaves.  He  reared  a  large  family,  and  his 
son,  William  S.,  became  a  planter.  He  married  and 
reared  a  family  often  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Ryner 
was  the  fourth  child.  All  of  the  children  are  living, 
married,  and  have  families.  The  following  is  the 
record.  Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of  William  White,  of  Stark 
Co.,  111.;  Joel  W.  lives  in  Oregon;  Nancy  A.,  wife 
of  George  Taylor,  of  Harrison  Co.,  Mo. ;  Carrie,  wife 
of  James  Bryner ;  Lucinda  B.,  wife  of  John  Gowings, 
of  Burke  Co.,  Iowa  ;  Melinda,  married  Milton  Bryner, 
of  Warren  Co.,  111.;  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  Peter 
Conniff,  a  resident  of  Ford  Co.,  111. ;  Joseph  lives  in 
Benton  Co.,  Iowa,  and  John  near  Youngstown,  this 
County. 

Mrs.  Ryner  was  born  Aug.  4,  1838,  in  McDonough 
Co.,  111.,  where  her  parents  moved  several  years  be- 
fore and  settled  on  a  farm.  Her  father  and  mother 
were  both  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  In 
politics  the  former  was  a  Whig  in  early  life,  but  later 
became  a  Republican.  He  subsequently  moved  to 
Cold  Brook  Township,  this  county,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  the  autumn  of  1859.  His  widow  now 
lives  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Carrie  Bryner,  a  twin 
sister  of  Mrs.  Ryner,  at  Mt.  Auburn,  Iowa.  Nellie, 
Eugene,  Laura  and  Ollie  are  the  names  of  the  chil- 
dren of  the  household  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ryner.  Nel- 
lie married  Adamson  Shriver,  and  lives  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Iowa.  They  have  one  son,  Carl.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ryner  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  *at 
Gerlaw,  and  in  politics  Mr.  R.  is  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat. 


^urney  Jones.     Among  the  energetic   and 
IJjlJllE    successful   farmers  of  Warren  County,  is 
(Jp£F^'    Mr.  Furney  Jones,  who  resides  on  section 
?|s§  34,   Tompkins    Township.     He    was  born    in 
yj^  Washington    Co.,    Virginia,    on    the     131)1  of 
I      April,  1846,  his  parents  being  Calvin  and  Re- 
becca (McQuown)  Jones,  natives  of  the  same  county 
and   State  as  their  son.     They  came  to  the  State  of 
Illinois  and  settled    in    Henderson  County,  {111854, 
where   they   rented    land,  on    which  they  remained, 
cultivating  and  improving    the    same  for  four  years. 
They  then  came  to  Tompkins  Township,  this  county, 


where,  in  1860,  he  purchased  80  acres  on  section  26, 
which,  after  living  on  for  six  years,  he  sold  and 
bought  land  on  section  34,  to  the  amount  of  160 
acres,  where  they  still  reside. 

Furney  Jones,  our  subject,  has  always  resided 
with  his  parents,  and  now  owns  120  acres  of  the 
original  purchase,  and  also  has  80  acres  in  Ellison 
Township.  He  has  all  of  his  land  in  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation,  and  is  well  equipped  with  farm 
implements.  Mr.  Jones  was  married  in  1877,  to  Miss 
Ellen  J.,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Henrietta  M.  (Habliston)  Mundorff.  They 
were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  are  at  pres- 
ent settled  in  Tompkins  Township,  having  come  to 
Illinois  in  1858.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones'  family  com- 
prises four  children.  Calvin  O.,  Roscoe  D.,  Henrietta 
and  Fanny  O. 

Politically,  Mr.  Jones  is  a  Republican,  and  belongs, 
with  his  wife,  to  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 
He  has  served  his  township  as  Assessor  and  School 
Director,  and  is  one  of  Warren  County's  most  sub-  : 
stantial  and  leading  men. 


,r.  A.  G.  Vanhoorebeke,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  and  widely  known  importers  of 
French  draft  horses  in  America,  as  well  as 
a  distinguished  breeder  of  the  famous  Bou- 
lonnais  horses,  and  a  veterinarian  of  wide  repu- 
tation, is  a  native  of  France.  He  was  born  at 
Ghent,  capital  of  the  French  Flanders,  Sept.  23, 
1808.  His  father,  Lucas  Pierre  Vanhoorebeke, 
was  for  over  a  half  century  Receiver  of  Revenues 
and  Customs  for  the  French  Government  in  Bel- 
gium, and  afterward  held  the  same  position  some 
years  under  the  Belgium  Government. 

The  Vanhoorebeke  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in 
Belgium.  They  can  trace  their  genealogy  back  to 
the  1 3th  century,  and  many  of  its  members  have 
held  honorable  positions  under  the  Belgium  Govern- 
ment. Ferdinand  Vanhoorebeke,  brother  of  Dr.  A. 
G,  was  a  distinguished  and  most  honored  lawyer  at 
the  court  of  appeal  at  Ghent,  Belgium,  and  his 
cousin,  Emile  Vanhoorebeke,  was  also  a  lawyer  and 
member  of  the  Belgium  cabinet  in  capacity  of  Secre- 
taty  of  Public  Works  till  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1870.  Several  of  the  Vanhoorebeke  family  yet  oc- 
cupy honorable  and  confidential  positions. 


47® 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Dr.  Adolph  Gustav  Vanhoorebeke  was  second  in 
the  family  of  four  sons,  and  at  the  institutions  of 
learning  in  his  native  country  received  a  thorough 
education  in  the  French  and  Flemish  languages.  At 
'he  age  of  25  he  entered  the  renowned  Veterinary 
College  of  Utrecht,  Holland.  From  that  institution 
he  graduated  with  distinguished  honors  in  1831,  and 
immediately  afterward  entered  the  French  army  as  a 
veterinary  surgeon,  in  which  capacity  he  faithfully 
and  honorably  served  his  country  for  ten  consecu- 
tive years.  During  this  period  of  his  life  he  traveled 
all  over  Continental  Europe  and  carefully  studied 
all  the  various  breeds  of  horses  known  to  that  part 
of  the  globe. 

In  1841,  he  quit  the  army  and  located  in  Antwerp, 
Belgium,  where,  for  the  space  of  nearly  20  years,  he 
practiced  his  profession  with  marked  success,  and  at 
the  same  time  gave  special  attention  to  the  heavy 
equine  stocks  that  are  bred  in  the  Netherlands  and 
in  Northern  France.  But  being  a  liberal  in  his  re- 

fligious  notions,  Dr.  Vanhoorebeke  became  a  victim 
of  pious  persecution,  and  having  been  arrested  for 

1  expressing  views  antagonistic  to  the  dominant  Bel- 
giac  theology,  he  resolved  to  go  where  he  could 
breathe  the  air  of  freedom  and  enjoy  the  right  of  free 
speech.  It  was  in  the  year  1860  Dr.  Vanhoorebeke 
sailed  from  Europe  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
in  Illinois.  Here,  in  the  very  heart  of  the  virgin 
West,  he  found  an  ample  field  for  the  employment  of 
his  rare  attainments  in  veterinary  science  and  his 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  horses  of  Europe. 
Throughout  a  broad  area  of  rich  and  rapidly  grow- 
ing country,  he  had  not  a  single  competitor,  nor  has 
he  to  this  day.  His  splendid  abilities,  his  vnried 
experience  were,  at  all  points  of  the  compass,  in 
supreme  request.  It  was  not  long,  however,  till  the 
growing  demand  for  powerful  freight  teams  in  this 
country  literally  compelled  him  to  subordinate  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession  to  the  work  of  an 
importer,  and  in  1865  he  brought  from  France  the 
premium  draft  stallions  Hercules  and  Lucifer.  The 
former  of  these  was  a  Boulonnais  of  bay  livery  ;  the 
latter  was  an  Anglo-Boulonnais  of  black  livery.  Both 
of  them  had  brilliant  reputations  as  breeders  in 
Europe,  and  they  have  fully  maintained  it  in  Amer- 
ica. To  the  Doctor,  therefore,  rightfully  and  un- 
questionably belongs  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
importer  who  ever  brought  heavy  horses  directly 
from  France  to  Illinois.  J.  W.  Edwards,  who  was  a 


co-operator  with  James  A.  Perry,  made,  in  1868,  the 
second  importation  from  France  to  Illinois,  which 
importation  consisted  of  Success  and  French  Emp- 
eror. The  latter  animal  soon  died  and  Mark  W. 
Dunham  is  the  present  owner  of  the  former. 

E.  Dillon  &  Co.  made  the  third  importation  from 
France  to  Illinois,  and  Mark  W.  Dunham,  in  1872, 
made  the  fourth  importation  from  France  to  Illinois. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  it  is  certainly  meet  that 
Dr.  Vanhoorebeke  should  have  been  the  pioneer  im- 
porter and  breeder  of  French  draught  horses  in 
Suckerdom ;  for  it  is  perfectly  safe  to  say  that  he 
knows  vastly  more  about  those  animals  than  any 
other  horseman  in  the  United  States.  For  nearly 
50  straightforward  years,  he  made  a  close,  intelli- 
gent study  of  the  powerful  equine  motors  of  France 
and  the  Netherlands,  right  in  the  regions  where  they 
originated,  and  where  the  very  best  specimens  of 
them  have  always  been  produced.  He  published 
several  books  on  the  subject,  having  in  view  the  im- 
provement of  this  useful  breed  of  horses,  and  has 
without  any  doubt  been  one  of  the  most  active  con- 
tributors to  the  desired  result.  Any  man  at  all 
acquainted  with  the  history  of  French  heavy  horses 
knows  that  the  most  ex  .client  of  them  are  ever  to 
be  found  in  Bologne  and  French  Flanders.  So  say 
Moll,  Magne,  Gayot,  Lefour,  and  all  other  standard 
authorities  of  France.  Dr.  Vanhoorebeke,  being 
himself  a  French  veterinarian,  who  always  ranked  in 
Europe  with  the  great  authors  just  named,  and  hav- 
ing an  experimental  knowledge  of  more  than 
half  a  century's  careful  observation  and  comparison 
in  the  field  of  French  horse  production  may,  without 
egotism,  claim  to  be  a  full  head  and  shoulders  above 
all  other  men  in  America,  who  are  now  or  ever  have 
been  engaged  in  the  introduction  of  the  draught  blood 
of  France  into  the  United  States,  and  his  residence 
in  Illinois  is  an  honor  to  the  State. 

While  yet  he  was  at  New  Boston,  he  imported,  in 
1868,  Brilliant,  a  Boulonnais  bay;  Pakolet,  a  Bou- 
lounnais  bay;  ard  Leon,  a  Boulonnais  gray.  All 
these  were  prize  breeders  in  France,  having  received 
both  first  and  second  premiums  of  the  French  Gov- 
ernment. 

In  1869,  he  moved  to  Monmouth,  where  he  soon 
obtained  the  confidence  of  the  best  men  of  that 
section  of  the  country,  who  seeing  the  usefulness  of 
his  enterprise  patronized  his  work.  Here  he  en- 
tered fully  upon  that  career  of  importing  and  breed- 


• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


47' 


ing  which  will  constitute  one  of  the  brightest  and 
most  indelible  pages  of  the  agricultural  history  of  the 
West.  Almost  every  year  since  he  located  in  Mon- 
mouth  he  has  made  an  importation  from  France, 
having  brought  the  last  one  in  1880.  It  has  ever 
been  his  motto  not  to  excel  in  numbers  but  in  qual- 
ity. That  motto  he  has  abundantly  verified.  He 
has  never  dazzled  the  American  eye  with  his  scores 
or  his  hundreds  at  one  draw,  but  he  has  imported  to 
the  United  States  more  horses  that  have  stood  A 
No.  i  in  France  than  have  all  his  competitors  put 
•together.  Of  the  85  stallions  (all  either  pure  Bou- 
lonnais  or  Belgium  Boulonnais)  which  he  has  brought 
over,  every  one  of  them  was  a  prize  animal — most  of 
them  first-prize  animals — in  the  land  of  their  na- 
tivity. Many  of  his  imported  horses  were  awarded 
prizes  at  the  great  expositions  of  Paris,  1878,  Lon- 
don, 1879;  Amsterdam,  1883,  and  Antwerp  in  1885. 
These  horses  were  the  very  cream  of  the  Boulonnais 
(the  horses  of  Bologne),  and  the  Boulonnais  are  the 
very  cream  of  French  draught  animals,  if  the  ac- 
knowledged equine  standards  of  France  may  be  pre- 
sumed to  know  anything  upon  the  subject. 

Dr.  Vanhoorebeke  has  now  40  head  of  his  cele- 
brated horses  at  his  beautiful  place  in  the  environs 
of  Monmouth.  Since  engaging  as  an  importer  of 
these  anin  als,  he  has  crossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean  49 
times. 

He  was  first  married  in  his  native  country,  when 
about  35  years  of  age,  to  Hortense  Adelaide  Wouwer- 
mans,  who  died  in  1855,  leaving  four  children,  one 
of  whom,  a  son,  has  since  died;  another,  a  daughter, 
is  in  Europe,  and  two  are  now  living  in  the  United 
States.  At  Kingston,  Mo.,  the  Doctor  was  again 
married,  Aug.  18,  1866,  to  Mmle.  Henriette  Biart,  a 
highly  educated  and  accomplished  young  lady,  native 
of  Belgium,  and  daughter  of  French  parents.  Their 
three  children  are  named  respectively,  Adolphe, 
Florence  and  Alida.  Adolphe  has  been  attending 
school  in  France  for  the  past  four  years,  but  is  now 
a  student  at  Monmouth  College. 

Mrs.  Vanhoorebeke  was  born  at  Antwerp,  Jan. 
28,  1849,  and  belongs  also  to  a  distinguished  family 
whose  several  members  occupy  high  and  honorable 
positions.  Mr.  Constant  Biart,  the  cousin  of  Mrs. 
A.  G.  Vanhoorebeke,  is  a  learned  lawyer,  a  Senator, 
and  President  of  the  aim  houses  and  orphan  asy- 
lums at  Antwerp,  Belgium,  and  is  much  honored  ; 
and  many  of  this  family  occupy  in  France  and  Bel- 


gium places  of  honor  and  distinction.  Mrs.  Van- 
hoorebeke was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  of  a 
family  of  ten  children.  Her  parents  came  to  this 
country  in  1864,  and  settled  in  Iowa,  where  they  re- 
mained about  a  year.  They  then  came  to  this 
State,  and  after  a  stay  of  two  years  moved  to  Kan- 
sas, where  they  remained  one  year  and  then  re- 
turned to  Europe.  After  remaining  in  the  land  of 
their  nativity  for  a  period  of  two  years,  they  again 
set  sail  for  America.  Since  then  the  family  have  j 
resided  in  various  places  in  this  country,  and  at  this 
writing  (January,  r886)  the  father  is  in  California  ' 
with  one  of  his  sons,  Victor,  who  is  a  surgeon  in  the  ! 
regular  army,  but  now  on  a  leave  of  absence.  Dr. 
Biart  is  a  graduate  of  the  St  Ix>uis  Medical  College. 
The  mother  of  Mrs.  Vanhoorebeke  is  of  Holland  ex-  j 
traction  and  is  now  living  in  Omaha  with  one  of  her 
daughters.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Biart,  four  are  deceased.  Of  the  others,  Celina 
married  Herman  Hoffman  and  resides  in  Leaven- 
worth,  Kan. ;  Hortense  married  Joseph  Haag,  and, 
also  lives  at  that  place;  Charlotte  married  Dr. 
Charles  Biart  and  resides  in  Omaha;  Henry  is  now 
living  at  Honolulu,  Sandwich  Islands. 

Dr.  Vanhoorebeke,  as  we  see,  is  a  believer  in  orig- 
nal  qualities,  and  has  in  every  circumstance  applied 
this  immutable  principle. 

The  portrait  of  Dr.  Vanhooreb.eke,  appearing  on  a 
preceding  page,  will  be  welcomed  by  the  patrons  of 
the  Warren  County  ALBUM  with  as  much  satisfac- 
tion as  the  publishers  experience  in  adding  it  to  the 
unexceotional  collection  presented  in  this  \vork. 


. 


_dward  L.  Blodgett,    a    farmer     of    this 
county,    having   a   good  title  to  280  acres 
of  land,  located  on  sections  4  and  9,  Hale 
2y-  Township,  where  he  resides  and  is  engaged  in 
its  cultivation,  was  born  in  Orleans  County,  N. 
J      Y.,    Feb.  4,  1834.     He    received    a    common 
school  education  in  Indiana,  his   parents   having  re- 
moved to  that   State  when  he  was   but  six   years  of 
age.     In  the  latter  State,  Edward  L.  lived,  labored 
and    developed  into  manhood.     One   year  after  at- 
taining his  majority,  in  1856,  he  came  to  this  State, 


472 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


locating  in  Henderson  County,  where  he  resided  for 
upwards  of  a  year,  engaged  in  farming,  then  return- 
ed to  Indiana.  Two  years  he  remained  in  the  Hoos- 
ier  State,  and  in  the  spring  of  1860  came  back  to 
Illinois,  this  time  locating  in  Warren  County. 

On  coming  to  this  county,  Mr.  Blodgett  worked 
out  for  about  four  years,  when  he  settled  in  Hale 
Township.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  civil  war, 
having  enlisted  Feb.  20,  1864,  in  the  Tenth  111.  Vet. 
Inf.,  and  served  his  country  for  about  18  months. 
He  was  engaged  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  com- 
pany took  part,  participating  in  the  grand  review  at 
Washington;  was  with  Sherman  in  his  march  to  the 
sea,  and  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  then  returned  to  Warren 
County,  and  engaged  in  the  vocation  of  agriculture, 
and  has  lived  here  following  that  occupation  until 
the  present  time.  The  major  portion  of  his  land  is 
under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Blodgett  dates  July  3,  1866, 

•at  which  time, -in  Henderson  County,  Miss  Dolly 
Vanwinkle  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  Iowa,  and  has  borne  her  husband  eight 

>  children,  whose  names    are    recorded   as   follows : 

.Wilson  M.,  Joseph  R.,  Margaret,  Mary  B.,  Edward 
L.,  Clara,  James  A.  and  Emma. 
Mrs.  Blodgett  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  her  husband  politically  is  a  be- 
liever in  and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  advocated 
by  the  Republican  party. 


leri  Rodgers  Graham,  M.  D.,  a  medical 
practitioner  at  Little  York,  was  born  in  the 
township  of  Hale,  in  Warren  County,  Aug. 
24,  1854.  His  parents  are  pioneers  of  the 
township  where  he  was  born,  and  are  John 
R.  and  Mary  (Rodgers)  Graham. 
Dr.  Graham  obtained  a  good  common-school  edu- 
cation as  a  foundation,  in  his  boyhood,  and  after- 
wards attended  Monmouth  Academy  one  year.  In 
1878,  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  under 
the  preceptorship  of  the  medical  firm  of  Hamilton, 
Marshall  &  Holliday,  at  Monmouth.  After  leaving 
their  office,  he  matriculated  at  Rush  Medical  College 


in  Chicago,  and  took  his  degree  as  M.  D.  at  that 
institution  in  1881. 

He  inaugurated  his  careeer  as  a  physician  and 
surgeon  at  Cameron,  in  his  native  county,  and  oper- 
ated there  two  years.  Since  1883,  he  has  prosecuted 
the  business  of  his  profession  at  Little  York.  He  is 
building  up  a  popular  and  prosperous  practice,  and 
his  thorough  preparation  for  the  responsibilities  of 
the  calling  to  which  he  has  devoted  his  life,  is  fast 
winning  for  him  the  confidence  of  a  substantial  pat- 
ronage. 

In  political  belief  and  relations,  Dr.  Graham  is  a 
Democrat. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Graham  to  Miss  Emma 
Alcock,  was  celebrated  Feb.  14,  1880.  They  have 
one  child,  named  Frederick.  The  mother  was  born 
in  Suffolkshire,  England.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 


'ohm  Coddington,  holding  a  good  title  to 
200  acres  of  A  No.  i  land,  located  on  sec-  ! 
tion  15,  Berwick  Township,  where  he  re- 
sides and  is  engaged  in  the  vocation  of  an 
agriculturist,  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio, 
Aug.  9,  1828.  He  is  a  son  of  Win.  Codding- 
ton, born  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  and  who  married 
Miss  Naoma  Ervin.  She  died  in  1828,  after  having 
borne  her  husband  nine  children — Anner,  Polly, 
Sarah,  Angeline,  Eliza,  Benjamin,  Samuel,  James  and 
John. 

John  Coddington,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was 
married  to  Miss  Emily  Whitman,  in  1851,111  this 
State.  She  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Dec.  23, 
1834,  and  was  the  daughter  of  VVm.  Whitman,  a 
pioneer  settler  of  this  county.  She  died  March  30, 
1880,  and  of  her  union  with  Mr.  Coddington  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  born:  Naoma,  March  17,  1852  ; 
Wm.  C.,  Aug.  9,  1854;  Harriet  A.,  Nov.  12,  1856; 
Ella  M.,  Oct.  7,  1858;  Etta,  March  i,  1860;  Elmer 
E.,  Jan.  6,  1862  ;  Mattie,  March  25,  1866;  Frank  B., 
Aug.  23,  1869;  Cora  B.,  July  22,  1872.  Three  of 
whom  are  deceased,  namely  :  Naoma,  who  died  April 
20,  1854;  Wm.  C.,  July  31,  1855,  and  Harriet  A., 
Sept.  29,  1857. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Coddington  occurred 


RESIDENCE  OF  M  .  S.  REES ,  SEC. 32., KELLY  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCEOF  AARON  YARDE,  ALEXIS. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


47S 


April  26,  1883,  at  which  time  Mrs.  Julia  Williams, 
born  Jan.  9,  1850,  became  his  wife.  They  have  one 
child,  Roy,  born  April  19,  1884. 

Mr.  Coddington  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  fine  farm 
of  200  acres,  and  he  has  the  same  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation.  On  the  place  is  a  good  resi- 
dence, two  stories  in  height,  surrounded  by  good  sub- 
stantial outbuildings.  In  addition  to  the  cultivation 
of  his  land,  Mr.  Coddington  is  devoting  considerable 
of  his  time  to  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  his  specialty 
being  the  Short-horn,  of  which  he  has  27  head  ;  and 
in  the  raising  of  fine  horses,  his  specialty  is  the  Nor- 
man. 

He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Coddington  votes  with 
the  Republican  party. 


aron  Yarde,  a  well-known  and  highly  re- 
spected resident  of  Alexis,  is  a  pioneer  of 
Warren  County  of  1847.  He  is  a  native  of 
Somersetshire,  England,  and  was  born  Nov. 
n,  1810.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  he 
was  brought  up  on  the  same  place  where  his 
ancestors  had  lived  for  many  years.  He  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  five  children, 
namely:  John,  who  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Cle- 
ment, a  native  of  Somersetshire,  England,  and  the 
mother  of  four  children ;  Mary  A.  became  the  wife  of 
Isaac  Hooper,  and  was  the  mother  of  eight  children  ; 
she  is  now  deceased.  Moses  died  at  the  age  of  23 
years;  Daniel  resides  in  his  native  place  and  is 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Rowlaud.  They  have  a  family 
of  nine  children. 

The  maiden  name  of  Mr.  Yarde's  mother  was  Ann 
Cousins,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Bartholomew  and 
Mary  (Hawkins)  Cousins,  both  of  whom  were  born 
in  1778.  The  father  died  when  Aaron  was  17  years 
old,  and  he  was  then  at  liberty  to  choose  a  business 
in  which  he  hoped  to  do  better  than  as  a  farmer.  He 
apprenticed  himself  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  stone- 
cutter and  a  general  stone-mason,  and  followed  that 
business  12  years,  in  his  native  shire.  After  that, 
until  1843,  he  was  occupied  in  farming.  In  April  of 
the  year  named  he  sailed  for  this  country.  He 


was  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  five  children,  and 
the  family  took  passage  from  Plymouth.  They 
crossed  the  ocean  in  a  merchant  vessel  and  landed 
at  the  port  of  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks. 
From  New  York  they  went  direct  to  Geauga  Co., 
Ohio.  Mr.  Yarde  bought  a  farm  of  45  acres  at  the 
rate  of  $8.50  per  acre.  About  one-third  was  under 
the  plow,  and  the  remainder  was  not  cleared  of  the 
natural  forest.  Mr.  Yarde  built  a  small  frame  house 
sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  his  household 
and  proceeded  to  the  work  of  removing  the  forest 
growth.  He  cleared  15  acres.  In  the  spring  of 
1847  ne  ^d  his  place  for  $ro  an  acre.  While  he 
lived  there,  in  addition  to  the  work  of  clearing  the 
acreage  mentioned,  he  had  been  engaged  in  work  at 
his  trade  also.  After  making  sale  of  his  land  he 
came  to  Warren  County.  He  bought  80  acres  of 
land  on  section  3,  on  what  was  then  designated  Town- 
ship 12,  and  is  now  named  Kelly  Township.  The 
whole  place  was  entirely  without  improvements  and 
the  proprietor  proceeded  first  of  all  to  erect  a  struc- 
ture for  the  shelter  of  his  family.  He  built  a  small 
log  house  and  stables,  and  broke  and  fenced  25  acres. 
He  retained  the  ownership  of  the  place  until  1850, 
when  he  sold  out  and  bought  a  farm  on  section  10, 
in  the  same  township.  It  had  been  "improved  to 
some  extent,  a  frame  house  had  been  built  on  it,  and 
it  was  all  fenced.  Mr.  Yarde  built  a  good  barn  and 
other  farm-buildings  and  planted  fruit  and  shade 
trees.  The  place  contained  160  acres,  and  at  trie 
time  he  determined  to  sell  it,  it  was  in  an  excellent 
condition  for  profitable  operations. 

In  1872  Mr.  Yarde  came  to  Alexis  and  took  pos- 
session of  the  residence  which  is  now  occupied  by 
his  family.  He  is  still  an  extensive  landholder  and 
the  proprietor  of  a  farm  comprising  160  acres  in 
Mercer  County,  situated  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  village  of  Alexis.  He  also  owns  17  acres  of  valu- 
able land  adjoining  the  place  where  he  resides. 

Mr.  Yarde  was  married  May  7,  1835,  to  Charlotte 
Cousins.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Bartholomew  and 
Jane  (Sweet)  Cousins,  and  a  native  of  Somersetshire. 
England.  She  was  born  Nov.  12,  1806.  Of  the 
eight  children  of  whom  they  became  the  parents,  six 
are  yet  living.  Caroline  H.  is  married  to  John  M. 
Richardson,  now  deceased.  She  resides  in  Iowa 
and  has  seven  children.  Jessie,  the  widow  of  Charles 
Pine,  resides  in  Kelly  Township,  and  has  a  family 
of  six  children.  Lucy  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  R.  Greene, 


-*• 


47  6 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


" 


of  Galesburg,  111.,  and  has  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren. Albert  lives  in  Kelly  Township,  on  the  old 
farm  and  was  married  to  Eliza  Lyddon  ;  they  have  five 
children.  Charlotte  is  married  to  B.  F.  Gilmore,  of 
Nodaway  Co.,  Mo.  Charles  F.  P.  is  a  citizen  of 
Alexis,  and  a  sketch  of  his  business  relations  appears 
on  another  page.  Mrs.  Yarde  died  Oct.  6,  1870,  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Kelly  Township.  Mr.  Yarde 
contracted  marriage  a  second  time  with  Patience  M. 
(Fraber)  Allen,  March  7,  1872.  They  were  married 
in  Knox  Co.,111.  She  was  the  widow  of  Nelson 
Allen.  Mrs.  Yarde  is  a  native  of  Saratoga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  where  she  was  born  July  4,  7810.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rebecca  (Herrick)  Fraber; 
the  former  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  came  to  this 
country  when  quite  young.  The  mother  was  born 
in  New  York,  of  English  ancestry.  Mrs.  Yarde  was 
the  mother  of  three  children  by  her  first  husband, 
all  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  She  has  a  great  fond- 
ness for  children,  and  has  reared  no  less  than  five, 
whom  she  has  taken  by  adoption. 

Among  the  many  views  of  residences  given  in  the 
pictorial  department  of  this  ALBUM  may  be  found 
that  of  Mr.  Yarde  on  page  474. 


Joseph  W.  Vorwick.  The  only  manufac- 
turer of  the  Vorwick  celebrated  road-cart 
is  located  at  Monmouth,  where  he  began 
in  a  limited  way  to  operate  a  shop  upon  his 
own  responsibility  in  1879.  He  first  opened 
out  as  a  repairer  of  all  sorts  of  vehicles,  his 
capital  consisting  of  his  strength  and  skill,  but  from 
the  very  beginning,  almost,  the  capacity  of  his  shop 
showed  increasing  business,  until  he  now  stands  at 
the  head  as  a  manufacturer  in  his  line  in  this  coun- 
try. 

The  patent  of  Mr.  Vorwick,  being  an  anti-horse 
motion  road-cart,  is  the  nearest  a  perfect  success 
that  has  ever  been  reached  in  that  most  useful  and 
economical  of  all  vehicles.  Mr.  Vorwick  was  born 
at  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  Feb.  i.  1849,  and  was  the 
eldest  of  five  sons  born  to  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Vor- 
wick, natives  of  Germany.  He  was  schooled  at  Fort 
Madison  and  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  at  the  latter 


place,  when  about  1 6  years  of  age,  began  the  trade 
of  carriage  painter,  which  he  perfected  at  Galesburg, 
III ,  some  ihree  years  later.  From  21  to  29  years  of 
age,  Mr.  Vorwick  did  "jour"  work  through  the  vari- 
ous cities  of  the  country,  and  in  1875  planted  him- 
self at  Monmouth,  with  the  determination  to  man  a 
shop  of  his  own  by  the  time  he  should  arrive  at  the 
age  of  30  years.  That  he  succeeded  has  already  ap- 
peared. In  addition  to  the  Vorwick  Road-Cart,  he 
manufactures  all  sorts  of  first  class  carriages  and 
buggies,  and  the  truth  compels  us  to  place  his  name 
in  the  ALBUM  as  the  representative  man,  in  his  line, 
at  the  city  of  Monmouth. 

Mr.  Vorwick  was  married  at  Monmouth,  in  1876, 
to  Miss  Jennie  Eilenberger,  daughter  of  Daniel  Eil- 
enberger,  who  died  while  a  soldier  in  the  Union 
army.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vorwick  have  two  children — 
Ida  and  Maudie. 


[illiam  S.  Paxton,  a  pioneer  carpenter, 
contractor  and  builder,  at  Monmouth,  was 
born  at  Rock  Bridge  Co.,  Va.,  Dec.  22, 
i8n.  His  fathe-,  William  Paxton,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry.  His  mother,  Margaret 
(Struthers)  Paxton,  was  born  in  Scotland.  The  sen- 
ior William  Paxton  was  a  farmer,  and  brought  his 
four  sons  up  to  that  occupation.  The  family  removed 
from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in  1812,  and  resided  there  up 
to  1831,  at  which  time  they  came  to  Monmouth,  set- 
tling soon  afterward  on  a  farm  six  miles  northwest 
from  town,  where  the  old  gentleman  died  in  March, 
1 86 1,  in  the  82d  year  of  his  age.  His  wife  died 
in  1845,  vvhen  about  62  years  of  age. 

William  S.  Paxton  received  a  fair  education  at 
Xenia,  Ohio,  and  from  16  up  to  18  years  of  age, 
worked  at  milling.  He  then  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  followed  it  almost  without  interruption  un- 
til 1854.  Since  the  latter  date  he  has  been  engaged 
in  wagon  making.  As  a  carpenter  and  contractor  he 
erected  the  first  court  house  in  Warren  County, 
and  roofed  the  first  hotel.  He  returned  to  Ohio,  in 
1854,  and  lived  in  Erie  County  ten  years.  While 
there  he  enlisted  in  the  Third  Ohio  Cavalry,  but  be- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


477 


fore  muster  was  disabled  by  falling  off  his  horse,  and 
consequently  saw  no  service  in  the  war. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  in  Erie 
County,  Ohio,  to  Almira  Harrison,  who  was  born  in 
Amsterdam,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  7,  1815, 
and  their  only  child,  a  daughter,  Ella,  is  now  (Octo- 
ber, 1885)  an  accomplished  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Paxton  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Was  an  old  line  Whig,  from  the 
the  funeral  of  which  party  he  joined  the  Republican 
procession. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  date  of  his  arrival  here,  that 
he  was  indeed  an  early  settler,  and  he  probably  had 
more  to  do  with  the  very  inception  of  the  town  of 
Monmouth  than  any  other  man  living.  In  fact  his 
brother  and  F.  B.  Talbot,  now  living  in  Iowa, broke  the 
first  ground  for  the  erection  of  the  first  building  at 
this  place.  We  should  not  forget  to  mention  that  he 
was  Adjutant  of  the  First  Warren  County  regiment 
of  Illinois  Militia,  in  r834,  and  was  connected  with 
the  organization  until  it  was  disbanded. 


>rs.  Mary  Osborn  is  a  pioneer  of  Warren 
County,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  of 
vthe  early  settlers  of  Sumner  Township.  She 
was  born  in  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  5,  1810, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Annie 
(Thorp)  Moler.  She  is  the  daughter  of  pioneer 
parents,  who  located  in  the  earliest  period  in  the 
county  in  which  she  was  born,  and  they  lived  there 
until  1825.  In  that  year  they  went  to  Indiana  and 
located  about  six  miles  from  La  Fayette.  There 
their  daughter  was  married  to  James  Moffit.  Their 
union  took  place  Oct.  16,  1828.  Her  husband  was 
born  in  the  vicinity  of  Zanesville,  in  the  Buckeye 
State.  They  lived  in  Indiana  until  the  fall  of  1832, 
and  started  thence  for  Illinois  with  an  ox-team.  They 
had  at  that  time  two  children.  They  took  with  them 
the  machinery  for  housekeeping  and  performed  all 
the  duties  relating  to  the  business  of  living  on  the 
route.  When  they  arrived  at  the  Illinois  River,  on 
their  way,  they  determined  to  pitch  their  tent  there 
for  the  winter.  They  moved  into  a  vacant  log  house 


and  when  the  spring  opened  they  again  yoked  their 
oxen  and  pushed  forward  to  Warren  County.  Mr. 
Moffit  made  a  claim  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 19,  in  the  (then)  township  12,  now  Sumner 
Township.  He  proceeded  to  cut  logs,  and  built  a 
shelter  of  the  primitive  kind,  common  to  pioneers. 
They  were  well  off  for  cows,  having  driven  three  from 
Indiana.  These  furnished  a  good  portion  of  their 
living  while  on  the  road  and  after  their  arrival  at  the 
places  where  they  took  up  their  abode. 

On  the  8th  day  of  June,  1832,  Mr.  Moffit  suddenly 
died.  In  the  midst  of  the  newly  made  widow's  dis- 
tress, the  Indian  difficulties  that  preceded  the  out- 
break of  the  Black  Hawk  War  made  it  necessary  to 
put  aside  every  other  consideration.  A  block-house 
was  erected  for  the  protection  of  the  settlers  and  for 
some  time  the  women  and  children  were  kept  in  it 
for  safety,  while  the  men  were  in  the  fields.  They 
were  there  when  the  murder  of  William  Martin  oc- 
curred, and  saw  the  savages  when  they  rushed  from 
the  field  where  their  victim  had  been  at  work,  bear- 
ing aloft  the  scalp.  Mrs.  Moffit  was  terrified  and 
took  one  of  her  children  in  her  arms  and  fled  into 
an  adjoining  corn  field.  Her  sister  took  the  other 
and  followed  her.  They  ran  into  a  field  of  buck- 
wheat, where  they  laid  down.  They  were  in  terror 
lest  the  children  should  cry  out  and  reveal  their  hid- 
ing place.  But  the  little  ones  kept  still,  and  when 
the  other  men  of  the  settlement  returned  from  the 
fields  they  went  back  to  the  block-house. 

Many  of  the  women  remained  in  the  block-house 
until  the  termination  of  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and 
the  defeat  of  the  haughty  chief  who  instigated  it 
converted  the  Indians  into  fiends  and  made  them 
subservient  to  the  whites  for  personal  considerations. 
Mrs.  Osborn  remained  in  the  block-house  until  the 
fall  of  the  year,  when  she  again  took  possession  of 
her  cabin  home.  She  was  its  occupant  until  her 
second  marriage,  but  the  land  was  managed  by  rent- 
ers. 

Aug.  21,  1834,  she  became  the  wife  of  John  C. 
Osborn.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  Mar.  30, 
1804.  He  passed  the  early  years  of  his  life  there, 
and  was  married  while  he  remained  in  the  State  of 
his  nativity.  His  first  wife  survived  her  marriage  but 
a  short  time.  In  1 832  he  came  to  Warren  County. 
He  made  his  first  location  near  Monmouth.  When 
he  married  his  second  wife  he  became  the  manager 
of  her  estate  and  continued  to  attend  to  its  interests 


: 


478 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


until  his  death.  Under  his  care  it  greatly  increased 
in  value  and  he  erected  a  fine  set  of  farm  buildings 
on  it.  He  died  March  18,  1874. 

The  children  of  Mrs.  Osborn  by  her  first  husband 
are  both  deceased.  George  P.,  Permelia  A.,  Mary 
Jane,  John  M.,  Sarah  E  and  Maria  are  the  names 
of  those  who  were  born  of  the  second  marriage.  The 
oldest  is  the  manager  of  the  homestead  of  his  mother 


iilliam  A.  Mitchell.  Among  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Hale  Township,  as  well  as 
successful  farmers,  we  place  the  name  of 
William  A.  Mitchell.  He  has  a  clear  title 
to  240  acres  of  good  farm  land,  in  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  cultivation,  located  on  section 
3,  Hale  Township,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  voca- 
tion of  his  life.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been 
born  in  Greene  County,  that  State,  July  13,  1838. 

When  William  A.  Mitchell  was  about  five  years  of 
age,  his  parents  moved  to  this  county,  and  here,  in 
the  public  schools,  he  received  his  education,  alter- 
nating his  studies  therein  with  labor  on  the  farm. 
We  say  his  education  was  acquired  in  the  public 
schools,  but  it  was  only  the  rudimentary  portion  of 
the  same,  for  he  supplemented  it  by  a  course  of  two 
years'  study  at  Monmouth  College. 

Soon  after  the  Southern  States  had  seceded  and 
had  demonstrated  their  intent,.by  firing  on  Sumter, 
and  President  Lincoln  had  called  for  troops  to  aid  in 
the  perpetuity  of  the  Union,  Mr.  Mitchell  responded. 
He  enlisted  in  August,  1861,  in  the  361)1  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  for  four  years  and  three  months  did  valiant 
service  in  the  Union  Army.  He  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Co.  C,  and  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  same  company.  After  participating  in 
all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  engaged,  Mr. 
M.  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  New  Orleans, 
Oct.  8,  1865,  whereupon  he  returned  to  this  county, 
entered  upon  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  a  farmer  and 
has  continued  to  reside  here  until  the  present  time. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Mitchell  to  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Caldwell,  was  solemnized  in  Sumner  Township, 
March  8,  1866.  Mrs.  Mitchell  was  born  in  the 
township  in  which  she  was  married,  Sept.  5,  1848. 


The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  are: 
Frank  M.,  Robert  J.,  Mary  E.,  Effie  D.  T.,  Fred- 
retta  I.  and  Minerva  J. 

Mr.  Mitchell,  in  politics,  votes  with  the  Republi- 
can party.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Highway 
Commissioner  and  School  Director,  and,  socially,  is 
a  member  of  Post  No.  81,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Kirkwood. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Mitchell,  Robert  K.  and 
Rachel  E.  (Townsley)  Mitchell,  were  natives  of 
Ohio.  They  came  to  this  county  in  1843,  and  the 
mother  died  in  Hale  Township,  July  14,  1851,  and 
the  father  in  the  same  township,  Jan.  5,  1865.  Their 
family  comprised  four  children,  of  whom  William  A. 
is  the  eldest.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Mitchell,  Thomas 
J.  and  Mary  (Allen)  Caldwell,  were  natives  of  Ohio 
and  Illinois  respectively.  They  were  married  and 
settled  in  this  county,  where  her  mother  died  July 
29,  1868.  Her  father  yet  survives  and  lives  in  Sum- 
ner  Township.  We  give  a  view  of  the  residence  and  i 
farm  building  on  page  474. 

The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Mitchell  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  origin.  The  grandmother  was  of  English 
origin. 


E.  Lamphere  a  successful  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  36,  Tompkins  Township, 
where  he  is.the  owner  of  180  acres  of  good 
farm  land,  was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
April  7,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Washington 
and  Mary  (Hall)  Lamphere.  The  parents 
were  natives  of  New  York,  from  which  State  they 
came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Greenbush  Township, 
where  they  remained  for  two  years  and  where  the 
faiher  was  engaged  in  far.ning.  From  the  latter 
place  the  father  moved  to  Tompkins  Township  and 
became  the  owner  of  80  acres  of  land  located  on  sec- 
tion ii.  He  settled  on  this  land  with  his  family 
and  entered  actively  upon  his  labors  as  an  agricul- 
turist, and,  by  economy  an-i  laborious  effort,  suc- 
ceeded in  accumulating  sufficient  to  purchase  an 
additional  240  acres.  He,  with  his  family,  continued 
to  reside  on  his  land  in  Tompkins  Township  until 


|3MVttt*lH  vi  ^H 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


481 


he  passed  to  the  land  beyond  the  river,  his  demise 
occurring  in  1872. 

J.  E.  Lamphere,  the  gentleman  of  whom  we  write, 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  received  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  the  common  schools,  develop- 
ing into  manhood.  On  arriving  at  the  age  of  25 
years,  he  left  the  parental  homestead  and  purchased 
80  acres  of  land  on  section  36,  where  he  is  to-day 
residing,  actively  engaged  in  following  his  chosen 
vocation,  that  of  an  agriculturist.  Possessing  the 
same  qualities  as  his  father  before  him,  of  saving 
what  he  made,  he  has  been  enabled  to  add  to  his 
original  purchase  until  he  is  at  present  the  owner  of 
180  acres  in  Tompkins  Township.  He  has  just 
completed  a  fine  residence,  costing  $2,200,  and  in 
addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land  he  is  engaged 
to  some  extent  in  stock-raising. 

Mr.  Lamphere  was  united  in  marriage  in  1867, 
with  Miss  Emma,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  A. 
B.  Billings,  by  whom  he  had  two  children — Ralph, 
who  was  born  March  12,  1867  ;  and  Grant,  who  was 
born  Feb.  5,  187  t.  At  the  present  writing  they  both 
are  living  at  home.  The  wife  and  mother  died  in 
1880,  and  Mr.  Lamphere  was  a  second  time  married, 
the  lady  chosen  to  share  his  joys  and  sorrows,  suc- 
cesses and  reverses,  being  Miss  Mary  Efnor,  a  native 
of  this  State  and  a  daughter  of  George  and  Harriet 
Efnor. 

Politically,  Mr.  Lamphere  votes  the  Republican 
ticket,  and,  in  religion,  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 


fjljgenjamin  H.  Gardner  is  a  pioneer  of  War- 
j|i  ren  County  of  1834.  He  is  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Kentucky  when  he  was  a  mere  lad.  In  the 
fall  of  the  year  named,  in  company  with  a 
considerable  number  of  persons  who,  with 
himself,  were  desirous  of  finding  a  location  in  a  free 
State,  he  came  to  Illinois.  They  came  with  ox 
teams  and  wagons,  brought  their  provisions  with 
them,  and  lived  while  en  route  in  the  Gipsy  fashion. 
They  arrived  in  Monmouth,  Warren  Co.  Nov.  3,  and 


Mr.  Gardner  built  his  own  cabin  in  township  1 2,  range 
i,  (Kelly  Township)  and  in  March,  1835,  went  to  this 
township  and  made  a  claim  of  125  acres  of  land  on 
section  30.  When  the  land  came  into  market,  he  went 
to  Quincy  and  secured  it  by  purchase  from  the  Gov- 
ernment. He  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  place  the 
same  season,  and  the  farm  has  been  his  property 
ever  since.  He  has  been,  meanwhile,  a  resident  of 
Abingdon  in  Knox  County,  but  has  never  relin- 
quished the  management  of  the  farm.  He  removed 
to  Knox  County  to  give  his  children  the  benefit  of 
the  schools  there.  He  has  been  the  owner  of  other 
tracts  of  land  and  at  one  time  was  the  proprietor  of 
more  than  400  acres  in  Kelly  Township.  His  prop- 
erty is  well  improved  and  supplied  with  excellent 
farm  buildings. 

The  year  after  he  settled  in  Kelly  Township,  Mr. 
Gardner  went  on  horseback  to  Greenbush,  a  dis- 
tance of  25  miles,  to  procure  iron  to  make  a  plow, 
and  brought  the  material  back  with  him  in  a  sack. 
He  then  obtained  the  services  of  a  blacksmith   in 
making  a  "  barshare  "  plow.     In  1836  he  opened  one 
of  the  first  coal  banks  in  Warren  County.     It  is  lo-  , 
cated  on  section  30,  and  the  blacksmiths  for  a  dis- 
tance  of  25    miles    around    came   there    for  their  • 
supplies  of  coal. 

Mr.  Gardner  was  born  July  14,  1811,  in  Louisa  ' 
County  in  the  "Old  Dominion."  He  is  the  fifth  son 
of  William  and  Catherine  (Hollen)  Gardner,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  the  same  State  in  which  their 
son  first  saw  the  light  of  day.  Their  parents  were  of 
English  origin.  They  removed  to  Kentucky  in  1815, 
crossing  the  intervening  mountains  with  their 
team  of  four  horses.  They  located  in  Warren  Co., 
Ky.,  and  were  among  the  first  of  the  settlers  there. 
Two  of  the  uncles  of  Mr.  Gardner,  Asa  and  Reuben, 
were  soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812.  The  former  was 
a  lieutenant. 

The  advantages  for  the  education  of  children  in 
Kentucky  were  then  very  limited,  and  consisted  of 
such  as  the  common  schools  of  that  State  at  that 
time  afforded.  Mr.  Gardner  went  from  three  to 
four  miles  on  foot  daily  for  the  few  months  yearly  in 
which  it  was  possible  for  him  to  do  so,  and  studied 
in  a  log  school-house  which  had  no  windows.  He 
was  23  years  old  when  he  started  from  his  home  for 
the  purpose  of  finding  a  place  to  live  beyond  the 
line  of  slavery,  which  he  believed  to  be  the  "  sum  of 


-     ' 


482 


—  -"V  •        T — 

WARREN  COUNTY. 


all  villanies."  He  was  a  Democrat,  but  nevertheless 
an  abolitionist  of  the  most  decided  type,  and  a  Free- 
State  man.  He  left  home  on  the  7th  of  October,  as 
has  been  stated,  and  arrived  in  Monmouth  Nov.  3 
following. 

His  marriage  to  Jemima  R.  Wallace  took  place 
Jan.  i,  1835.  She  was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Ky., 
April  27,  1816,  and  was  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Nancy  (Smith)  Wallace.  She  died  Feb.  4,  1861, 
after  giving  birth  to  nine  children.  Nancy  C.  is  the 
wife  of  H.  J.  Adcock,  of  Kelly  Township;  William 
is  deceased;  Mary  A.  married  A.  M.  Johnston,  of 
Nodaway  Co.,  Mo.;  Robert  is  a  citizen  of  Fremont 
Co.,  Iowa;  Amanda  is  deceased;  George  W.  lives 
in  the  township  of  Cold  Brook;  Rebecca  is  not  liv- 
ing; Benjamin  F.  has  been  dead  some  years;  Ben- 
jamin E.  lives  in  Kelly  Township. 

Aug.  23,  1864,  the  father  was  again  married,  Mary 
A.  Deatherage  becoming  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  in  Stokes  County,  March  28,  1824. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Achillis  and  Susan  (Death- 
erage) Deatherage,  who  were  of  English  ancestry, 
|l  and  was  third  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  13  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living.  She  came  to  this 
county  with  her  parents,  who  first  settled  in  Mc- 
Lean Co.,  111.,  in  1832.  Here  they  remained  for 
four  years,  when  they  pushed  further  northward  and 
found  a  desirable  location  _in  Knox  County.  Mrs. 
Gardner  was  first  married  Oct.  14,  1841,  to  Samuel 
F.  Patton,  and  by  him  became  the  mother  of  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living — George  W., 
one  of  the  county  officials  of  Johnson  County,  and 
Julia,  the  wife  of  G.  W.  Gardner,  of  Cold  Brook 
Township.  Myra  is  the  name  of  the  only  child  of 
the  second  marriage.  She  married  Emmet  Barnett 
and  now  lives  in  Cold  Brook  Township.  Mr.  Gard- 
ner is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Talbot. 

There  are  few  men  in  Warren  County  more  widely 
known  or  highly  esteemed  than  "  Uncle  Benjamin 
Gardner."  He  is  one  of  the  venerable  pioneers  who 
located  here  before  the  hand  of  civilization  had  dis- 
turbed the  magnificent  scenery  of  prairie  and  wood- 
land. The  green  flowery  carpet  which  covered  the 
undulating  surface  of  the  broad  prairies,  skirted  by 
forests  and  groves,  must  have  formed  a  delightful 
aspect.  The  beautiful  native  flowers  and  the  tall 
prairie  grass  have  given  place  to  fertile  fields.  All 
is  changed,  and  no  doubt  the  pioneers  often  long  to 
behold  the  unsurpassed  beauties  of  the  scenery  so 


common  to  them  for  a  long  time  after  they  came 
here.  As  one  of  the  most  worthy  of  the  pioneers, 
and  a  truly  representative  citizen  of  Warren  County, 
the  portrait  of"  Uncle  Ben"  Gardner  is  presented  in 
this  volume. 


ndrew  W.  Simmons,  owner  of  479  acres  of 
land,  all  of  which  is  located  in  Greenbush 
Township,  except  a  tract  of  80  acres,  which 
lies  in  Berwick  Township,  resides  on  section 
8,  of  the  former  township.  He  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  having  been  born  in  Warren  Co., 
that  State,  Sept.  2,  1816.  He  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents  in  October,  1816.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Simmons,  James  Simmons,  married  Miss  Sarah  Slice, 
in  1815,  in  Kentucky.  She  was  born  in  1798,  in. 
that  State,  where  her  husband  also  first  saw  the 
light,  in  1795.  They  both  died  in  this  township,  the 
father  in  1873  and  the  mother  in  1855.  Of  their 
union  12  children  were  born — Andrew  W.,  Sally,  R. 
M.,  Alfred  W.,  Francis  M.,  C.  R.,  William  J.,  Nancy, 
Joanna,  Diana,  Arminda  and  M.  V.  W.  Of  this 
large  family,  eight  survive;  W.  J.,  Sally,  Nancy  and 
Martin  having  passed  to  another  world. 

James  Simmons  came  to  Illinois  in  1816,  and  set- 
tled in  Madison  County,  near  Troy,  remaining  there 
till  1833,  when  he  removed  to  Warren  County  and 
located  on  what  is  now  known  as  Greenbush  Town- 
ship, on  section  5.  He  is  credited  with  building  the 
third  house  in  that  section  of  the  county.  Mrs.  Sim- 
mons was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
(Lee)  Brooks.  Her  father  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Virginia,  Feb.  22,  1791.  The  family  came  to  War- 
ren County  in  r836,  settling  in  Berwick  Township, 
where  they  both  died,  the  father  Sept.  19,  1842,  and 
the  mother  Feb.  19,  1847.  The  fruits  of  their  union 
were  six  children,  four  of  whom  survive. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  formed  a 
matrimonial  alliance  March  2,  1848,  with  Miss  Ase- 
nath  Brooks.  She  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ky., 
Jan.  7,  1825,  and  has  borne  her  husband  seven  chil- 
dren, namely  :  Thompson  F.,  Alfred,  James,  William 
W.,  Amanda,  Freeman  and  Rowland.  Of  the  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simmons,  Thomas  F.  married 


WARREN.  CO  UNT  Y. 


483 


Emily  Hahn,  and  two  olive-branches  have  blessed 
their  union.  Alfred  lives  at  home.  James  is  a  farm- 
er in  Berwick  Township,  and  the  head  of  a  family, 
his  wife's  maiden  name  being  Margaret  Holeman. 
Amanda,  the  eldest  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  C. 
Ray,  and  has  borne  him  one  child.  Wm.  W.,  Alfred 
Freeman  and  Rowland  M.  reside  on  the  old  home- 
stead. Mr.  Simmons  is  the  owner  of  479  acres  of 
land,  80  of  which  is  located  in  Berwick  Township, 
and  the  remainder  in  Greenbush.  All  of  this  large 
tract  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  a  brick  front  residence  on  his  home  farm,  60  x  40 
feet  in  dimensions  and  two  stories  in  height,  which 
was  built  in  1848.  The  place  is  also  improved  with 
a  good  barn,  of  commodious  dimensions,  which  is 
36  feet  long  by  30  feet  in  width.  In  addition  to  the 
cultivation  of  his  land,  he  is  interested  in  the  propa- 
gation of  a  superior  grade  of  cattle. 

Mr.  Simmons  and  wife  are  members^of  the  old 
school  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Simmons  was  elected 
•  Supervisor  from  Greenbush  Townsnip,  and  has  held 
that  office  for  the  past  17  years,  being  re-elected  to 
the  position  last  April  by  a  large  majority.  He  has 
also  served  16  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace;  as 
Collector,  1 1  years,  and  has  held  minor  offices  in  his 
township  for  the  past  25  years. 

In  his  politics,  he  supports  the  Democratic  plat- 
form. Considering  that  his  accumulations  are  the 
reward  of  his  own  indomitable  energy  and  persever- 
ance, and  that  he  is  to-day  the  possessor  of  a  com- 
petency, we  are  enabled  in  this  work  to  justly  record 
that  the  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  model  representa- 
tive of  his  class,  not  only  in  Greenbush,  but  also  in 
Warren  County. 


Terpenning,   is   a   citizen  of  Kelly 
Township,  and  came  to   Warren    County 
within  the  first  year  of  his  life,  with  his  par- 
ents, of  whom  an  account  is  given  on   other 
pages   of  this    work    in    connection    with    the 
sketch   of  another   son.     (See   sketch   of  John 
P.  Terpenning.) 

He  was  born    Dec.    23,   1835,   in  the  township  of 
Clifton  Park,  in   Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.     He   came   to 


this  township  and  county  in  1836,  and  grew  to  the 
age  of  manhood  within  its  limits.  He  lived  with  his 
father  and  mother  until  he  was  31  years  of  age,  and 
was  most  of  the  time,  particularly  at  first,  engaged 
in  the  pursuits  of  the  farm.  He  was  occupied  also 
in  the  capacity  of  a  collector,  and  traveled  in  the 
States  of  Illinois  and  Iowa. 

His  marriage  to  Catherine  J.  Kiger  took  place  Feb. 
25,  18156.  Their  children  are  named  Albert  L.,  Jes- 
sie A.,  Ulysses  G.,  Parley  D.,  Mindwell  E.,  Jennie 
M.  and  Daisy  R. 

Mrs.  Terpenning  was  born  Oct.  17,  1836,  in  Gal- 
ia,O.,  and  removed  from  there  to  Stark  Co.,  in  1839.  A 
few  years  later  another  removal  of  her  family  was  ef- 
fected to  Knox  County.  At  the  time  of  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Terpenning  settled  on  the  farm  on 
which  they  are  now  living.  It  is  a  part  of  the  home- 
stead of  his  father,  and  is  in  good  agricultural  con- 
dition. In  1875  his  buildings  and  the  timber  stand- 
ing on  his  farm  were  badly  injured  by  a  tornado 
which  swept  over  the  place.  His  loss  was  estimated 
at  $3,000. 


llliam  Meachum,  the  possessor  of  a  good 
title  to  1 60  acres  of  land  located  on  section 
21,  Berwick  Township,  is  a  native  of  Liv- 
ingston Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  born  Aug. 
22,  1843.  He  came  to  this  State  with  his 
parents  in  1854,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  fact, 
we  may  say  he  has  spent  his  life  until  this  date  in 
that  vocation. 

Mr.  Meachum  was  married  Jan.  26,  1870,  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Griffith,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  July  23, 
1840.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Judah  Griffith,  a 
native  of  New  York,  where  he  was  born  in  1796. 
Her  father  was  of  Scotch  ancestry  and  moved  from 
New  York  to  Amherst,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  with  his 
brother,  where  he  remained  until  1839,  when,  in 
company  with  his  brother  and  some  six  other  fam- 
ilies, he  moved  to  a  small  town  in  Indiana,  called 
Cadiz.  At  the  latter  place  he  remained  some  three 
years,  working  at  the  boot  and  shoe  trade,  and  then, 
in  1842,  came  to  this  State  and  located  near  La 
Harpe,  Hancock  County.  In  1848  he  left  that  sec- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


tion  and  came  to  Warren  County,  where  he  resided 
until  1876,  when  he  moved  to  Fremont  Co.,  Iowa, 
and  there  followed  his  chosen  vocation,  agriculture, 
until  the  date  of  his  death,  in  1881.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Maria  Rockwell,  who  was  born  in  York 
State  in  1808.  She  died  in  1851,  in  this  county, 
leaving  to  the  care  of  her  husband  nine  children 
namely :  Patterson,  Griffith,  Eveline,  Armina,  Ma- 
linda,  Carlos,  Mary  M.,  Ardin,  Ambrose,  Ansel  and 
Phebe. 

William  Meachum  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of 
four  children — Riley,  born  Sept.  8,  1871  ;  Pearl  P  , 
April  21,  1873;  Lucina  E.,  Dec.  22,  1875;  and 
•  Laura  B.,  Oct.  21,  1877.  Mr.  Meachum  is  pleas- 
antly situated  on  his  fine  farm  of  160  acres  on  sec- 
tion 21,  Berwick  Township,  and  in  addition  to  his 
agricultural  duties,  is  devoting  considerable  of  his 
time  to  the  raising  of  Norman  horses.  In  politics, 
he  votes  with  and  endorses  the  principles  advocated 
by  the  Greenback  party. 


ohn  E.  Alexander,  attorney  and  counsellor 
£  at  law,  at  Monmouth,  was  born  in  Freder- 
ick Co.,  Md.,  March  4,  1833.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Elizabeth  (Beckenbaugh)  Al- 
exander, natives  of  Maryland  and  Pennsyl- 
vania respectively  and  of  English  and  German 
extraction.  They  reared  seven  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, John  E.  being  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  The 
senior  John  Alexander,  whose  father,  Jacob  A.,  was 
a  Colonel  in  the  American  Army  in  the  War  of 
1812,  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  he  failed  to 
transmit  any  great  deal  of  love  for  hard  labor  to  the 
junior  John.  In  fact,  it  is  not  known  that  he  wished 
to,  for  it  appears  that  the  youth  was  kept  pretty 
closely  at  school.  He  received  a  good  preparatory 
training  in  the  High  Schools  at  Middletown,  Md., 
and  graduated  with  honors  from  Franklin  and  Mar- 
shall College,  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  in  the  class  of  1853. 
For  ten  years  succeeding  his  graduation  he  taught 
school  as  a  profession,  the  two  years  of  1853-54  be- 
ing as  Professor  of  English  Branches  at  the  Landon 
Military  Academy  at  Urbana,  Md.  The  dis- 
tinguished General  John  R.  Jones,  afterwards  of 


Confederate  fame,  was  the  founder  of  the  academy 
and  was  its  principal.  Col.  John  F.  Keenan,  Pro- 
fessor of  Languages  and  Tactics,  was  in  the  Mexican 
War  and  served  on  Gen.  Butler's  Staff.  Col. 
Keenan  was  also  the  author  of  the  39  articles  or  the 
"  Code  of  Honor." 

In  1857-8,  Prof.  Alexander  was  Principal  of  the 
Mercersburg  (Pa.)  Female  Seminary,  and  in  May, 
1859,  came  to  Monmouth  and  taught  school  for 
about  a  year  in  the  basement  of  what  is  now  Unity 
Church.  From  1860  to  r863,  he  clerked  for  E.  S. 
Sweeney  in  the  County  Clerk's  office,  and  in  1863-4 
had  charge  of  the  Sheriff's  office,  under  Riggs. 

In  1864-70  he  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade, 
and  in  the  latter  year,  in  company  with  Col.  Robert 
Holloway,  laid  out  the  town  of  Alexandria,  now 
known  as  Alexis.  He  was  the  first  inhabitant  of  the 
place  and  first  agent  there  of  the  Rockford,  Rock 
Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad.  While  in  the  County 
Clerk's  office  he  began  the  study  of  law,  which  he 
dropped  for  a  few  years ;  took  it  up  again,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  in  1877,  and  began  practice  at 
Alexis,  from  whence  he  came  to  Monmouth  in  1883, 
and  has  occupied  a  most  honorable  position  at  the  " 


District  Bar.  Though  coming  late  into  the  practice, 
his  superior  education  and  most  thorough  business 
training  made  the  otherwise  devious  roads  to  an 
elevated  position  in  the  first  profession  in  the  land, 
to  him  one  of  comparative  ease.  He  is  regarded  as 
a  painstaking,  careful  lawyer,  and  an  able  advocate. 
He  has  been  the  recipient  of  no  gratuities  ;  whatever 
of  this  world's  goods  he  has  acquired,  and  his  pos- 
sessions are  ample,  he  has  earned  by  individual 
effort  and  energy. 

In  politics,  he  is  a  staunch  adherent  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  Democracy,  and  while  an  active  worker  in 
the  interests  of  that  great  party,  he  is  in  no  wise  an 
aspirant  to  any  official  preferment.  He  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Warren  County  Library,  and  is 
at  this  writing  a  Director  in  its  Board. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  married  in  Washington  Co., 
Md.,  Feb.  24,  1857,  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Reichard  (see 
biography  of  J.  T.  Reichard  in  this  volume),  and  has 
had  borne  to  him  three  children,  namely:  Bertha 
(Mrs.  C.  T.  Page),  Edward  D.  and  Anna  M.  To- 
gether with  his  family,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  in  Masonry,  Mr.  A.  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Chicago  Consistory. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


aj.  William  G.  Bond,  a  citizen  of  Mon- 
mouth,  retired  from- active  business,  was 
born  in  Jackson  County,  Ala.,  April  2, 
1823,  and  is  a  son  of  Major  John  C.  and 
Mary  (Grimsley)  Bond,  natives  of  Tennessee, 
who  combined  in  their  make-up  the  blood  of 
Celt  and  Teuton.  (See  biography  of  John  C.  Bond). 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  accompanied  his  father 
to  Warrerk  County  in  1834,  and  grew  to  manhood 
upon  the  farm;  in  fact,  he  followed  farming  uninter- 
ruptedly up  to  1862,  and  left  it  only  to  join  the  army 
in  defense  of  his  country.  Aug.  26,  1862,  Mr.  Bond 
became  Captain  of  Co.  H,  8$d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1863,  he  was  promoted  to  Major  of  the  same 
regiment  and  was  in  full  command  thereof  from 
June,  1863,  until  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  ser- 
vice, at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  23,  1865.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Garrettsburg,  Ky.,  in  November,  1862; 
,^-his  second,  Fort  Donelson,  February,  1863  ;  next  was 
with  Wheeler,  along  the  Great  Louisville  &  Nash- 
ville Railway,  in  1864,  where  they  were  engaged  ev- 
ery day  and  sometimes  twice  a  day  for  a  month  or 
more ;  later  on  at  Franklin  and  the  six  weeks'  fight- 
ing of  that  campaign.  The  Major  was  twice  wounded 
at  Fort  Donelson,  once  by  a  minnie  ball  and  again  by 
a  shell,  both  times  in  the  leg,  but  neither  proved  se- 
rious. From  February  to  August,  1864,  he  was  seri- 
ously ill  from  an  attack  of  pneumonia,  which  seized 
him  at  Nashville  and  left  him  at  Clarksville.  While 
at  the  latter  place  and  before  sufficiently  recovered 
to  report  to  his  command  for  duty,  he  acted  as  Pres- 
ident of  the  Military  Course. 

Leaving  the  regular  service,  he  went  into  the 
Quartermaster's  department  at  Fort  Donelson,  and 
was  there  employed  up  to  1868,  hunting  up  the  dead 
and  depositing  their  remains  in  the  National  Ceme- 
tery at  that  place.  From  here  he  entered  the  Reve- 
nue department  and  was  employed  as  store-keeper 
on  the  Cumberland  River  for  twoyears,  going  thence 
into  the  secret  service  of  the  Government,  with  head- 
quarters at  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  up  to  1873.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1874,  he  returned  to  Monmouth,  and  the  follow- 
ing December  received  the  appointment  of  Deputy 
Sheriff,  a  position  he  filled  for  two  years.  His  next 


and  last  official  duty  was  performed  as  Sheriff  of 
Warren  County,  being  elected  to  that  office  three 
times  in  succession,  namely  :  1876-78  and  '80,  clos- 
ing his  services  in  1882. 

With  such  a  record  any  man  might  be  content  to 
retire  to  private  life.  Wherever  Maj.  Bond  has  been 
placed,  either  by  force  of  circumstances  or  of  his  vo- 
lition, he  has  done  his  duty,  and  there  is  in  neither 
his  military  or  civil  career  any  skeleton  to  haunt  the 
closet  of  his  prosperity.  Maj.  Bond  was  first  united 
in  marriage  in  Joe  Daviess  County,  this  State,  when 
about  22  years  of  age,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Henry,  who 
died  in  1863,  while  the  Major  was  in  the  army,  and 
left  four  children — Clarissa  Ann,  Looney  M.,  Jesse 
W.  and  George  C.  To  his  present  wife,  Mrs.  Mary 
E.  Moore,  nee  Taylor,  he  was  married  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  in  1868. 

Maj.  Bond  went  into  the  army  a  Democrat,  but 
came  out  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  is  an  officer  in  the  G.  A.  R.,  and 
one  of  the  respected  and  well-to-do  citizens  of  Mon- 
mouth. 


'artin  Sorenson  is  a  farmer  in  the  town- 
ship of  Spring  Grove.  His  farm  is  lo- 
cated on  section  9,  and  contains  80  acres. 
He  is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Anna  (Ma- 
thaison)  Sorenson,  and  he  was  born  in  Schles- 
wig-Holstein,  Denmark,  now  a  province  of 
Germany,  March  25,  1844.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of 
his  parents,  of  whom  an  account  is  given  on  another 
page  of  this  work  in  connection  with  that  of  the 
son  and  brother  Frederick  Sorenson.  His  father 
was  a  farmer  in  Denmark,  where  he  was  the  owner 
of  a  tract  of  land,  and  the  son  was  brought  up  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  business.  He  received  the  edu- 
cation common  in  that  country. 

In  1867  Mr.  Sorenson  came  to  the  United  States. 
He  left  the  ship  on  which  he  made  the  voyage  at 
Quebec,  and  came  thence  at  once  to  Illinois.  He 
first  found  employment  with  a  farmer  in  Henderson 
County,  and  worked  there  through  the  first  summer 
after  his  arrival.  In  the  succeeding  fall  he  came  to 
Warren  County  and  operated  as  a  farm  assistant  un- 
til, in  1871,  he  went  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  ob- 


486 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


tained  a  position  to  work  in  the  railroad  shops  at 
that  place.  After  a  year  there  he  came  back  to 
Warren  County.  In  1874  he  bought  land  on  section 
30  in  the  township  of  Spring  Grove,  on  which  he  was 
six  years  resident.  He  then  sold  the  place  and 
bought  the  farm  on  which  he  is  now  living.  It  con- 
tains 80  acres,  and  is  all  practically  under  cultiva- 
tion. The  buildings  are  good  and  substantial. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  S.  died  July  25,  1864.  The 
mother  is  now  in  this  country,  and  living  with  her 
daughter.  She  was  born  March  20,  1818.  There 
were  two  children  in  the  family ;  the  name  of  the 
other  sister  is  Maggie. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sorenson,  have  three  children — An- 
drew, Annie  and  Thora.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Schleswig-Holstein.  Mr.  Sorenson  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 


uther  C.  Hibbard,  a  farmer  on  section  16 
in  the  township  of  Kelly,  comes  of  some  of 
the  best  New  England  Stock.  His  ances- 
tors on  the  paternal  side  distinguished  tueir 
names  in  the  first  great  struggle  for  their  rights 
and  carried  the  sign  manual  of  their  bravery 
from  more  than  one  battlefield  of  the  Revolution. 
Luther  Hibbard,  his  father,  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Vermont,  or  what  became  such,  in  1791.  About 
1800,  accompanied  by  his  father  and  three  brothers, 
he  went  from  his  native  State  to  New  York.  They 
made  the  journey  there  with  ox-teams  and  took  with 
them  all  their  belongings.  They  were  among  the 
earliest  of  the  settlers  where  they  located.  Luther 
Ethemer  Hibbard,  the  father  of  Luther  Hibbard, 
was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution.  His  sons,  Luther, 
Harry,  Shubal  and  Henry,  bought  land  in  the  cele- 
brated "  Holland  Purchase  "  in  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  The 
Holland  purchase  included  an  immense  tract  of 
land  in  the  central  part  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
which  the  government  gave  to  Robert  Morris  to  re- 
imburse him  for  money  advanced  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  Revolutionary  War.  When  the  second 
war  with  Great  Gritain  succeeded,  father  and  sons  all 
enrolled  in  the  military  service  of  their  country. 
Henry  became  a  Captain  and  the  father  a  Major.  A 
son-in-law  of  Major  Hibbard,  and  Uncle  by  mar- 


riage of  Mr.  Hibbard  of  this  sketch,  was  a  Colonel 
and  was  killed  by  Indians  in  the  same  war.  Shubal 
Hibbard  was  wounded  in  the  arm  and  underwent 
amputation.  Major  Hibbard  died  in  Erie  County, 
about  1825.  His  Son  Luther  cleared  a  farm  in  the 
same  county  and  lived  there  until  1832.  In  that 
year  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Pennsylvania.  He  lo- 
cated in  Warren  County  and  remained  there  until 
1 840.  His  wife  had  died  and  he  started  thence  for 
Illinois  alone,  on  horseback.  He  came  direct,  as 
nearly  as  he  could,  crossing  the  State  of  Michigan. 
He  passed  the  first  winter  at  Rock  Island  and  in  the 
spring  came  to  Warren  County.  He  was  an  inmate 
of  the  home  of  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  account, 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  Aug.  7,  1847.  The 
wife  of  Luther  Hibbard  was  Sarah  Yaw,  before  her 
marriage  to  him.  She  was  a  native  of  New  England 
and  was  the  mother  of  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The 
latter  died  at  the  age  of  18  years. 

Luther  G.  Hibbard  was  two  years  old  when  his 
mother  died.  He  was  cared  for  by  his  grandmother  - 
until  her  death,  at  which  time  he  was  15  years  old. 
After  that  event  he  was  again  under  the  care  of  his 
father.  He  was  born  May  20,  1816,  and  was  there-  ' 
fore  24  when,  in  1840,  he  determined  to  find  a  home 
and  a  field  for  operation  as  a  business  man  in  the 
West.  He  set  out  for  Illinois  on  a  raft  on  the  Alle- 
gany  River,  and  proceeded  in  that  manner  to  Pitts- 
burg.  He  made  his  way  thence  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Rivers  to  Rock  Island,  and  from  there 
to  Warren  County.  He  rented  land  in  the  township 
of  Spring  Grove,  which  was  situated  on  section  25, 
and  passed  two  or  thtee  years  as  a  farmer.  He  went 
next  to  Galena,  where  he  became  interested  in  the 
business  of  a  butcher.  He  had  previously  operated 
somewhat  as  a  buyer  of  groceries  and  leather,  which 
he  disposed  of  to  the  farmers  for  hides,  which  he 
sold  in  Chicago.  He  took  his  first  crops  to  that  city 
with  ox-teams,  and  sold  his  wheat  for  50  cents  a 
bushel.  He  took  his  provisions  with  him  and  camped 
on  the  route.  He  was  in  business  at  Galena  two 
years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  returned  to  War- 
ren County. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Hibbard  bought  40  acres  of  land  on 
section  16  in  Kelly  township,  where  there  were  a 
few  acres  under  the  plow.  He  found  a  small  frame 
house,  which  he  bought  and  removed  to  his  farm, 
and  he  then  entered  upon  the  further  improvement 
of  his  land.  His  estate  no\v  includes  260  acres, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


487 


which  is  in  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  In 
1870  he  built  a  large  and  substantial  farm  house, 
which  is  now  the  home  of  the  family. 

His  marriage  to  Esther  Presson  took  place  Feb. 
26,  1848.  Her  father,  Samuel  Presson,  was  born  in 
Vermont,  and  the  birthplace  of  her  mother  was  in 
Massachusetts.  The  name  of  the  latter  before  her 
marriage  was  Esther  Wisvvell.  Mrs.  Hibbard  was 
born  in  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  April  20,  1825.  After 
their  marriage,  herself  and  husband  located  in  Che- 
nango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  fixing  their  abode  there  about 
1830.  In  1844  they  came  to  Warren  County  and 
settled  in  Kelly  Township.  The  life  of  the  father 
terminated  in  1852;  that  of  the  mother  ended  in 
1854.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hibbard  are 
now  five  in  number.  Scoville  L.  is  a  resident  in 
Kelly  Township.  Fannie  is  the  wife  of  William 
McCulloch,  of  the  same  part  of  Warren  County. 
Lucy  A.  is  a  teacher  and  resides  at  home.  The  two 
youngest  are  named  Clark  G.  and  Charles  L.  The 
first-born  child,  Edwin  L.,  died  at  the  age  of  two 
months.  George,  the  second  in  order,  died  at  four 
months  of  age.  Henry  Samuel  was  born  July  4, 
1852,  and  died  Feb.  27,  1883. 

Mr.  Hibbard  was  Postmaster  at  Ionia  ten  years, 
and  his  daughter  Lucy  was  his  successor.  She 
served  two  years.  He  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  cause  of  education  and  has  give.-  his 
children  the  advantages  of  the  colleges  at  Abingdon 
and  Galesburg.  He  has  acted  as  Director,  and  has 
assessed  the  township  twice.  In  political  affinity 
and  belief,  he  is  a  Democrat.  The  members  of  the 
family  belong  to  the  Advent  Church. 


: 


tenry  L.  Harrington,  M.  D.,  at  Mon- 
mouth,  was  born  at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  Dec. 
28,  1846.  His  parents,  Jubal  and  Harriet 
(Locke)  Harrington,  were  natives  of  Massachu- 
setts and  New  Hampshire  respectively,  and 
were  descended  from  Irish  ancestry.  They  had 
two  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  Mrs.  Harrington  died 
when  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  about  five  years 
of  age.  His  father  died  at  Vineland,  N.  J.,  in  1869, 
at  the  age  of  64  years. 

Dr.  Harrington  received  his  literary  education  at 


Brookfield  (Mass.)  Academy,  and  began  the 
study  of  medicine  when  24  years  of 
age,  at  Toulon,  111.  He  graduated  from  Rush 
Medical  College,  in  the  spring  of  1875.  After 
graduating  he  spent  1 8  months  as  resident  physician 
at  Cook  County  Hospital.  He  came  to  Warren 
County,  in  1877,  and  located  for  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Little  York,  where  he  remained  upward 
of  four  years.  In  the  spring  of  1882,  he  went  to 
Europe  and  spent  one  year  in  the  various  great  hos- 
pitals of  London,  traveling  through  France  and  Italy. 
His  numerous  certificates  and  diplomas  from  the 
several  distinguished  institutions  in  which  he  prac- 
ticed and  studied  while  abroad,  attest  his  industry 
and  energy  in  the  pursuit  of  professional  knowledge. 
He  returned  to  Monmouth  in  1833,  and  at  once  took 
a  prominent  position  in  the  very  foremost  ranks  of 
the  profession. 

Dr.  Harrington  does  not  figure  in  politics;  he  be- 
longs to  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  de- 
voted to  the  welfare  of  his  patients. 

He  was  married   at  Little  York,  Warren   County, 
Nov.  17,  1870,  to  Miss  Martha  Taylor,  daughter  of 
Dr.  A.  Taylor,  and    a  native   of  Indiana.     His  four  - 
children  bear  the  names  of  Mabel,  Grace,  Paul  and  i 
Marion. 


|.enry  H.  Kidder,  engaged  as  an  agricultur- 
ist on  section  23  of  Swan  Township,  where 
he  is  enjoying  success  in  his  vocation  and 
is  regarded  as  one  of  Warren  County's  substan- 
tial and  well-to-do  citizens,  was  born  May  25, 
1841,  in  this  county.  He  is  the  son  of  Larnard 
Kidder,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  having  been  born  in 
that  State  in  March.  1806,  and  emigrated  to  the 
State  of  Illinois  in  the  year  1837.  He  located  south 
of  Youngstown.  Before  leaving  his  native  State, 
in  the  year  1837,  March  22,  he  was  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Hoising- 
ton,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
as  follows  :  Almon,  William  O.,  Henry  H.,  Benja- 
min H.,  Nathaniel,  Olive  M.  and  Eliza  A. 

Henry  H.  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Woods,  Dec.  10, 
1868 ;  she  was  born  June  20,  1838.  Of  this  union  four 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  Lora  D.,  born 


488 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Nov.  29,  1869;  Melvin  A.,  Oct.  3,  1871 ;  Robert  L., 
June  i,  1876;  and  Henry  W.,  Jan.  3,  1879.  Mrs. 
Kidder's  parents  were  named  Robert  and  Martha 
(Morford)  Woods.  Robert  Woods  was  born  Aug. 
19,  1802,  and  died  Feb.  10,  1883;  and  Martha  Woods 
was  born  Jan.  31,  1806,  dying  March  12,  1876.  Of 
their  union,  four  children — Seth,  Elizabeth,  Nancy 
A.  and  Adeline — were  born. 

Mr.  Kidder  is  the  proprietor  of  218  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  he  resides  and  is  engaged  in  raising 
horses,  hogs  and  cattle,  making  hogs  a  specialty. 
He  has  been  very  successful  in  his  chosen  vocation, 
agriculture,  attributing  it  all  to  his  own  indomitable 
energy,  economy  and  perseverance. 

Mr.  Kidder  purchased  80  acres  of  land  on  section 
23  of  Swan  Township.  He  moved  here  in  1867  and 
has  resided  here  until  the  present.  Under  the 
second  call  for  300,000  troops  to  put  down  the  Re- 
bellion, by  Abraham  Lincoln,  issued  in  July,  1861, 
Mr.  Kidder  responded  by  enlisting  in  Co.  H,  Second 
111.  Cav.  The  Company  was  organized  at  Macomb, 
111.,  Capt.  Walker  commanding.  The  regiment  was 
organized  Aug.  12,  and  mustered  into  service;  went 
into  Camp  Butler,  at  Springfield,  111.  The  regiment 
was  ordered  to  the  southern  part  of  the  State  in  Sep- 
tember of  the  same  year.  Picketing  along,  the  regi- 
ment was  not  attached  to  any  brigade,  but  was 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Lew  Wallace  ; 
then  was  attached  to  the  131!!  Army  Corps.  The 
first  engagement  in  which  the  regiment  participated 
was  at  Union  City,  Tenn.,  then  under  command  of 
Gen.  Buford  when  that  place  was  captured,  and 
they  acted  as  scouts, and  skirmishers  on  the  Black 
River;  were  at  Vicksburg  during  the  charge  on  the 
23d  of  May,  1863,  after  which  they  were  ordered  to 
the  department  of  New  Orleans. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  furloughed  for 
60  days  after  the  battle  of  Vicksburg.  He  re- 
ceived a  wound  in  the  left  thigh  at  Mansfield,  on  the 
Red  River  expedition,  when  he  was  compelled  to  re- 
main in  the  hospital  for  two  months,  being  mustered 
out  Aug.  12,  1864,  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.  Coming  to 
Springfield,  he  was  paid  off,  and  then  returned  home. 
Mr.  Kidder  now  draws  a  pension  on  account  of  the 
wound  received  while  fighting  for  his  country.  Since 
1864,  the  time  of  his  return  home,  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  farming,  principally  raising  stock 

Mr.  Kidder  received  opportunities  for  acquiring  a 
fine  education,  having  attended  College  at  Lombard 


University,  Galesburg,  for  two  years,  besides  other 
excellent  schools  of  learning.  He  studied  the  arts 
and  sciences,  and  is  a  well  educated  man,  as  well  as 
one  of  the  prominent  and  representative  citizens  of 
this  county.  Politically,  Mr.  Kidder  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party. 


avid  B.  Stewart  is  a  farmer  on  section  6 
of  the  township  of  Kelly.  In  1855  he 
started  from  his  home  in  Pennsylvania  to 
seek  a  suitable  place  for  a  permanent  loca- 
tion, and  visited  the  States  of  Illinois,  Mis- 
souri, Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Iowa.  He 
concluded  to  locate  in  Illinois,  and  returned  to  his 
native  State  to  make  the  necessary  preparations. 
In  the  spring  of  1856  he  came  to  Warren  County, 
and  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  on  the  south 
half  of  section  15  in  Spring  Grove  Township.  He, 
also  bought  40  acres  adjoining,  where  he  built  al 
house  and  proceeded  to  improve  the  property.  He 
lived  on  that  place  until  the  winter  of  1872,  when  he 
sold  out  and  bought  the  property  where  he  is  at, 
present  located.  He  is  the  owner  of  151  acres  of 
excellent  land,  all  of  it  being  in  a  good  state  of  till- 
age and  supplied  with  the  requisite  farm  implements. 
The  place  is  beautified  by  several  varieties  of  trees. 
We  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  present  a  view  of  the 
home  place  in  this  ALBUM  on  page  428. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  born  Sept.  30,  1826,  in  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Pa.  Thomas  Stewart,  his  father,  was  born 
in  County  Armagh,  Ireland,  and  was  a  Presbyterian 
of  Scotch  descent.  The  latter  was  nine  years  of 
age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents,  Robert  and 
Mary  Stewart,  to  America.  He  was  reared  in  Ad- 
ams and  Washington  Counties  in  the  Keystone 
State,  and  was  married  in  the  county  last  named. 
The  lady  whom  he  made  his  wife,  Miss  Mary  Welch, 
was  born  in  Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  resided  there 
until  1835,  when  they  went  to  Moundville  in  West 
Virginia.  Mr.  Stewart  bought  a  farm  and  was  a 
resident  there  as  long  as  he  continued  to  live.  His 
wife  afterwards  came  to  Illinois  to  see  her  children 
and  died  while  in  this  State,  in  1856.  They  had  ri 
children,  and  five  of  them  are  still  living  :  Robert 


• 


J^ 


WARREN  COUNTY.                                                              491 

is   a  citizen  of  Kirkwood.     William  lives  at  Little 

1640,  and  from  him   sprang  the  Hardings  of  this 

York.     Joseph   lives  in  Elmwood,  Peoria  Co.,  111.  ; 

country.     His  grandson,  Chancy  Harding,  named  as 

he  is  a  retired  merchant  and  is  holding  the  office  of 

the  immediate  ancestor  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 

Police    Magistrate.      Mary  is   the   widow  of  James 

was  born  in   Middle  Haddam,  Conn.,  Jan.  8,  1775, 

Graham,  and  lives  in  Page  Co.,  Iowa. 

and  died  at  Iowa  Falls,  Dec.  n,  1876  ;  his  first  wife, 

Mr.  Stewart  is  the  youngest.     He  was  nine  years 

mother  of  H.  G.  Harding,  was  also  born  at  Middle 

of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  West  Virginia, 

Haddam,  r  i  years  later  than  Chancy,  and  died  while 

where  he  was  reared  on  the  farm.    He  was  educated 

yet  a  young  woman,  at  Richfield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y., 

in  the  school  which  was  maintained  by  its  patrons 

April  6,  1819.  The  Chancy  Harding  here  mentioned 

and  called  the  subscription  school,  because  its  ex- 

married a  second  time,  his  last  wife  being  Sally  Mar- 

penses  were  defrayed  by  subscription.     When  he 

tin,  who  was  born  at  Richfield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y., 

attained  the  period  of  his  legal  freedom,  he  went  to 

Nov.  3,  1794,  and  died  at  Iowa  Falls,  in  April,  1885. 

Somerset    Co.,    Pa.,   and,   associated   with   another 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  the   families  upon  both  sides 

young  man,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  farm 

have  been  uniformly  long  lived.     Chancy  's  first  mar- 

implements.     He   operated   there   four   years,  and 

riage  occurred  at  Chatham,  Conn.,  and  he  removed 

went  thence  to  Bedford  County  and  was  similarly 

thence  to  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  probably  in   1809. 

occupied  there  until  the  year  in  which  he  made  his 

From   there  he  removed  to  Iowa  Falls,  Iowa,  after 

prospecting  tour  in  the  West. 

having  buried  his  wife,  who  died  April  6,  1819.     She 

Aug.  6,  i86r,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Pilkington, 

bore  him  two  sons,  H.  G.,  the  eldest,  and  his  brother, 

and  they  had  eight  children.     They  are  named  Jen- 

Chancy. 

'   nie  B.,  Orlando  P  is  a  teacher  in  the  High  School  at 

He  was  brought  up  to  farming,  an  occupation  he  i 

Keithsburg,    Harry    J.,   Archie   G.,  Guy,    Fred    G., 

has  claimed   all  his  life.      The  common  schools  of 

Erma  and  Erla  (twins).     The  third   child   born   to 

Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  an  academy  at  Hamilton  sup- 

1  Mr.   and  Mrs.   Stewart  died  when  about  a  year  old, 

plied  him  a  good  education,  and  from  16  to  26  years  < 

in  1867. 

of  age  he  alternated  the   seasons  with  farming  and 

Mr.  Stewart  was  formerly  a  Democrat  but  is   now 

teaching.       In    1857,  he  came  to  Warren  County, 

a  prohibitionist  in  political  principles.     He  was  Jus- 

bought a  farm,  now  part  of  the  city  of  Monmouth,  J 

tice  of  the  Peace  for  12  years  while   a  resident   of 

laid  a  portion  of  it  off  as  Clark's   addition  to  the 

Spring  Grove    Township.      His    wife   was    born    in 

town,  and  later  on,  in  1859,  he  purchased  a  4o-acre 

Somerset  Co.,  Pa,  May  26,  1838.    She  is  the  daugh- 

tract in  connection  with  Gen.  Harding  and  laid  out 

ter  of  Benjamin  W.   and   Jane   (Henry)    Pilkington. 

Haley's  addition.      At  this  writing  (October,  1885), 

Mr.    Pilkington  was  born  in  Adams  Co.,   Pa.     He 

he  lives  upon  a  part  of  his  original  purchase,  owns 

died  May  24,  1844,  in  Somerset  County. 

several    hundred    acres   of  the   finest  farms  in  the 

county,  and  has  given  his  children  a  handsome  com- 

.          v             ^  . 

petency.     He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mon- 

. 

mouth  National  Bank,  in  1870;  was  a  director  therein 

^'..VnW^tf 

up  to  1874;    sold  out,  and,  assisted  by   his  brother, 

Nfearry   G.  Harding,  one  of  the  best  known 

Chancy,  and  others,  in  January,  1875,  organized  the 

ej^JIpg!^    men  in  Warren  County,  and  whose  portrait 

Second  National  Bank  of  Monmouth,  with  which  he 

v\£           is  given  on  the  opposite  page,  resides  on  a 

is  now  connected  as  a  director.      Mr.  Harding  has 

W    fine  place,  in  the  suburbs  of  Monmouth.  He  was 

long   been   one   of  the  wealthiest  men  of  Warren 

* 

:       born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  25,  1811,  and 

County,  and  yet,  aside  from  a   few  hundreds  inher- 

was a  son  of  Chancy  and  Anna  (Gates)  Hard- 

ited from  his  father,  he  has  acquired  it  by  his  indi- 

ing,* natives  of  Connecticut  and  of  old  English  de- 

vidual effort  and  industry. 

scent.      Nathan   Harding  landed  at  Cape   Cod,  in 

0                                                  ' 

Away  back  in  1844,  before  leaving  New  York,  Mr. 

Harding  was  elected   lo  the  State  Legislature  from 

"The  father  of  Mr.  Harding  used  the  ({?)  in  his  name 
in  the  early  part  of  his  life,  but  left  it  off  about  the  same 
time  as  did  his  son.  Chancy  (see  sketch),  who  is  the  only 

Otsego  County,  but,  to  his  credit,  it  must  be  written 
that  he  was  wise  enough  to  profit  by  his  first  lessons 

brother  of  Harry  G. 

and  to  steer  clear  of  such  a  fate  in  Illinois.      The 

r! 


492 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


most  the  people  here  have  been  able  to  get  out  of 
him,  in  the  way  of  public  service,  has  been  to  push 
him  into  an  aldermanship,  and  twice  into  the  mayor- 
alty. He  has  always  been  an  ardent  Republican  and 
during  the  war  he  was  an  active  supporter  of  the 
cause  of  the  Union  and  good  government. 

After  returning  from  the  Legislature  in  New  York, 
he  resumed  his  farming  operations.  He  was  soon 
thereafter  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  served 
the  people  in  that  capacity  for  several  years.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  about  15 
years,  during  his  residence  in  Otsego  County,  and 
contributed  to  the  best  of  his  ability  in  fostering  and 
encouraging  general  education.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Education  in,  Monmouth  for 
about  15  years. 

At  the  time  of  the  laying  out  of  what  is  known  as 
Haley's  addition  to  the  city  of  Monmouth,  in  con- 
nection with  General  Harding,  the  lots  were  di- 
vided and  Mr.  Harry  G.  Harding  adopted  what  was 
'then  a  new  plan  in  this  Western  country,  in  get- 
ting his  property  into  market.  This  was  by  selling 
lots  and  assisting  many  poor  people  to  build  small 
houses  thereon,  with  the  understanding  that  they 
should  become  owners  after  complying  with  the  spec- 
ified agreement.  This  was,  that  they  should  pay 
him  a  monthly  installment  of  but  little  more  than 
ordinary  rent.  By  this  arrangement  the  prudent  and 
economical  mechanic  was  enabled  to  secure  a  home. 
Mr.  Harding  in  this  way  disposed  of  about  roo  lots, 
at  prices  ranging  from  $150  to  $300  each,  and  also 
contributed  largely  to  the  building  up  of  the  city 
of  Monmouth,  as  well  as  performing  a  most  com- 
mendable act  towards  his  fellow  townsmen  and  neigh- 
bors. Careful  business  methods  like  these  will  nat- 
urally bring  a  fair  financial  return  to  their  projectors. 
Mr.  Harding  also  furnished  most  of  the  lumber  with 
which  to  construct  the  dwelling,  and  in  exceptional 
cases,  where  the  man  was  very  poor,  he  furnished 
all  the  lumber  and  gave  long  time  for  payment. 

May  17,  1838,  he  was  married,  at  Exeter,  N.  Y.,  to 
Salinda  Brainard,  a  native  of  Otsego  County,  and 
daughter  of  Nathan  Brainard.  She  died  at  Exeter, 
Aug.  15,  1843,  leaving  two  sons — Delavan,  who  died 
soon  after  hr;r,  and  De  Lloyd.  On  Nov,  17,  1844. 
Mr.  Harding,  at  the  same  town,  married  Elvira  C. 
Hubbard,  daughter  of  Seth  and  Lucy  (Swan)  Hub- 
bard,  and  had  borne  to  him  four  children.  Of  his 
children,  De  Lloyd,  the  eldest  son,  married  Mary 


Bacon;  they  have  one  daughter,  Elvira,  now  a  young 
lady,  who  has  been  educated  at  Knoxville.  The  son 
resides  near  his  parental  home  and  owns  a  splendid 
farm  of  225  acres,  a  mile  from  the  city  limits.  He  is 
principally  engaged  in  stock  dealing  and  farming. 
Fred  E.  was  born  Sept.  20,  1847,  attended  Mon- 
mouth College  and  completed  his  business  education 
at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.  He  is  now  Cashier  of  the 
Second  National  Bank  of  Monmouth.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Lucy  Nye,  of  that  city.  Frank  W.  was  born 
March  i,  r84g,  and  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Nannie  Davenport,  of  Monmouth.  They  have  three 
daughters.  He  was  educated  at  Monmouth  College 
and  is  the  Assistant  Cashier  of  the  Second  National 
Bank,  at  Monmouth.  Jennie  I.,  born  Sept.  4,  1885, 
died  June  2,  1861.  Willie,  the  youngest,  was  born 
Oct.  22,  1857,  died  Sept.  6,  1858. 

Mr.  Harding's  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  prose- 
cution of  his  business  and  the  education  of  his  chil- 
cren.  He  has  ever  been  careful  and  methodical  in 
all  his  operations,  and  his  course  has  won  the  esteem 
and  respect  of  his  neighbors.  He  is  public-spirited 
and  liberal,  and  any  object  having  for  its  aim  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  material  or  moral  development  of 
Monmouth  or  Warren  County,  finds  in  him  an  able  and 
earnest  supporter.  We  are  pleased  in  being  able  to 
present  a  portrait  of  this  good  and  prominentcitizen. 


'illiam  M.  Lair,  a  well  known  farmer  of 
Kelly  Township,  is  the  son  of  William 
Lair,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Warren 
County.  The  senior  Lair  was  born  in  War- 
ren County,  Ky.,  April  3,  1797.  His  father 
was  a  German  by  birth  and  his  mother  was 
born  in  North  Carolina.  They  were  among  the 
very  first  settlers  in  Warren  Co.,  Ky.,  and  their  son, 
the  father  of  the  gentleman  who  is  represented  in 
this  sketch,  was  the  first  white  child  born  there.  He 
was  reared  to  be  a  farmer,  and  passed  the  whole  of 
his  youth  in  his  native  county.  He  was  married 
there,  Feb.  5,  1827,  to  Sarah  R.  Wallace.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  (Smith)  Wallace 
and  was  also  a  native  of  Warren  Co.,  Ky.  Her  grand- 
father, Robert  Wallace,  came  from  Ireland.  She  was 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


493 


born  May  8,  1809.  In  1832  they  left  their  native 
county  with  their  family,  setting  out  with  their  own 
conveyance,  for  the  State  of  Illinois.  They  brought 
with  them  their  household  appurtenances  and  camped 
and  cooked  by  the  wayside.  They  were  four  weeks 
on  the  road.  They  passed  a  year  on  the  Spoon 
River,  in  Knox  County,  and  after  reaching  Warren 
County  settled  for  a  summer  in  Monmouth.  Mr. 
Lair  then  bought  land  on  section  30,  in  "  Township 
12,  Range  i,"now  Kelly  Township.  He  set  about 
perfecting  the  arrangements  common  to  pioneers, 
built  a  log  house  for  the  temporary  accommodation 
of  his  household,  and  proceeded  with  all  possible 
dispatch  to  the  work  of  improving  his  claim.  Soon 
after,  the  first  log  cabin  was  replaced  by  a  double- 
hewed-log  structure  of  goodly  dimensions,  which 
constituted  their  home  until  1858.  In  that  year 
the  family  removed  to  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
same  section  and  once  more  lived  in  a  pioneer's 
cabin.  This  they  inhabited  until  1861.  They  then 
removed  to  a  school-house,  in  which  they  lived  six 
weeks,  while  their  own  house  was  in  preparation. 
The  new  house  was  a  commodious  frame  building, 
and  was  the  home  of  the  senior  Lair  during  the  re- 
maining portion  of  his  life.  His  demise  took  place 
April  7,  1872.  Six  of  the  children  born  to  him  and 
his  wife  (thirteen  in  all)  are  still  living.  They  are 
Robert  W.,  who  married  Mary  A.  Quinn,  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children,  viz. :  Annie,  William, 
Addison  and  Fannie.  Addison  is  deceased.  Robert 
lives  in  Spring  Grove  Township.  Harriet  is  the  wife 
of  Dvvight  Corning,  and  is  the  mother  of  ten  children; 
the  names  of  the  six  living  being  Benjamin,  Jennie, 
Jessie,  Clark,  Helen  and  Alice.  The  family  reside 
in  Crawford  County,  Kas.  Helen  is  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel McKahan,  and  they  are  also  residents  of  Craw- 
ford County,  and  the  parents  of  five  children,  name- 
ly :  Charley,  May,  Hattie,  Aide  and  an  infant  de- 
ceased. Sarah  E.  married  R.  B.  Ball.  Rosa  and 
Fielding  F.  are  the  names  of  their  children.  They 
reside  in  Rice  County,  Kas.  Ella  J.  is  the  wife  of 
Ferdinand  Burtschy,  a  resident  of  Nodaway  County, 
Mo.  Four  children  were  in  their  family — Etta,  Ada, 
Freddie  and  Gracie.  Freddy  is  deceased.  The  next 
in  order  of  birth  was  William  M.,  the  subject  of  this 
notice.  Catherine,  who  is  now  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  James  T.  Gilmore.  Fielding  A.  is  also  de- 
ceased, but  had  married  Margaret  S.  Pedigo.  Anna 
E.,  who  is  also  deceased,  became  the  wife  oflrvin 


Robinson.      The  remaining  five  children  died  while 
young. 

William  M.  Lair  was  born  on  the  homestead  of 
his  father,  in  Kelly  Township,  Feb.  5,  1853.  He  had 
the  training  and  education  of  the  farmers'  sons  of 
that  period  and,  in  connection  with  his  mother,  ably 
manages  the  estate  left  by  his  father.  A  view  of  the 
old  homestead  is  given  on  page  428.  He  was 
married  Aug.  2,  1876,  to  Nancy  A.  Pedigo.  Their 
family  now  includes  four  children — Florence,  Clark, 
Maggie  and  Robert.  Mrs.  Lair  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, in  the  same  county  in  which  her  husband's 
parents  were  early  settlers.  The  date  of  her  birth 
was  Sept.  4,  1857.  She  was  the  daughterof  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Millegan)  Pedigo,  who  were  natives 
of  Warren  County,  Ky.  They  came  to  this  county 
about  1860,  and  settled  in  Kelly  Township.  The  fa- 
ther died  in  1872.  His  widow  is  still  living  and  re- 
sides in  Iowa.  Mr.  Pedigo  had  previously  been 
married,  by  which  union  he  had  five  children,  and 
by  his  second  marriage  had  ten  children.  Three  of  • 
the  fifteen  are  deceased. 


^amuel  Marvin  Eldred.  was  born  in  Fulton 
County,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  19,  1828.  His  parents 
John  and  Hannah  (Fox)  Eldred,  were  na- 
tives of  Rhode  Island.  They  spent  most  of  their 
married  life  in  New  York.  The  father  came 
to  Illinois  to  see  his  children,  and  died  while 
here  at  the  advanced  age  of  75  years.  The  death  of 
the  mother  occurred  in  1864,  at  the  home  of  her 
daughter  in  Michigan.  Marvin  Eldred  remained  at 
home  until  he  was  21  years  old,  receiving,  meantime, 
a  good  common-school  education.  He  spent  a  few 
years  in  a  lumber  mill  at  Inghams'  Mills,  New  York, 
until  he  decided  to  come  West.  He  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1852  and  located  in  Roseville  Township.  He 
purchased  160  acres  of  land,  and  by  subsequent  in- 
vestments increased  his  landed  interests,  making  him 
the  owner  of  360  acres  of  good,  valuable  land. 

In  1864  Mr.  Eldred  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  Chase,  who  was  born  in  Princeville,  Peoria 
County,  Oct.  4,  1843.  She  was  a  daughter  of  S.  P. 
and  Ann  (Houston)  Chase,  who  were  nativesof  New 


;  »  > 


494 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Hampshire.  They  removed  to  Peoria  County,  this 
State,  in  1842,  where  they  bought  wild  land.  They 
succeeded  in  cultivating  it  and  making  a  comfortable 
home,  where  the  family  remained  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Chase,  which  occurred  in  1870.  The  demise 
of  the  mother  occurred  in  1875,31  the  residence 
of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Eldred. 

The  issue  of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldred 
was  one  daughter,  Anna  May,  born  Oct  14,  i86fc. 
The  family  lived  upon  the  farm  until  1874,  when  they 
removed  to  Roseville  and  the  ensuing  year  pur- 
chased a  lot  on  Main  Street,  and  erected  a  resi- 
dence upon  it.  Here  Mr.  Eldred  resided  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Jan.  5,  1885. 

Mr.  Eldred  was  interested  quite  extensively  in 
buying  and  feeding  cattle  for  the  market.  He  served 
his  township  as  Supervisor  and  his  village  as  Trus- 
tee. He  was  careful  of  his  financial  standing,  and 
valued  his  word  or  any  contract  or  verbal  agree- 
ment as  thoroughly  binding  as  his  bond,  and,  as  was 
remarked,  he"  always  paid  100  cents  on  the  dollar." 
He  was  a  strong  Republican,  and  as  a  citizen  and 
neighbor  always  kind  to  the  poor  and  enterprising, 
and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  men  in  this 
part  of  Warren  County. 


eorge  Jacob  Kobler,  born  in  Rhine,  Bava- 
ria, Germany,  July  6,  1836,  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1853.  His  parents,  Henry  and  Anna 
Mary  (Faath)  Kobler,  reared  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  George  J.  being  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  Mr.  Kobler,  of  this  sketch, 
was  fairly  educated  in  his  native  country,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  he  has  since  so  successfully  fol- 
lowed, that  of  butchering.  Landing  first  in  New 
York  city,  Mr.  Kobler  proceeded  at  once  to  Buffalo, 
and  thence  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  spent  one  year, 
going  from  there  to  Louisville,  St.  Louis  and 
Burlington,  Iowa,  and  stopping  some  time  in  each 
place,  up  to  the  one  last  named,  which  claimed  him 
as  a  citizen  some  three  or  four  years.  He  was  next 
in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa,  probably  two  years,  and  the 
year  1860  found  him  in  Monmouth.  While  at  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Mr.  Kobler  was  married.  Dec.  9,  1859,  tp 


Anna  Mary  Stenz,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  and  Anna  Mary  (Myers)  Stenz,  who 
came  to  America  when  the  daughter  was  only  6  years 
of  age.  Anna  Mary  grew  to  womanhood  in  Utica,  N. 
Y.,  and  from  there  accompanied  her  parents  to  Iowa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kobler  have  had  six  children — Mena, 
wife  of  Mr.  E.  Alexander,  D.D.,  druggist  at  Alexis, 111.; 
Henry,  Ella,  Lula  and  Frederick,  at  home,  and  Ma- 
mie, deceased. 

Mr.  Kobler  ranks  among  the  substantial  and  high- 
ly respected  citizens  of  Monmouth.  He  has  been 
strictly  honest  and  upright  in  all  his  transactions,  and 
has  conducted  his  business  so  successfully  that  he 
possesses  a  competency  for  himself  and  family. 

Politically,  Mr.  Kobler  votes  with  the  Republicans. 


J.  Cayton,  whose  homestead  com- 
prises  360  acres  of  excellent  farm  land 
on  sect'on  2I>  Swan  Township,  was  born  in 
Edmonson  Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  22,  1830.  His 
widowed  mother  came  to  Illinois  when  Andrew 
was  three  years  old,  and  after  residing  one 
year  in  Morgan  County,  located  in  Swan  Township, 
on  section  n.  Abel  Cayton,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  his  demise  having 
occurred  in  Kentucky.  He  married  Miss  Lively 
Harrington,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Kentucky 
in  1808.  They  became  the  parents  of  four  children, 
— Nancy,  George,  Andrew  J.  and  Maranda.  George 
and  Nancy  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Andrew  J.  Cayton  belongs  to  the  pioneers  of 
Warren  County,  having  passed  his  boyhood  and  ma- 
ture years  in  this  county.  In  1856  he  purchased  60 
acres  on  section  21,  on  which  was  built  a  small  frame 
house.  All  the  improvements  that  are  now  upon  his 
land,  are  the  result  of  his  own  industry  and  skillful 
management.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  C.  Lieur- 
ance,  Nov.  12,  1857,  She  was  a  native  of  Illinois, 
where  she  was  born  in  1837,  and  bore  her  husband 
three  children, — Clarence  A.,  born  Jan.  14,  1859; 
Jed.  O.,  in  i86i,and  Lewis  Grant,  in  1863.  Clar- 
ence is  the  only  survivor.  He  is  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  Youngstown.  He  married  Miss  Abby 
Johnson.  Mrs.  Cayton  died  in  December,  1862,  and 
Mr.  Cayton  married  a  second  wife,  Miss  Mary  Eliza 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


495 


Clevenger,  in  1865.  She  bore  him  one  child, — Mary 
Eliza,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  in  1866,  the  mother 
also  was  carried  to  her  final  resting  place. 

Mr.  Andrew  J.  Cayton  formed  a  third  matrimonial 
alliance,  Feb.  15,  1873,  with  Miss  Ruby  L.  Bond, 
who  was  born  June  30,  1827,  in  Morgan  Co.,  111. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Major  John  C.  Bond,  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  in  December,  1799. 
He  died  May  22,  1882.  In  1827  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  located  in  Morgan  County,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Grimsley,in  1817,  she  also  being 
a  native  of  the  Sunny  South,  where  she  was  born  in 
1790.  Of  their  union,  five  children  were  born, — 
Susan  C.,  born  August,  1819;  William  G.,  April  2, 
1821 ;  Ann,  who  died  in  infancy;  Jesse  W.,  born  in 
September,  1826,  and  Ruby  L.,  born  June  30,  1827. 
Mrs.  Bond  died  in  Morgan  County,  this  State,  in 
1828.  Mr.  Bond  was  a  Democrat  in  political  affilia- 
tions. Religiously,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church. 

Mr.  A.  J.  Cayton's  farm  of  360  acres  is  under  the 
finest  improvement  and  cultivation.  He  has  15  head 
of  thoroughbred  Short-horn  cattle;  has  a  fine  house 
and  barn,  with  other  necessary  outbuildings  upon 
his  land,  his  house  being  a  two  story,  45  x  50  feet  in 
dimensions,  with  a  good  cellar  under  the  entire  build- 
ing. Owing  to  his  own  indomitable  energy,  perse- 
verance and  economy,  Mr.  Cayton  has  now  sufficient 
of  this  world's  good  to  enable  him  to  spend  the  sun- 
set of  his  life  in  ease  and  comfort.  Besides  his  farm, 
to  which  he  devotes  considerable  of  his  time,  he  owns 
a  fine  vein  of  coal  about  36  inches  thick.  Religiously, 
Mr.  Cayton  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  in  his  political  opinions,  he  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party. 


^lizabeth  Van  Tuyl,  residing  upon  section 
3,  Tompkins  Township,  this  county,  is  the 
widow  of  Isaac  Van  Tuyl.  He  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  May  31,  1808,  and  his  parents 
were  Michael  and  Sophia  (Coberly)  Van  Tuyl, 
natives  of  New  Jersey.  Michael  Van  Tuyl 
was  born  March  17,  1775.  Sophia  Coberly  was  born 
Nov.  10,  '1782;  they  were  married  Dec.  9,  1797. 


The  parents  moved  from  their  native  State  to  Ohio 
in  1814.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  was  the  proprietor  of  1,280  acres  of  land,  be- 
sides a  saw  and  grist  mill,  in  the  Buckeye  State. 
There  he  resided,  following  his  chosen  vocation,  un- 
til his  death,  in  1848  ;  the  death  of  his  wife  occurred 
in  March,  1857. 

Isaac  Van  Tuyl,  husband  of  the  subject  of  this  no- 
tice, remained  at  home  until  1847,  where,  in  his 
younger  years,  he  attended  the  common  school  and 
assisted  his  father,  and  later  became  a  partner  with 
his  father  and  elder  brother.  In  the  year  mentioned, 
he  sold  his  interest  and  moved  northeast  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  good  farm 
land,  on  which  he  located  and  for  six  years  was  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation.  He  then  sold  it,  and,  in 
1854,  came  to  this  State  and  settled  in  Biggsville 
Township,  Henderson  County,  where  he  became  the 
owner  of  200  acres  of  land.  On  this  latter  tract  he 
lived  for  12  years,  cultivating  and  improving  it,  and 
then  sold  the  same  and  came  to  this  county,  where 
he  purchased  15254  acres  on  section  3,  Tompkins 
Township,  which  acreage  he  afterward  increased  by 
an  additional  purchase  of  480  acres  in  the  same 
township  and  160  acres  in  Henderson  County.  He 
moved  on  his  land  in  Tompkins  Township  and  was 
engaged  in  its  improvement  and  cultivation  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  in  1880. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Van  Tuyl  was  with  Miss 
Sarah  A.  Williams,  and  they  had  five  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living,  and  named,  Michael,  Anna  and 
Sophia.  The  deceased  are  Lewis  W.  and  Sarah. 
Lewis  enlisted  in  the  loth  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  August, 
1 86 1.  He  remained  in  the  service  during  the  war, 
and  participated  in  13  different  engagements.  Among 
the  most  noticeable  was  Island  No.  10,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Nashville,  and  he  was  with  Gen.  Sher- 
man when  he  made  his  great  march  to  the  sea.  He 
enlisted  as  a  private  and  was  mustered  out  as  First 
Lieutenant,  passing  through  the  whole  period  of  the 
war  and  not  receiving  a  wound.  He  was  accident- 
ally killed  by  being  shot  with  a  gun  while  in  Texas, 
in  1869.  Asher  D.  and  John  I.  were  both  in  the 
service,  John  I.  serving  three  years  in  the  83d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.  He  was  wounded  at  Fort  Donelson.  As- 
her D.  was  in  the  1041)1  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  Co.  F,  and 
served  one  year,  participating  in  several  battles,  the 
most  notable  being  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness. 
James  Morgan,  the  husband  of  Anna  VanTuyl,  was 


•* 


496 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


also  engaged  in  the  war,  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Co. 
F,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Fort  Donelson,  serving  his  country  three  years. 
Henry  Francis,  husband  of  Addeliza  Van  Tuyl  (child 
of  second  wife),  was  in  the  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  serving 
three  years.  Geo.  M.  Jamison,  husband  of  Sophia 
Van  Tuyl,  was  a  member  of  Co.  K,  84th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  having  served  one  year  and  being  discharged  on 
account  of  sickness. 

The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Van  Tuyl  was  Mrs.  Eliz- 
abeth A.  bhauman,  formerly  the  wife  of  Isaac  Shau- 
man,  by  whom  she  had  two  children,  both  sons — 
Asher  D.  and  John  I.  By  her  union  with  Mr.  Van 
Tuyl  eight  children  were  born,  namely :  Addeliza, 
Henry,  Lucy  B.,  Ella  K.,  William  E.,  Alexander  H., 
May  and  A.  Elmer.  Michael  Van  Tuyl,  son  by  the 
first  marriage,  married  Fannie  Phillips,  and  they  had 
three  children,  two  of  whom  survive — Luella  and 
Frank  R.  Lewis  Edward  died  July  31,  1880; 
Anna,  daughter  of  the  first  marriage,  became  the 
wife  of  James  Morgan,  and  to  them  two  children 
have  been  born — Flora  and  Lewis  H.,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased,  the  former  dying  June  13,  1885,  and 
the  latter  Oct.  7,  1869.  Sophia,  second  daughter  of 
the  first  marriage,  became  the  wife  of  George  M. 
Jamison,  and  to  them  five  children  have  been  born. 
Their  oldest  child,  Lewis,  died  April  27,  1863,  and 
those  remaining  are  Frederick,  Blanche,  Herbert  and 
Howard.  Asher  D.  Shauman,  first  son  of  Mrs.  Van 
Tuyl's  first  marriage,  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Laura  Swihart,  and  to  them  four  children  were  born 
— Hallie,  Harry,  Harvey  and  Willie.  The  first  wife 
of  Asher  died  in  April,  1882,  and  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, to  Miss  Mary  Brown.  John  I.  Shauman,  sec- 
ond son  of  the  first  marriage  of  Mrs.  Van  Tuyl, 
formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Emily  Claybaugh, 
and  to  them  four  children  have  been  born.  Their 
eldest  child,  Birdie,  is  deceased,  and  the  names  of 
the  others  are  William  W.,  Lewis  V.  T.  and  Emma 
A.  Addeliza  Van  Tuyl  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Henry  Francis,  and  their  family  comprised  seven 
children.  The  demise  of  their  eldest,  Nellie  M.,  oc- 
curred Jan.  28,  1869.  Lewis  V.  T.,  Ralph,  Lucy  B., 
Laura,  May  E.  and  Henrietta  still  survive.  Henry 
Van  Tuyl  married  Sophronia  A.  Reed,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children — George,  Olive  M.,  William  and 
Lewis  H.  William  is  deceased.  Ella  K.  Van  Tuyl 
married  Henry  Boston,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children — John  I.,  Eugene,  Ann  E.,  Ira  L., 


May,  Ono  and  Otis  are  their  names.  William  Van 
Tuyl  married  Hannah  M.  Wilkins,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Chester. 

Mrs.  Van  Tuyl  was  born  Jan.  15.  1824,  in  Ger- 
mantown,  Montgomery  Co.  Ohio.  Since  the  death 
of  her  husband  she  has  remained  on  the  old  home- 
stead and,  with  the  assistance  of  her  four  youngest 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  manages  and 
cultivates  the  same.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Van  Tuyl 
were  Asher  and  Catherine  (Cox)  Davis.  Mr.  Davis 
was  born  in  1797  and  Mrs.  D.  in  1800.  They  were 
natives  of  New  Jersey  and  Maryland  respectively, 
and  were  married  in  1819.  They  came  to  this  State 
in  1865  and  settled  in  Henderson  County,  where 
they  continued  to  reside  until  their  deaths,  which  oc- 
curred in  February,  i88r,  and  June  9,  1875,  respect- 
ively. 


illiam  R.  Thorn,  a  settler  in  Warren  Coun- 
ty of  1855,  is  a  resident  on  section  9  of 
Spring  Grove  Township.  He  is  a  native 
of  Indiana  and  was  born  in  Jennings  County 
July  24,  1819.  He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  origin. 
William  D.  Thorn,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
the  State  of  Kentucky.  He  removed  from  Scott 
County  to  Indiana  in  1818.  He  was  a  pioneer  in 
Jennings  County  in  the  Hoosier  State  and  bought  a 
large  tract  of  land  which  was  covered  with  timber. 
He  built  a  log  house  and  improved  a  farm.  In  that 
pioneeer  home  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born. 
In  1832  the  family  removed  to  Jefferson  County  and 
later  to  Rush  County,  where  the  father  died,  in  1860. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Mr.  Thorn  was 
Elizabeth  Rankin.  She  was  born  in  Woodford  Co., 
Ky.,  and  after  she  was  widowed  by  the  death  of  her 
husband,  she  came  to  Warren  County  and  passed 
the  remaining  years  of  her  life  in  the  care  of  her  son. 
Her  death  took  place  in  1869.  Three  of  the  seven 
children  of  whom  she  became  the  mother  are  still 
living.  Ann  Eliza  is  the  widow  of  M.  A.  Thompson, 
who  lost  his  life  in  a  skirmish  in  the  Civil  War,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Fort  Donelson.  John  D.  lives  in 
Spring  Grove  Township. 

Mr.  Thorn  was  reared  and  educated  as  a  farmer 
in  Indiana.  In  1846  he  became  the  husband  of 
Susan  H.  Matthews.  She  was  born  in  Fleming  Co., 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


497 


Ky.  The  newly  married  people  located  on  land 
owned  by  the  senior  Thorn  in  Rush  County,  and 
that  was  his  field  of  operation  until  1851,  when  he 
engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Mill  Roy  in  the 
same  county.  After  a  commercial  experience  of 
three  years,  he  resumed  the  profession  of  a  farmer. 
In  the  autumn  of  1855  he  removed  to  Illinois.  He 
passed  the  first  winter  in  the  west  part  of  the  town- 
ship in  which  he  now  resides,  where  he  obtained  the 
use  of  a  vacant  house.  Meanwhile  he  bought  a  por- 
tion of  prairie  land  on  section  9,  and  in  the  course 
of  the  winter  erected  a  frame  house  on  his  place.  In 
the  spring  of  1856,  he  and  his  family  removed  to 
their  own  home,  and  it  has  since  been  the  family 
homestead.  The  farm  is  favorably  situated  for 
farming  purposes  and  is  watered  by  flowing  streams. 
It  has  also  natural  groves.  Mr.  Thorn  raises  stock 
and  grain. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife,  and 
of  the  number  four  are  now  living.  Mary  A.  is  mar- 
'  ried  to  Robert  F.  Mulinx  and  they  settled  in  Taylor 
Co.,  Iowa.  George  W.  resides  in  Page  Co.,  Iowa. 
Lizzie  H.  is  the  wife  of  William  L.  Douglass,  also  of 
Page  Co.,  Iowa.  Alma  A.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  N. 
White,  also  of  Taylor  County.  The  parents  are  con- 
nected in  membership  with  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church. 

The  father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Thorn,  George  and 
Esther  (Palmer)  Matthews,  were  born  respectively 
in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  and  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
They  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Fleming 
Co.,  Ky.,  and  removed  about  1850  to  Boone  Co., 
Ind.,  where  they  passed  the  remaining  years  of  their 
lives.  She  is  of  Irish  extraction. 


fohn  Miles,  deceased,  was  a  pioneer  of  Kelly 
Township  of  1830,  being  one  of  the  first  to 
locate  in  that  township.  He.  made  his 
claim  on  section  25.  He  was  more  fortunate 
than  many  of  the  pioneers  in  that  he  possessed 
both  oxen  and  horses,  and  after  building  his 
cabin  of  logs  he  proceeded  to  the  work  of  improving 
his  claim.  During  the  first  year  he  broke  quite  a 
quantity  of  land,  and  succeeded  in  raising  a  good  crop 


of  corn  and  a  fair  quantity  of  vegetables.  When  the 
Black  Hawk  War  broke  out,  he  joined  the  "  Regu- 
lators.'" For  the  services  he  rendered  in  that  de- 
cisive conflict,  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
gave  him  a  patent  of  160  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Miles  was  born  in  Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  2, 
1794.  His  parents  removed  to  Harrison  Co.,  Ind., 
when  he  was  1 2  years  of  age,  and  there  he  passed 
the  remaining  years  of  his  youth.  On  attaining  to 
the  age  of  manhood,  he  studied  law,  and  was  admit- 
to  the  Bar  of  Indiana,  at  Corydon  in  Harrison 
County.  He  went  to  New  Albany,  in  Floyd  County, 
and  opened  his  career  as  an  attorney  there,  where 
he  remained  and  engaged  in  his  profession  until 
1829.  He  came  then  to  Illinois  and  passed  the. first 
winter  in  that  part  of  Sangamon  County  which  now 
belongs  to  the  county  of  Menard.  He  remained 
there  until  the  spring  of  1830,  when  he  came  to 
Warren  County  as  has  been  stated. 

After  the  termination  of  the  hostilities  of  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  he  was  at  once  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  his 
adopted  State  and  practiced  law  to  a  limited  extent, 
at  the  same  time  giving  his  attention  to  the  improve- 
ment of  his  land.  He  was  prominent  in  local  affairs  * 
from  the  first,  and  was  elected  the  first  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  the  part  of  the  county  where  he  resided. 
He  was  the  first  Supervisor  of  the  township.  He 
was  active  and  energetic,  and  always  accomplished 
a  great  amount  of  other  business  while  improving  a 
large  farm  and  erecting  a  good  set  of  frame  buildings 
thereon.  He  died  May  23,  1872. 

In  1822,  Mr.  Miles  was  married  to  Sarah  Froman. 
She  was  born  Jan.  21,  1800,  in  Indiana.  Their 
children  numbered  1 2  and  nine  of  them  are  now  liv- 
ing. Harriet  married  Samuel  Brown,  and  they  lo- 
cated in  Vancouver,  Washington  Territory.  Mary 
is  the  wife  of  J.  I.  Myers,  a  citizen  of  Marshall,  111. 
Evaline  is  the  widow  of  George  Weir,  a  resident  of 
Bourbon  Co.,  Kan.  Henry  C.  is  a  farmer  and  busi- 
ness man  of  the  township  of  Cold  Brook  :  a  full  ac- 
count of  his  connection  with  the  development  of  this 
part  of  the  State  of  Illinois  is  given  on  other  pages 
of  this  volume.  Joseph  W.  and  Fielding  are  resi- 
dents of  Willes,  Kan.  James  F.  lives  in  Brunson  in 
that  State.  John  J.  is  an  attorney-at-law  in  Ash- 
land, Wis.  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  Theodore  F.  Bull- 
man,  who  is  the  manager  of  the  Miles  homestead. 
(See  sketch.)  Their  mother  died  June  14,  1855. 


498 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


\  alvin  W.  Postlewait,  is  a  prominent  mer- 
chant of  Alexis,  and  has  lived  in  or  near 
that  place  since  he  was  a  small  child.  He 
was  born  Oct.  8,  1845,  in  Huntington  Co., 
Pa.,  and  in  nationality  is  of  mixed  extrac- 
tion. His  father,  Matthew  F.  Postlewait,  was 
of  German  and  English  parentage,  and  the  paternal 
grandmother  was  a  Campbell  and  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  His  mother,  Mary  J.  Yocum,  was  of  Irish 
descent  on  the  maternal  side,and  German  on  the  pa- 
ternal. Both  parents  were  born  in  Pennsylvania.  On 
coming  to  Mercer  County  in  1847,  the  family  located 
in  the  township  of  Suez.  They  settled  on  a  farm, 
and  were  among  the  first  of  the  permanent  settlers 
in  that  locality. 

At  the  time  the  father  purchased  the  farm  but  10 
acres  had  been  placed  in  tillage,  and  there  was  a 
small  log  house  on  the  place.  The  small  acreage 
that  had  been  broken  was  also  fenced.  The  new 
owner  broke  a  few  acres  additional,  and  was  the  oc- 
cupant of  the  place  until  1856.  He  then  sold  it  and 
bought  another  in  the  township  of  Rivola,  in  the 
same  county,  and  is  yet  the  occupant  of  the  place. 
It  includes  145  acres,  all  under  excellent  tillage. 
The  senior  Postlewait  is  also  owner  of  80  acres  in 
the  township  of  North  Henderson. 

The  son,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the 
oldest  of  the  male  children  in  the  father's  family, 
and  he  was  reared  on  the  farm  after  the  manner  com- 
mon to  the  training  of  the  sons  of  farmers  in  a  new 
country.  He  obtained  a  fair  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  was  afterward  sent  for  a  time  to  a  select 
school  in  the  same  township  where  he  lived.  At  the 
age  of  20  he  commenced  teaching.  He  followed 
that  business  principally  for  five  years,  and  then  ob- 
tained employment  in  a  store  as  a  clerk. 

He  held  his  position  at  New  Windsor  until  1874, 
when  he  was  appointed  Deputy  County  Clerk,  and 
removed  to  Aledo.  He  continued  to  reside  in  that 
place  two  years,  and  in  1876  formed  a  partnership  in 
business  with  S.  T.  Gibson  and  H.  R.  Gilliland. 
They  established  themselves  as  general  merchants 
at  Alexis,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gibson,  Postle- 
wait &  Co.  The  senior  member  of  the  firm  was  the 


gentleman  with  whom  Mr.  P.  clerked.  They  con- 
ducted their  affairs  jointly  until  1879.  In  that  year 
Mr.  Gibson  sold  his  interest,  and  the  style  of  the 
reconstructed  house  was  C.  W.  Postlewait  &  Co., 
until  r882,  when  another  change  was  effected  by  the 
sale  of  his  interest  by  Mr.  Gilliland  to  William  Durs- 
ton.  In  March,  1885,  Mr.  Postlewait  became  sole 
proprietor  by  the  purchase  of  the  claim  of  his  part- 
ner, and  has  since  managed  the  business  alone,  in 
which  he  is  now  engaged  extensively  and  prosper- 
ously. 

Matilda  E.  Durston  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Pos- 
tlewait May  22,  i876,and  they  haveone  child,  named 
Orion.  The  mother  was  born  in  Mercer  County, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  James  and  Philadelphia 
(Bridger)  Durston.  Her  parents  were  pioneers  of 
Mercer  County  in  1837.  They /were  both  natives  of 
England,  and  removed  to  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  in  1837, 
and  they  both  died  there. 

Mr.  Postlewait  is  independent  in  his  political  prin- 
ciples. 

He  is  a  member  of  the    A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  holds 
membership  of  Alexander  Lodge,  No.   702,  and  has  i 
been  W.  M.  for  the  past  three  years. 


h 


arker  S.  Jones,  owning  80  acres  of  land 
on  section  35,  Tompkins  Township,  where 
he  is  following  the  vocation  of  an  agricul- 
turist, was  born  in  Washington  County,  Vir- 
ginia, July  28,  1848,  his  parents  being  Calvin 
and  Rebecca  (McQuown)  Jones,  natives  of 
the  same  county  and  State  in  which  their  son  was 
born.  They  moved  from  their  native  State  to  Illi- 
nois, and  located  in  Henderson  County,  on  a  farm, 
in  1854,  and  at  present  reside  on  section  34,  Tomp- 
kins Township,  this  county. 

Parker  S.  Jones,  whose  name  heads  this  notice, 
received  a  fair  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  remained  with  his  parents  until  six  years  after 
attaining  his  majority.  After  leaving  home  he  con- 
tinued the  occupation  which  he  had  followed  from 
boyhood,  and  soon  thereafter  bought  80  acres  of  land 
on  section  32,  Tompkins  Township,  and  on  which  he 
was  located  some  seven  years.  He  then  sold  the 


'     ' 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


married  Emma  Wealing.  Stephen  H.  was  born  July 
2,  1844;  he  died  two  days  alter  birth.  Mary  E., 
was  born  Aug.  28,  1846;  she  married  Joseph  Gates 
and  lives  in  Wisconsin.  Jeremiah  was  born  Aug.  28, 
1848,  and  lives  in  Henderson  County;  he  married 
Clara  Thompson.  Royal  F.  was  born  in  December, 
1850,  and  died  on  the  3oth  day  of  the  same  month. 
Joseph  was  born  Nov.  29,  i85r,  and  died  Dec.  30, 
1855.  Royal  G.  was  born  Sept.  i,  1854. 

Mr.  Ranney  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views 
and  relations.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

The  Ranney  family  are  of  English  origin,  coming 
to  this  country  about  the  year  1750.  They  were  quite 
prominent  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  three  of 
the  family  taking  part.  One  was  killed  at  the  storm- 
ing of  Stony  Point,  under  the  command  of  General 
Wayne.  (See  history  of  the  revolution).  Stephen 
Ranney  was  made  Colonel  of  the  militia  after  the 
Revolutionary  War.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
•  of  1812  he  was  commissioned  General.  He  also  had 
a  son,  Johnson  Ranney,  who  took  part  in  the  same 
war. 

Mr.  Ranney 's  son,  R.  G.  Ranney,  is  an  extensive 
dealer  in  fine  stock.  He  has  the  finest  herd  of  Here- 
ford Cattle  in  the  several  surrounding  counties.  It 
consists  of  over  80  head  of  thoroughbreds  and  grades. 
His  bull,  Favorite,  at  the  head  of  his  herd,  No. 
6,952  English  Herd  Book;  12,507,  vol.  4,  American 
Herd  Book,  was  imported  by  George  Morgan,  in  the 
year  1882,  from  Herefordshire,  England,  and  to-day 
is  considered  one  of  the  finest  animals  in  this  coun- 
try. 


eorge  G.  McCosh,  the  editor  of  the  Even- 
ing Gazette  came  to  Monmouth  in  1872, 
after  serving  an  enlistment  of  about  four 
years  in  the  volunteer  service  and  in  the 
United  States  army.  From  the  date  of  his 
honorable  discharge  from  the  army  until  the 
time  of  his  arriv.,1  in  Monmouth,  he  worked  at  the 
printer's  case  in  the  offices  of  several  prominent 
journals,  including  the  Galveston  (Texas)  Daily 
News.  His  first  employment  in  Monmouth  was  in 
the  capacity  of  a  journeyman  printer,  the  greater 


part  of  the  next  three  years  being  passed  in  one  of 
the  printing  offices  of  Monmouth. 

The  Roseville  Gazette,  a  weekly  paper,  was 
founded  by  Mr.  McCosh  May  24,  1876,  and  pub- 
lished without  interrupticn  until  about  a  year  from 
that  date,  when  it  was  changed  to  the  Monmouth 
Gazette,  also  a  weekly.  For  four  or  five  months  in  the 
fall  of  1880  there  was  published  in  connection  there- 
with a  daily,  which  at  the  time  of  its  suspension  con- 
tained the  statement  that  it  would  be  resumed  at  an 
early  date.  The  fulfillment  of  this  announcement 
was  accomplished  Jan.  23,  r883,  the  date  of  the  first 
issue  of  the  Evening  Gazette,  the  Monmouth  Gazette 
being  continued  as  a  weekly. 

The  success  of  the  new  daily  was  immediate  and 
decided,  and  its  prosperity  has  been  uninterrupted. 
Considering  its  age  and  location,  its  career  has  been 
phenomenal.  Its  excellent  reputation,  large  circula- 
tion and  prosperous  condition  in  every  respect,  are 
results  that  have  been  attained  through  the  vigor, 
perseverance,  sound  judgment  and  fixed  purpose  of 
its  founder.  The  Evening  Gazette  has  been  from 
the  start  an  independent  journal.  The  best  verdict 
regarding  the  propriety  of  its  course  is  the  general 
confidence  of  the  people  which  it  has  continually 
enjoyed  and  which  is  to  be  won  only  by  frankness 
and  honesty.  In  the  short  period  of  three  years,  its 
circulation  rose  to  between  10,000  and  12,000  a 
week,  its  influence  increasing  with  its  circulation.  Mr. 
McCosh  has  directed  its  course  without  once  losing 
sight  of  the  object  to  be  attained,  in  which  enter- 
prise he  has  been  seconded  at  every  move  by  the 
people  of  Warren  and  neighboring  counties,  and  he 
is  able  to  furnish  the  readers  of  the  Evening  Gazette 
as  good  a  daily  as  is  published  in  any  city  of  less 
than  25,000  population  in  the  United  States.  In 
the  work  of  building  up  the  Evening  Gazette,  Mr. 
McCosh  has  been  ably  assisted  by  his  associate 
editor,  Mr.  Cyrus  J.  Wood,  formerly  of  the  Rochester 
(N.  Y.)  Herald,  who  removed  to  Monmouth  in  the 
autumn  of  1883. 

Mr.  McCosh  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  April  •!, 
1846,  and  was  seventh  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family 
of  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  the  children  of 
Robert  and  Margaret  (Armstrong)  McCosh.  The 
McCosh  family  is  of  Scotch  descent.  George  Mc- 
Cosh entered  the  printing  office  of  W.  S.  Haven,  at 
Pittsburg,  as  an  apprentice,  in  1859,  and  served 
while  there  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  George  Nor- 


-3- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


ns,  ST.,  to  whos  fatherly  oversight  and  kind  advice 
he  frequently  refers  in  terms  of  gratitude. 

Religiously,  Mr.  McCosh  was  reared  a  United 
Presbyterian,  of  which  Church  his  mother,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  76  years,  is  a  devout  member,  in 
the  city  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  Mr.  McCosh's  father 
was  a  carpenter  of  limited  means,  strictly  honorable 
and  upright  in  all  his  dealings,  and  he  taught  his 
children  like  principles  of  conduct.  He  died  at  Pitts- 
burgh in  1863,  bequeathing  to  his  children  the  rich 
legacy  of  an  unsullied  name.  His  son  George, 
received  only  a  meagre  school  education,  the  ad- 
vantages of  which  have  of  necessity  been  supple- 
mented by  close  study  at  the  printer's  case  and  in 
the  office. 

George  McCosh  was  married  April  14,  1875,  to 
the  daughter  of  .Deputy-Sheriff  C.  Coates,  Miss  Cora 
Coates,  by  whom  he  has  two  children — Nettie  Hard- 
ing and  Harry  Thomson  McCosh. 

Mr.  McCosh  is  not  only  one  of  the  leading  journ- 
alists of  the  State,  but  is  one  of  Warren  County's 
most  enterprising  and  valuable  citizens.  He  is  an 
earnest  and  fearless  advocate  of  what  he  feels  is 
*  right,  and  his  able  efforts,  both  through  the  columns 
of  his  paper  and  personally,  are  faithfully  devoted 
to  upbuilding  his  city  and  the  prosperity  of  Warren 
County.  As  a  prominent  representative,  both  of  his 
profession  and  of  the  business  element  of  this  county, 
the  publishers  take  pleasure  in  presenting  the  por- 
trait of  Mr.  McCosh  in  this  ALBUM.  It  is  engraved 
from  a  photograph  recently  taken. 


illiam  A.  Allen  has  been  from  childhood 
a  resident  of  the  township  of  Sumner,  in 
Watren  County.  He  came  here  with  his 
parents  in  1839,  and  was  then  nine  years  of 
age.  He  was  born  in  Preble  Co  ,  Ohio,  Feb. 
22,  1830.  Andrew  Allen,  his  father,  was  a 
native  of  South  Carolina  and  was  born  in  1801.  He 
was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  both  his  parents  being 
the  children  of  parents  of  that  race  of  people.  Their 
respective  families  located  in  South  Carolina,  where 
they  were  married.  They  were  dissatisfied  in  a  com- 
munity where  slave-holding  was  prevalent,  and  they 
removed  to  Ohio  early  in  the  igth  century.  Their 


son  Andrew  was  then  very  young.  The  family  were 
among  the  earliest  of  the  permanent  settlers  in 
Preble  County.  The  grandsire  of  Mr.  Allen,  of  this 
sketch,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in 
Monroe  County,  Ind.  Andrew  Allen,  his  son,  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  Ohio, and  married  Sarah  Giles. 
She  was  also  a  native  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina. 
After  their  marriage  they  located  in  Preble  County, 
and  were  there  resident  until  1832.  In  that  year 
they  emigrated  to  Indiana.  They  located  in  Clinton 
County,  where  they  were  pioneers.  Mr.  Allen  bought 
Government  land,  which  was  covered  with  heavy 
timber,  built  a  hewed-log  house  and  began  the  work 
of  clearing  a  farm.  He  was  convinced  that  there 
were  better  opportunities  farther  West,  and,  accord- 
ingly, in  1839,  started  with  his  wife  and  five  children 
for  Illinois.  The  party  had  one  wagon  and  three 
horses  and  they  traveled  after  the  gypsy  fashion, 
which  was  then  the  prevalent  method.  They  halted 
on  the  Sabbath  and  held  religious  services.  A  jour- 
ney of  four  weeks  brought  them  to  \Varren  County. 
Mr.  Allen  bought  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  10, 
township  12,  range  3,  which  is  now  named  Sumner 
Township.  The  place  was  in  a  state  of  nature,  and 
the  new  proprietor  erected  a  log  house  and  com- 
menced the  work  of  improving  the  land.  A  good 
frame  house  replaced  the  primitive  cabin  of  the  pio- 
neer, and  the  whole  farm  was  transformed  into  a  de- 
sirable and  valuable  homestead,  and  such  was  its 
office  until  the  death  of  the  wife  and  mother,  when 
Mr.  Allen  sold  the  place  and  went  to  live  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Rogers.  His  wife  died  in 
August,  1857,  and  his  demise  occurred  Feb.  7,  1881. 
Following  is  the  record  of  their  children:  John  H. 
lives  in  Monmouth  ;  William  A.  is  the  second  child  ; 
Margaret  C.  is  the  wife  of  Marion  Jamison,  of  Fur- 
ness  Co.,  Neb.;  Nancy  A.  and  Robert  B.  are  de- 
ceased ;  Mary  S.  married  Nicholas  Rogers,  of  Sum- 
ner Township. 

Mr.  Allen,  of  this  sketch,  was  nine  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois.  He  passed 
the  years  of  his  minority  in  the  manner  common  to 
the  sons  of  pioneer  farmers  and  made  his  home  with 
his  parents  until  his  marriage,  when  he  located  on 
seciion  4,  of  Sumner  Township. 

Eliza  J.  Stewart  became  the  wife  of  William  A. 
Allen  April  6,1852.  She  was  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Robert  C.  and  Mary 
A.  (Kirk)  Stewart.  Five  of  their  children  are  still 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


S'3 


living.  Florence  E.  is  married  to  James  C.  Robb, 
of  Mercer  County  ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Kenneth 
Whitman,  a  resident  of  Keithsburg  ;  Robert  lives  in 
Sumner  Township;  he  married  Mary  R.  Choat,  and 
they  have  one  child  ;  Elizabeth  Y.  and  William  Linas 
are  the  youngest  two.  Jennie,  the  fourth  child  in 
order  of  birth,  was  removed  by  death  at  the  age  of 
two  years.  Emma  was  the  last  born  and  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years.  The  father  and  mother  and  all  the 
children,  with  the  exception  of  the  youngest,  are 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Allen  entered  the  military  service  of  his  coun- 
try during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He  enlisted  in 
September,  1862,  in  Co.  I,  501)1  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  ac- 
companied the  regiment  to  Missouri.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Djnelson.  He  was  in  the  service  a 
year  and  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability  to 
do  military  duty,  in  September,  1863.  He  has  never 
recovered  the  former  vigor  and  strength  which  was 
once  his  best  possession. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Allen  were  of  Scotch-Irish  or- 
igin, the  grandparents  coming  to  this  country  when 
quite  young  and  settling  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa. 


"ohn  A.  Miller  is  a  farmer  and  breeder  of 
stock  in  Kelly  Township,  and  is  located  on 
section  i.  He  is  a  native  citizen  of  the 
township  of  which  he  is  an  important  business 
factor  and  in  which  he  was  born  Aug.  i,  1842. 
Christian  Miller,  his  father,  was  born  in  East 
Tennessee,  Aug.  31,  1807,  and  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Indiana  when  he  was  in  his  youth.  His 
father,  George  Miller,  bought  a  quantity  of  land  sit- 
uated about  three  miles  from  Crawfordsville,  where 
he  cleared  a  farm  and  lived  until  1832.  In  that 
year  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  was  the  pioneer  set- 
tler at  Sugar  Grove  in  Mercer  County.  Millersburg, 
which  bears  the  family  name,  was  named  for  the 
first  settler  in  that  part  of  Mercer  County.  In  1850, 
George  Miller  again  yielded  to  the  inspiration  of  the 
pioneer  spirit  which  controlled  him  throughout  his 
life,  and  turned  his  face  toward  the  setting  sun.  He 
crossed  the  plains  to  the  Pacific  Coast  and  was  a 
pioneer  in  the  valley  of  the  Willamette  in  that  ter- 


ritory. He  lived  there  a  few  years  and  went  into 
the  interior  of  Oregon,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  at  the  age  of  96.  He  was  a  nimrod  of  more 
than  ordinary  pretensions,  and  killed  deer  with  his 
rifle  after  he  was  a  nonogenarian.  Abraham  Miller, 
one  of  his  sons,  now  90  years  of  age,  was  the  first 
Clerk  of  Mercer  County. 

Chrislian  Miller  passed  the  major  portion  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  Indiana.  He  was  married 
there  Sept.  6,  1833,  to  Mary  Brown.  He  came  to 
Illinois  in  1832,  and  located  for  a  short  time  at  Hen- 
derson's Grove,  in  Knox  County ;  afterwards  he  re- 
moved to  Edwards'  River  in  Mercer  County,  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  1839.  The  removal  of 
his  family  to  Warren  County  was  then  effected,  and 
he  made  a  settlement  on  section  i,  Kelly  Township, 
where  he  erected  a  log  house  and  occupied  the 
pioneer  cabin  while  he  put  his  land  in  shape  for 
profitable  cultivation.  He  afterwards  built  a  good 
frame  house,  which  was  his  home  as  long  as  he  lived. 
He  died  July  28,  1869.  Five  of  the  children  born 
to  him  and  his  wife  are  still  living:  Jane  is  the  wife 
of  Leonard  W.  Edelman,  who  resides  in  the  town- 
ship of  North  Hendersou,  Mercer  County,  and  of 
whom  a  sketch  is  given  on  another  page;  Samuel 
Miller  lives  at  Alexis ;  George  is  a  resident  of  Atchi- 
son,  Kan. ;  John  A.  is  the  manager  of  the  home- 
stead; B.  Frank  lives  in  Alexis.  Mrs.  Miller  died 
in  1856.  She  was  bo_rn  in  Ohio,  Sept.  6,  1812.  Af- 
ter the  death  of  his  first  wife,  the  father  married 
Mrs.  Sarah  Dean,  who  was  a  native  of  Indiana  and 
is  now  living  in  Page  Co.,  Iowa  Samuel  and  Jane 
Brown,  the  maternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  Miller  of 
this  sketch,  were  pioneers  of  Knox  County. 

John  A.  Miller  passed  the  entire  period  of  his 
youth  in  the  township  where  he  was  born.  He  was 
reared  on  the  family  homestead  and  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.  He  was  among 
the  first  to  enroll  himself  in  the  military  service  in 
the  first  year  of  the  Rebellion,  and  enlisted  Aug.  6, 
1 86 1,  in  Co.  A,  load  111.  Vol.  Inf.  The  command 
joined  the  army  in  Kentucky  and  also  went  into 
Tennessee.  Feb.  18,  1862,  Mr.  Miller  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  inability  to  perform  military 
duty.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  resumed  his 
former  vocation  of  farmer  on  the  homestead,  of  which 
he  has  since  been  the  continuous  occupant,  with  the 
exception  of  a  single  year  passed  at  Galesburg, 
where  he  was  for  that  time  variously  occupied.  He 


514 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


is  now  owner  of  the  homestead  and  also  the  owner 
of  80  acres  formerly  included  in  the  farm  known  as 
the  Allen  Brojvn  estate  in  the  township  of  North 
Henderson,  Mercer  County. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Miller  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
Harvey  and  Mary  (Lofton)  Gregg,  of  Knox  County, 
took  place  Sept.  29,  1869.  Mabel,  their  only  child, 
was  born  May  n,  1881.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have 
had  four  children ;  the  three  first-born  died  within 
one  year.  Maud  was  eight  years  old  at  the  time  of 
her  decease;  Ethel  died  at  18  months;  an  infant 
died  unnamed. 

Mr.  Miller  is  an  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party. 


ton  Calvin  M.  Rodgers.  In  presenting 
this  biographical  notice  of  the  career  of 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  Warren  County, 
and  a  gentleman  who  is  thoroughly  representa- 
tive of  its  progressive  elements,  we  deem  it  our 
duty  to  first  briefly  advert  to  the  life-story  of 
those  from  whom  he  draws  his  origin. 

Rev.  John  Rodgers,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Scotland,  about  the  year  1735. 

When  about  35  years  old  he  emigrated  to  this 
country  with  his  wife  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  country  of  his  adoption 
his  wife  died,  and  he  was  re-married  to  Isabel  Ire- 
land, a  lady  of  Irish  origin.  One  child  was  the 
offspring  of  the  first  union,  a  boy,  Thomas.  His  sec- 
ond wife  bore  to  him  a  large  family,  seven  in  number, 
namely :  John,  Aleri,  Aniel,  William,  Alexander, 
Samuel,  Margaret  and  Irene. 

Aleri,  the  third  son  of  John  Rodgers,  was  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and  was  born  in 
Rockbridge  Co.,  Va.,  in  1785,  whence  his  father  had 
removed  from  Pennsylvania  a  few  years  previously. 
He  grew  to  manhood  at  home,  and  after  his  marriage 
still  remained  under  the  parental  roof-tree,  and  was 
thenceforth  never  separated  from  his  parents,  who 
passed  the  declining  years  of  their  lives  under  his 
protection.  In  his  will,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  was  a  man  of  some  pretensions  to  scholar- 
ly attainments,  bequeathed  his  library,  which  was 
considered  in  those  days  one  of  the  best  in  Virginia, 


and  consisted  largely  of  classical  works,  to  Washing- 
ton and  Lee  Colleges,  of  Virginia.  Some  of  his  books 
of  which  he  made  special  bequests  are  still  treas- 
ured by  his  descendants. 

The  father  of  our  subject  married  Mary  Davidson, 
a  native  of  Rockbridge  County,  and  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Davidson,  people  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  Four  children  were  born  to  them  in  Vir- 
ginia, John,  William,  Andrew  and  Alexander. 

During  the  year  1814,  Aleri,  with  the  rank  of  First 
Lieutenant,  together  with  Aniel  and  one  other  broth- 
er, entered  the  service  of  their  country,  and  remained 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

In  the  year  1822,  the  father  of  our  subject,  with 
his  family,  emigrated  to  the  West,  settling  in  Monroe 
Co.,  Mo.  The  journey  was  performed  overland  in 
their  own  conveyance,  and,  passing  through  the 
States  of  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Illinois, 
they  reached  St.  Louis,  at  that  remote  period  but  a 
small  village,  finally  arriving  at  their  destination  af- 
ter a  long  and  tedious  journey  of  three  months.  The 
father  of  the  family  settled  with  his  little  flock  on  a 
half  section  of  land  near  Florida,  Monroe  Co.,  which 
had  previously  been  entered  by  Col.  Benton,  of  St. »] 
Louis.  He  soon  increased  his  domain  to  600  acres, 
but  with  the  many  disadvantages  attendant  upon 
wresting  a  living  from  the  soil  in  that  very  early  day, 
he  became  dissatisfied  with  his  location  and  deter- 
mined to  seek  a  new  one.  His  family  had  in  the 
meantime  been  increased  by  six  children,  who  were, 
Mary,  Joseph,  Phcebe,  Isabel,  Samuel  and  Calvin 
M.  In  the  year  1836,  we  accordingly  find  him  set- 
tled in  Hale  Township,  Warren  County.  Here  he 
had  purchased  a  tract  of  400  acres,  upon  which  he 
erected  a  home,  where  the  remaining  years  of  his 
life  were  passed,  his  death  occurring  in  December, 
1863.  The  mother  of  our  subject  survived  until  the 
year  1880. 

In  this  connection  it  is  proper  to  say  that  to  Aleri 
Rogers,  along  with  his  brother  Andrew,  especial 
honor  and  credit  is  due  for  having  introduced  the 
first  reaping  machine  brought  West  of  the  Alleghe- 
nies.  It  was  of  the  McCormick  pattern,  and  was 
shipped  from  Lynchburg,  Va.,  via  Richmond,  New 
Orleans  and  up  the  Mississippi  to  Oquawka,  111.,  and 
thence  by  wagon  to  the  old  Rogers  homestead  in 
Hale  Township.  The  day  of  its  trial  was  a  memor- 
able one  in  the  annals  of  the  community,  as  well  as 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


of  agriculture  in  the  entire  West,  and  its  first  work- 
ings were  voted  a  grand  success. 

Hon.  Calvin  M.  Rodgers,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  on  the  isth  of  February,  1835,  in  Monroe 
Co.,  Mo.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof-tree 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  when  he  was  mar- 
ried. After  this  event  he  took  charge  of  the 
homestead,  and  also  entered  into  the  active  man- 
agement of  his  father's  affairs.  The  early  days  of 
Mr.  Rodgers  were  passed  much  as  those  of  the  or- 
dinary farm  boy  of  the  period,  working  hard  during 
the  busy  season  of  the  summer,  and  acquiring  such 
limited  educational  facilities  as  the  district  school  af- 
forded, during  the  dull  winter  months.  During  the 
winter  months  of  1853  and  1854)16  attended  Knox 
College. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Paine,  Nov.  27, 
1858.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  Parthe- 
nia  (Mason)  Paine,  her  mother  being  a  near  relative 
.  of  ex-President  Garfield's  wife.  To  the  parents  of 
Mrs.  Rodgers  were  born  six  children  :  Amanda  mar- 
ried Robert  Gibson,  and  is  living  at  Monmouth ; 
their  second  daughter,  Emily,  who  is  the  widow  of 
Nathaniel  Brownlee,  also  resides  there  ;  Lucretia  is 
the  wife  of  H.  F.  Murrell,  and  lives  in  Avon,  Ful- 
ton Co.,  111. ;  Charles  H.  married  Sophia  Hopper, 
and  removed  to  the  far  Northwest,  where  he  is  now 
settled  in  Kings  Co.,  Washington  Territory ;  the 
second  son,  John  E.,  married  Miss  Ann  Turnbull, 
and  is  settled  in  Sumner  Township,  this  county  ;  Eli- 
za, the  youngest  child,  and  the  wife  of  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  was  born  in  Sumner  Township,  Nov. 
n,  1837. 

Eight  children  have  blessed  the  union  of  Mr. 
Rodgers  and  wife,  namely :  Rornaine  M.,  born  May 
21,  1861  ;  Charles  H.,  Dec.  7,  1863;  Aleri,  Oct.  19, 
1865  ;  William  D.,  Oct.  n,  1867  ;  Alexander,  Jan. 
26,  1870;  Emily  I.,  Dec.  16,  187  i;  Frederick  M.,June 
2,  1874,  who  died  Aug.  1 1  following,  and  one  son  who 
died  in  infancy. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  has  for  thirty  years  been 
a  leading  citizen  of  Warren  County.  He  was  elected 
to  his  first  office  in  1856,  when  but  21  years  of  age. 
He  has  been  School  Trustee  of  his  Township  almost 
continuously  up  to  the  present  time.  For  two  terms 
he  has  served  as  Commissioner  of  Highways,  repre- 
senting Hale  Township  and  for  five  years  has  been 
Supervisor.  In  1882  he  was  chosen  by  the  Repub- 


lican  party  as  their  candidate  for  the  Legislature, 
from  the  27th  District,  comprising  Warren  and  Mc- 
Donough  counties.  Mr.  Rodgers'  position  in  this 
contest  was  unique.  Unlike  the  majority  of  political 
aspirants,  he  was  not  a  seeker  for  office,  but  submit- 
ting to  the  unanimous  desire  of  his  constituents  he 
became  a  candidate.  He  was  elected  by  a  hand- 
some majority.  He  was  again  elected  to  the  34th 
General  Assembly  in  1884. 

Mr.  Rodgers  was  one  of  the  memorable  103  who 
stood  by  John  A.  Logan  during  the  Senatorial  con- 
test of  that  session,  and  was  a  stanch  supporter  of 
his  candidate  from  the  beginning  until  he  finally  re- 
ceived the  necessary  majority. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  claims  that  his  success 
in  life  may  be  credited  to  a  kind  Providence,  good 
parents,  a  discriminating  public  and  clever  friends, 
along  with  some  persistent  effort  of  his  own. 


.ori  Isaac  L.  Christie,  retired  farmer  and  a 
resident  of  Monmouth,  is  a  native  of  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  was  born  Dec.  , 
n,  1825.  His  father,  James  Christie,  was  a 
Virginian,  and  served  his  country  valiantly  dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812.  His  great  ancestor  was 
James  Christie,  who  came  to  America  from  Ireland, 
and  settled  in  Lancaster,  Lnncaster  Co.,  Pa.,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  i8th  century.  Like  90  per  cent, 
of  his  countrymen,  his  dislike  for  the  British  admit- 
ted of  no  discussion  when  it  came  to  the  question  of 
loyalty  to  the  crown  or  to  the  colonies.  But  when 
the  great  struggle  came,  that  struggle  which  was  to 
mark  the  beginning  of  a  new  era,  the  elder  Christie 
had  grown  too  old  to  participate, and  to  his  only  child, 
named  for  himself,  he  said  "Go,"  and  the  son,  James 
Christie,  went  forth,  and  from  the  beginning  to  the 
ending  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  he  fought  against 
the  "red  coats." 

Isaac  L.  Christie  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  Indiana,  where  he  was  brought  up  to 
farming.  He  came  to  Warren  County,  in  1864,  and 
lived  upon  his  farm  in  Lenox  Township  up  to  1877, 
when  he  retired  from  agricultural  labor  and  took  up 
his  abode  in  the  city  of  Monmouth.  Since  coming 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


here  he  has  sold  his  farm  and  was  for  a  year  or  two 
engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  business. 

Before  leaving  Indiana  he  held  some  minor  offices, 
but  he  was  never  termed  a  politician.  In  1874,  he 
was  elected  as  an  Independent  to  represent  Warren 
and  McDonough  counties  in  the  Illinois  Legislature, 
being  nominated  atBushnell  without  even  his  knowl- 
edge or  consent.  During  the  Legislature  of  1875- 
76,  the  Independents  held  the  balance  of  power  in 
that  body,  and  as  Mr.  Christie  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ers ofi  that  delegation  it  may  be  presumed  that  the 
two  old  parties  found  occasion  to  wish  he  had  re- 
mained on  the  farm.  Formerly  he  was  a  Republican, 
but  in  1878  he  identified  himself  with  the  Inde- 
pendents, and  has  since  voted  and  worked  as  best 
suited  his  fancy. 

The  engraving  upon  a  heavy  silver-headed  cane  in 
Mr.  Christie's  possession  tells  the  following  history, 
and  is  well  worthy  mentioning  in  this  connection. 
The  John  Hanks  mentioned  was  a  relative  of  Mr. 

I  Lincoln : 
"  JOHN  HANKS  " 
to 
I.  Li.  Christie. 
Cane  made  by  John  Hanks  and  Gov.  Oglesby. 

1860.    , 

from  Rail  Split  by  A.  Lincoln,  in 
1830." 

Mr.  Christie  was  married  at  Madison,  Indiana, 
May  20, 1852,  to  Miss  Louisa  Wilson,  and  has  had 
born  to  him  six  children  :  George  P.,  connected  with 
the  United  States  army  as  a  printer;  Sarah  Anto- 
nette;  Ann  Elizabeth;  Fannie,  born  Dec.  12,  1869, 
died  Dec.,  1878;  Clara  Louisa,  born  June  25,  1875, 
died  Dec.,  1878;  and  Mary  Emma,  who  was  the  sec- 
ond child  in  order  of  birth,  was  buried  in  July,  1857, 
less  than  one  year  old. 


Charles  T.  Page  is  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Page  &  Pinkerton,  dealers  in  hard- 
ware, stoves  and  furniture,  and  manufac- 
turers and  jobbers  of  tinware,  at  Monmouth 
himself  and  partner  being  the  successors  to  a 
business  established  by  Chancy  Hardin  in 
the  early  history  of  Monmouth.  Mr.  Hardin  sold 
out  to  M.  C.  Churchill,  who  sold  the  business  to  Mr. 


Page  in  1874.  Mr.  Pinkerton  came  into  the  firm  in 
1876,  at  which  time  the  trade  was  simply  in  hard- 
ware and  stoves.  In  1879  they  added  furniture  and 
at  this  writing  their  business  in  that  line  is  the  larg- 
est in  the  city. 

Mr.  Page  was  born  at  Hillsdale,  Mich.,  April  18, 
1849.  His  parents.  Rev.  William  and  Frances  (Du- 
rand)  Page,  natives  of  Connecticut,  were  married  in 
York  State,  removed  to  Michigan  and  subsequently 
to  Rockford,  111.,  where  the  senior  Mr.  Page  died,  in 
1856.  His  widow  resides  at  this  writing  (October, 
1885),  with  her  eldest  son  at  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind. 

Charles  T.  Page  was  educated  at  Rockford,  and, 
when  about  19  years  of  age,  was  employed  by 
the  Winnebago  National  Bark,  at  that  place,  as 
bookkeeper.  He  remained  there  four  years  and  went 
to  Chicago  as  assistant  cashier  of  the  Home  National 
Bank,  a  position  he  filled  two  years,  coming  thence 
to  Monmouth.  ' 

He  married  at  Alexis,  this  State,  Sept.  18,  1876, 
Miss  Bertha  Alexander,  daughter  of  John  E.  Alex- 
ander, and  the  two  children  born  of  this  union  are 
named  respectively  Mary  Florence  and  Edna.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Page  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 


illiam  St.  Glair  Matson  is  a  farmer  on 
section  2,  of  Sumner  Township,  and  came 
to  Warren  County  in  1865.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  State  of  Maryland  and  was  born 
in  Fredericktown,  Aug.  31,  1823.  His  par- 
ents, George  and  Jane  (Barr)  Matson,  came 
West  when  he  was  but  two  years  old  and  located  in 
Ohio.  They  were  early  settlers  of  Muskingum 
County  and  were  both  of  English  descent.  The 
mother  died  when  William  was  12  years  old  and  he 
afterwards  resided  with  a  neighbor  named  Robert 
Linn,  who  entered  into  an  agreement  to  clothe,  board 
and  send  him  to  school.  The  opportunities  he  had 
for  the  latter  were  of  practically  no  account  and  af- 
ter five  years  he  terminated  the  relations  he  held 
with  Mr.  Linn.  During  the  chief  portion  of  the  suc- 
ceeding year  he  attended  school.  After  that,  until 
he  was  20,  he  was  variously  employed,  and  he  then 
engaged  with  a  merchant  tailor,  of  Bridgeville,  Ohio, 


•H- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


and  Mr.  Matson  remained  with  him  18  months. 
When  he  had  acquired  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the 
business  to  warrant  making  a  venture  he  went  to 
Chandlersville,  where  he  opened  a  shop  in  partner- 
ship with  another  man.  Their  joint  operations  con- 
tinued 1 8  months,  and  Mr.  Matson  afterward  con- 
tinued alone.  After  a  time  he  became  interested  in 
the  business  of  buying  and  shipping  horses  to  East- 
ern markets,  and  on  one  occasion,  when  he  accom- 
panied his  property  in  horse  flesh  to  the  East,  he 
purchased  a  stock  of  goods  common  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  gentlemen's  furnishing  store,  and  on 
his  return  increased  the  facilities  for  his  business.  In 
1850  he  removed  to  Cumberland,  in  Guernsey  Co., 
where  he  opened  traffic  in  the  same  line.  From  that 
time  forward,  as  long  as  he  stayed  in  that  place,  he 
continued  to  go  East  with  horses  twice  a  year  and  at 
the  same  time  attended  to  his  semi-yearly  purchase 
of  goods  for  his  store.  Four  years  later  he  brought 
his  affairs  in  Cumberland  to  a  close  and  turned  lo 
Muskingum  County.  He  bought  a  farm  in  Salt 
Creek  Township,  in  that  county,  and  combined  the 
business  of  trading  in  horses  with  that  of  the  pursuit 
of  agriculture.  He  operated  in  those  vocations  until 
the  year  in  which  he  removed  to  Warren  County. 

On  arrival  in  the  township  where  he  cast  his  lot  for 
a  permanency  he  bought  150  acres  of  land,  of  which 
he  has  since  been  the  owner.  The  place  is  at  pres- 
ent in  as  good  condition  for  profit  as  any  in  the 
county  of  similar  dimensions,  and  is  fitted  with  all 
necessary  and  suitable  farm  buildings.  He  has  since 
become  by  purchase  the  owner  of  the  property  known 
as  the  Andrews  farm,  which  lie  purchased  in  1881, 
and  which  is  situated  on  section  3. 

In  1847  Mr.  Matson,  in  company  with  his  wife, 
Miss  Nina  L.  Chandler  before  her  marriage  to  him, 
set  up  their  domestic  establishment,  which  still  re- 
mains intact.  Mrs.  Matson  was  the  daughter  of 
Zacharias  and  Fannie  (Bingham)  Chandler,  who  were 
natives  of  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire  respective- 
ly. Mrs.  Matson's  grandfather's  brothers,  two  in 
number,  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  ; 
one,  Jesse  Chandler,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Ben- 
nington.  The  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Vermont. 
On  the  Bingham  side  of  the  house  Mrs.  Matson  is  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Miles  Standish,  who  came  over 
on  the  Mayflower,  in  1629.  Mrs.  M.  has  a  silk  dress 
that  her  mother,  her  grandmother  and  her  great- 
grandmother  were  married  in.  It  has  been  in  the 


family  over  200  years.  The  family  had  in  its  pos- 
session a  pewter  basin  that  belonged  to  Sarah  Stand- 
ish, the  wife  of  Miles  Standish.  Owing  to  the  scarc- 
ity of  lead,  it  was  brought  to  Ohio  and  melted  into 
bullets. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matson  have  four  children — Lena  is 
the  wife  of  William  Robb,  of  Mercer  County ;  Arthur, 
Gertrude  and  Harry  are  the  three  younger  who  sur- 
vive. The  mother  was  born  in  Salt  Creek  Town- 
ship, in  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio. 


eorge  M.  Sallee,  farmer  and  stock  raiser, 
residing  on  section  5,  Cold  Brook  Town- 
ship,  is  a  life-long  resident  of  that  town- 
ship, having  been  born  there  March  i,  1858. 
Henry  Sallee,  father  of  George  M.,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  came  to  the  undeveloped  West  when  a 
young  man,  with  his  parents,  settling  in  Cold  Brook 
Township,  where  his  father  died  some  years  ago.  Af- 
ter that  event  Henry  was  married  to  Miss  Minerva 
Wright,  a  daughter,  of  Jacob  Wright,  a  farmer  and 
old  settler  in  Cold  Brook  Township,  where  he  died 
in  January,  1876.  (See  sketch  of  Mrs.  Lewis  B. 
Davis.) 

The  mother  of  George  M.  Sallee  was  bom  in 
Monmouth,  Sept.  3,  1836,  and  is  at  present  residing 
with  her  son,  the  subject  of  this  notice.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sallee,  parents  of  George  M.,  were  married,  and 
they  located  in  Monmouth  Township,  where  his 
father  was  engaged  in  farming  and  also  as  Collecting 
Agent  for  the  George  W.  Brown  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany for  some  time.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Cold 
Brook  Township  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
but  one  year  old. 

George  M.  Sallee  was  the  only  child  of  his  par- 
ents, Henry  and  Minerva  Sallee,  and  after  the  deatli 
of  his  father,  which  occurred  when  he  was  an  in- 
fant, as  already  stated,  continued  to  reside  with  his 
mother  on  the  old  homestead.  He  alternated  his 
labors  on  the  farm  with  attendance  at  the  common 
schools,  and  after  he  had  attained  a  sufficient  age  he 
cultivated  the  homeslead,  and  has  continued  thereon 
until  the  present  time.  His  mother  owns  i  60  acres 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


of  good  land,  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, together  with  ten  acres  of  timber,  and  George 
M.  is  the  proprietor  of  34  acres  of  timber  land  in 
Kelly  Township. 

The  homestead  on  which  Mr.  Sallee  resides,  and 
which  is  under  his  control,  is  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  Cold  Brook  Township,  and  he  is  meeting  with  suc- 
cess in  the  vocation  which  he  has  followed  during  his 
entire  life. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
in  politics  he  casts  his  vole  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Sallee  to  Miss  Josie  Frymire, 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Barnum)  Frymire,  took  place  March  28,  1879,  at  the 
residence  of  the  bride's  parents,  in  MonmouthTown- 
ship.  Her  father,  whose  calling  was  a  farmer,  died 
in  that  township.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sal- 
lee has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  children, 
one  of  whom  is  deceased ;  Myrtle  I.  and  Lucy  A.  are 
the  living,  and  Ruth  died  in  infancy. 


W.  Burt,  a  grain  dealer  at  Alexis,  is 
practically  a  native  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
having  been  brought  hither  by  his  parents 
when  less  than  two  years  old.  He  was  born 

in   Granger,   Medina   Co.,   Ohio,   May  3,  1839. 

John  Burt,  his  father,  was  born  in  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.  The  latter  went  in  his  young  manhood  to 
Ohio,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  the  county  where  his  son 
was  born.  He  became  a  landholder  in  the  heavy 
timber  district  of  the  Buckeye  State,  and  built  a  log 
house  for  his  individual  use,  as  he  was  still  outside 
the  bonds  of  matrimony.  Soon  after  he  had  pre- 
pared a  residence  he  was  joined  by  his  widowed 
mother  and  his  brothers  and  sisters.  After  establish- 
ing them  in  comfort  he  returned  to  the  State  of  New 
York,  whence  he  came  back  to  his  home  in  the  forest, 
accompaned  by  his  bride.  This  is  a  story  quickly 
related,  but  when  one  reflects  that  the  journeyings 
were  made  with  horses,  it  will  be  perceived  that  they 
were  of  much  greater  moment  and  consumed  more 
time  than  would  at  first  be  suggested.  The  wife 
lived  but  eight  months.  In  due  time  the  husband 


took  a  second  wife,  Miss  Lucinda  Hammond.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  pioneers  of  the  township  of 
Bath,  in  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  born  in  Tolland 
Co.,  Conn.,  whither  her  parents  removed  to  Ohio. 
The  senior  Burt  cleared  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  the 
primeval  forest,  where  he  located,  and  also  became 
extensively  interested  in  the  lumber  trade.  He  built 
a  saw  mill  and  engaged  in  all  the  relations  of  the 
business  in  a  new  country. 

In  1839  he  came  to  Illinois  for  the  purpose  of 
prospecting.  He  visited  Knox  and  DeKalb  coun- 
ties, and  liking  the  appearance  of  the  former  best, 
he  resolved  to  pitch  his  tent  within  its  borders.  Re- 
turning to  Ohio,  he  lost  no  time  in  carrying  his  res- 
olution into  effect.  He  sold  his  property  there,  and 
all  preparations  were  complete,  when  the  wife  and 
mother  was  seized  by  fatal  illness.  She  died  in  the 
summer  of  1840,  and,  after  all  was  over,the  bereaved 
husband  and  five  motherless  children  set  out  for  their 
new  home.  At  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Burt, 
all  of  the  household  goods  were  packed  and  ready  for 
removal. 

The  journey  was  made  with  two  two-horse  teams, 
and  the  household  camped  and  cooked  by  the  way. 
Mr.  Burt  bought  land  on  the  west  line  of  the  town- 
ship of  Ontario,  in  Knox  County,  and  his  family 
lived  there  seven  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the 
father  sold  the  place  and  bought  another  tract  of  un- 
improved land  in  the  same  township.  The  entire 
acreage  was  prairie,  and  the  owner  improved  a  fine 
farm. 

In  the  spring  of  1855  he  went  to  Oneida,  where 
he  established  himself  as  a  grocer,  and  was  the  third 
to  interest  himself  in  a  business  enterprise  there. 
He  continued  his  operations  there  until  his  death, 
which  transpired  March  16,  1857. 

He  was  a  pioneer  by  nature.  His  enterprise  and 
abilities  fitted  him  for  a  business  leader,  and  his 
judgment  of  the  propriety  of  a  location  was  unerr- 
ing. He  was  prominent  in  offices  of  trust  in  the  gift 
of  his  fellow-men,  and  acted  as  Supervisor,  Assessor, 
Collector  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was  also 
School  Director.  While  in  Ohio  he  was  Colonel  of 
the  State  Militia,  and  officiated  as  Postmaster. 

Mr.  Burt,  of  this  narrative,  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm,  until  he  attained  the  age  of  16  years. 
He  then  assisted  in  the  mercantile  business  of  his 
sire  at  Oneida,  until  the  death  of  the  latter  in  1857. 


' 


. 


'     ' 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


After  that  event  threw  the  responsibility  of  the  fam- 
ily and  estate  on  him  and  an  elder  brother,  they 
together  managed  the  farm  for  a  period  offiveyears. 
After  that  they  went  to  Oneida.  There  Mr.  Burt 
bought  an  elevator  preparatory  to  engaging  in  the 
business  in  which  he  is  interested  at  present.  He 
operated  as  a  buyer  and  seller  of  grain  ?t  that  place 
three  years,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing. 

After  an  experience  of  a  year  as  farmer,  he  went 
to  Windsor,  in  Mercer  County,  and  again  operated  as 
a  grain  broker.  He  continued  this  seven  years,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time  removed  to  Alexis. 
He  passed  a  year  there,  occupied  in  the  milling  bus- 
iness, and  went  thence  to  Yates  City,  in  Knox  Co. 
In  the  spring  of  1880  he  returned  to  Alexis  and  es- 
tablished the  business  in  which  he  has  since  been 
engaged.  He  is  the  sole  representative  of  that  line 
of  traffic  at  Alexis. 

Sarah  A.  Fraser  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Burt 
Nov.  15,  1860.  She  was  born  Dec.  25,  1839,  in  New 
Haven,  Conn.  To  them  four  children  were  born,  of 
whom  three  are  now  living:  Katie  is  married  to 
Perry  Anderson,  of  Alexis;  Jessie  is  the  third  child  ; 
F  rankle,  the  second  child,  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years ;  Bertha  is  the  youngest.  The  mother  passed 
from  this  world,  July  2,  1879. 

Mr.  Burt  was  again  married,  March  17,  1882,  to 
Bertha  E.  Leonard.  She  is  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. Ellen  L.  is  the  name  of  the  sole  daughter  and 
child  of  the  second  marriage. 

Mr.  Burt  is  a  Republican  of  decided  principles. 
He  and  Mrs.  Burt  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


.  ames  Harvey  Wallace,  M.  D.,  a  promi- 
nent physician  and  surgeon,  residing  at 
Monmouth,  and  whose  portrait  is  given  on 
the  opposite  page,  traces  his  ancestry  back  to 
Scotland.  Robert  Wallace  was  driven  from 
Scotland  and  fled  into  Ireland  during  the  per- 
secution of  the  Presbyterians.  His  son,  William, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  and  lived  many  years  in  the 
County  Tyrone,  in  which  place  he  was  married,  and 


while  there  had  a  son,  James,  born  in  1771.  James 
married  Mary  Barfit,  in  Tyrone,  and  the  eight  chil- 
dren born  to  them  were  named  respectively  :  Will- 
iam, Eliza,  Benjamin,  Mary  Ann,  James,  Robert, 
John  and  Margaret  Jane.  Robert  was  the  father  of 
our  subject  and  came  with  his  parents  from  his  na- 
tive country,  Ireland,  in  the  year  1810,  then  being 
three  years  of  age.  The  Wallaces  spent  their  first 
year  in  America  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  removing 
thence  to  Juniata  Co.,  Pa  ,  where  Robert  grew  to 
manhood  and  married  Eleanor  Shaver,  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  State,  of  German  extraction,  tracing 
her  ancestry  back  to  an  early  product  of  the  two 
very  distinct  races,  the  Scotch  and  the  German. 

Robert  Wallace,  born  Feb.  21,  1807,  was  by  oc- 
cupation a  farmer  before  retiring  from  active  life, 
and  at  this  writing  (October,  1885)  resides  on  a  fine 
farm  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  removed  in  the 
year  1854.  He  is  78  years  of  age  and  his  wife  is 
74  years.  They  reared  six  sons  and  two  daughters, 
James  Harvey  Wallace  being  the  second  in  order  of  n 
birth.  One  of  the  brothers,  W.  W.  Wallace,  is 
Professor  of  Mathematics  at  Westminister  College, 
Pa. ;  and  John  C.  is  an  M.  D.  at  Port  Austin,  Mich. 
The  other  three  are  farmers  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio. 

The  present  Dr.  J.  H.  Wallace,  who  was  born  in 
Juniata  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  16,  1834,  spent  the  first  19 
years  of  his  life  upon  the  farm  and  at  the  common 
schools,  completing  his  literary  education  at  Ver- 
million  Institute,  Hayesville,  Ohio.  In  1857,  he  be- 
gan reading  medicine  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  with  Dr.  T. 
H.  Baker;  attended  lectures  at  Buffalo  University 
(medical  department)  in  1861,  and  graduated  from 
the  Ohio  College  of  Medicine,  Cincinnati,  in  1862. 
Directly  after  receiving  his  diploma  he  began  prac- 
tice at  Lakeville,  Ohio,  in  partnership  with  a  Dr. 
McKee,  and  at  the  end  of  15  months  removed  to 
Canaan,  that  State,  where  he  practiced  with  much 
success  for  about  1 1  years,  in  the  meantime  taking  a 
post-graduate  course  at  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia.  He  went  next  to  Smithville,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  till  his  removal  to  Monmouth 
in  April,  1876.  Here  he  was  associated  with  Dr. 
S.  K.  Crawford  about  one  year  and  has  since  been, 
for  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  without  a  partner. 
At  the  present  time,  however,  Dr.  John  Troutman  is 
associated  with  him. 

After  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  in  1862,  the 
Doctor  was  there  as  a  volunteer  surgeon,  and  as- 


5*2 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


sistecl  with  his  skill  in  caring  for  the  sick,  wounded 
and  dying,  so,  also,  at  Vicksburg,  from  which  place 
he  brought  home  his  invalid  brother,  who  was  a  sol- 
dier in  Co.  H,  i  zoth  Regt.  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.  Dr.  Wal- 
lace is  devoted  to  the  profession  he  so  aptly  adorns, 
and  the  good  people  of  Monmouth  amply  attest  their 
appreciation  of  his  skill  as  a  physician,  and  of  his 
high  merit  as  a  citizen. 

Dr.  Wallace  was  married  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  Oct. 
1 6,  1862,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Troutman,  daughter  of  J. 
G.  and  Caroline  (Frybarger)  Troutman.  Of  their 
children,  we  make  the  following  mention  :  George 
E.,  druggist  at  Monmouth;  Charles  R.,  born  in 
November,  1865,  died  at  the  age  of  five  years 
and  five  months;  Franklin  E.,  student;  Carrie  L., 
student;  Anna  May  and  Lewis  E.,  at  home;  and 
LeRoy,  born  in  1875,  died  in  1877. 

Bath  the  Djctor  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  active  workers  in  various 
benevolent  organizations.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Mutual  Aid,  and  also  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Order  of  the  "  Golden  Rule,"  and  a  Di- 
rector in  the  Monmouth  Loan  and  Homestead 
Association.  Republican '  in  politics,  he  cast  his 
first  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  and  from 
that  time  to  the  present  has  remained  firm  to  his  first 
convictions,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  politics. 


j{;  ev.  Robert  Clayton  Matthews,  D.  D.,  late 
Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Mon- 
mouth,  and  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Mat- 
thews,  was  born  at  Shepherdstown,  Va.,  April 
i,  1822,  and  died  at  Monmouth,  Nov.  15, 
1 88 1.  He  graduated  with  honors  from  Han- 
over (Va.)  College  in  1839;  studied  law,  and  after 
emigrating  to  Iowa  practiced  awhile  at  Fairfield. 
From  Iowa  he  removed  to  Mississippi,  and  was  there 
for  some  years  engaged  in  teaching. 

Returning  North,  probably  for  that  purpose,  he 
was,  on  the  i2th  of  February,  1846,  married  near 
Lavonia,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Louisa  M.  Martin,  who  ac- 
companied him  again  to  the  South,  where  she  died 
in  January,  1849.  While  at  the  South,  he  became 


converted  to  the  Christian  religion,  and  soon  after 
the  death  of  his  wife,  entered  the  New  Albany  (Ind.) 
Theological  Seminary,  from  which  institution  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  following  year.  He  preached 
his  first  sermon  at  Monmouth,  Dec.  20,  1851,  and  in 
March,  1852,  was  regularly  ordained  and  installed 
by  the  Presbytery ;  and  he  held  the  Monmouth 
charge  until  the  day  of  his  death.  He  was  the  eld- 
est settled  Presbyterian  Pastor  in  Illinois  when  he 
died,  and  not  one  stood  higher  in  the  estimation  of 
the  people.  He  was  in  every  particular  the  true, 
straightforward,  consistent  gentleman  and  most  richly 
honored  and  adorned  his  profession  and  the  cause  of 
the  Master.  During  the  years  of  his  ministry  at  this 
point,  and  they  numbered  nearly  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury, his  reputation  far  outstretched  the  petty  limits 
of  a  diocese,  and  he  was  several  times  offered  in- 
ducements to  accept  a  different  charge,  but  he 
steadily  stood  by  the  congregation  that  first  received 
him  as  their  Pastor. 

At  one  time,  the  fact  of  his  receiving  from  a  for-  • 
eign  Church  an  offer  amounting  to  something  nearly 
commensurate  with  his  worth  as  a  Pastor,  reached 
the  ears  of  the  late  Ivory  Quinby.  Though  not  a 
member  of  Mr.  Matthews'  Church  at  all,  Mr.  Quinby 
at  once  proclaimed  against  the  people  tolerating 
such  a  step,  and  declared  "  that  sooner  than  Dr.  • 
Mat'hews  should  leave  the  town,  he  would  personally 
pay  his  salary  for  the  sake  of  seeing  him  walk  the 
streets ;  that  his  daily  life  in  Monmouth  had  done 
more  to  elevate  the  youth  and  advance  morality  than 
all  the  other  preachers  of  the  place  combined." 

Dr.  Matthews  was  a  preacher  of  remarkable  unc- 
tion and  power,  and  possessed  the  great  faculty  of 
winning  the  respect  and  admiration  of  even  the  un- 
godly. He  was  connected  with  Monmouth  College 
from  its  foundation  up  to  1870,  as  a  Director,  and 
afterward  as  a  Trustee. 

The  new  Presbyterian  Church  begun  by  him,  and 
under  his  eye  grew  almost  to  completion,  but  he  was 
never  allowed  to  occupy  it.  He  preached  two  elo- 
quent sermons  the  Sunday  before  his  death,  and  in 
speaking  of  the  anticipated  removal  at  an  early  day 
from  the  old  into  the  new  edifice,  he  said,  as  if  in- 
spired unto  prophecy,  "  the  old  church  and  its  old 
Pastor  will  pass  away  together." 

Dr.  Matthews  was  married  again  to  Miss  Isabella 
M.  Ickes,  of  Bloomfield,  Pa.,  Aug.  16,  1852,  and  their 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


5*3 


children  are  mentioned  as  follows  :  Mary  (Mrs.  Rob- 
ert Woods);  Susan  H.  (Mrs.  William  Vaughn),  de- 
ceased; Ida  C.  Ruth,  deceased;  Henry,  deceased; 
Robert,  deceased;  Abner,  Edward  and  Charl'e.  By 
his  first  wife  he  had  two  children — John  W.,  whose 
biography  appears  in  this  work;  and  Betty  Louisa, 
a  missionary  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  at  Sitka, 
Alaska. 


iklark  M.  Young,  a  general  farmer,  and  also 
'    engaged  in  fish  culture,  on  section  5,  Cold 
Brook  Township,  was  born  in  Medina  Co., 

Ohio,    June   7,     1850.      The    father  of  Mr. 

Young  of  this  sketch,  Lyman  H.  Young,  was 

a  native  of  Connecticut,  in  which  State  he  re- 
sided until  he  developed  into  manhood.  He  was 
married  to  Emeline  A.  Cole  in  Ohio,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent residing  in  Cold  Brook  Township,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  the  occupation  of  farming. 

Clark  M.  Young  was  next  to  the  eldest  in  order  of 
birth  of  seven  children,  all  sons.  Three  of  them 
were  born  in  Ohio  and  four  in  this  county.  Clark 
M.  was  only  four  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came 
to  this  county  and  located  on  the  farm  on  which 
they  are  at  present  residing.  He  continued  to  re- 
side on  the  parental  homestead,  assisting  in  the  la- 
bors thereon,  until  he  attained  his  majority,  having 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  at 
Monmouth  College.  On  becoming  his  own  man,  he 
began  teaching  in  the  district  schools,  and  followed 
that  vocation  for  about  ten  years.  While  thus  en- 
gaged, he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Annetta 
Wallace,  to  whom  he  was  married  March  27,  1877. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (McFarland) 
Wallace,  who  at  present  reside  on  a  farm  in  Mon- 
mouth Township  and  rank  among  the  respected  and 
well-to-do  citizens.  Mrs.  Young  was  born  in  Mon- 
mouth Township,  Nov.  5,  1854.  She  received  a 
good  education  in  the  public  schools  and  resided 
under  the  care  of  her  parents  until  her  marriage  with 
Mr.  Young.  Of  their  union  one  child  has  been  born 
— Lena  M.,  Jan.  9,  1880. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Young,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
purchased  101  acres  of  land,  six  acres  of  which  they 
afterward  sold,  and  Mr.  Young,  of  this  notice,  is  at 


present  the  proprietor  of  the  balance,  which  is  im- 
proved, and  also  ten  acres  of  limber.  The  farm  on 
which  he  resides  and  which  he  owns  is  under  an 
advanced  state  of  cultivation,  with  good  residence, 
barn,  etc.,  and  Mr.  Young  is  meeting  with  success  in 
his  chosen  vocation. 

In  1884,  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land, 
he  engaged  in  Pisciculture  and  has  since  con- 
tinued the  same.  He  is  raising  German  carp,  and 
his  success  in  his  new  venture  at  this  writing  seems 
to  be  assured. 

He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Talbot  Creek,  of  which  denomination  Mr. 
Young  is  one  of  the  Elders.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  Assessor  of  his  township,  and  at  present  is  Road 
Commissioner  and  School  Trustee.  In  politics,  he 
votes  with  the  Republican  party. 

The  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company  was 
organized  in  March,  1875,  and  to  Mr.  Young  is  at- 
tributed the  honor  of  aiding  in  its  formation.  It  was 
their  idea  that  the  company  should  embrace  six  town- 
ships only,  but  it  finally  embraced  the  entire  county. 
Upon  the  organization  of  the  company,  Mr.  Young 
was  made  Secretary  and  has  continued  to  hold  that 
office  to  the  present  time.  The  company  consists  of 
nine  Directors,  elected  annually  by  those  insured, 
and  their  policies  are  out  for  nearly  a  million  dollars. 
Lyman  H.  Young  is  the  President  of  the  Company, 
and  since  its  organization  it  has  met  with  continued 
success. 


illiam  McCoy,  a  retired  farmer,  stock  buy- 
er and  shipper,  residing  at  Kirkwood,  is  a 
,  native  of  Ohio,  having  been  born  in  the 
9  Buckeye  State  Dec.  10,  1836.  The  parents 
of  Mr.  McCoy,  James  and  Mary  (Creswell) 
McCoy,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which 
State  the  father  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 
The  gentleman  whose  name  we  place  at  the  head 
of  this  biography,  was  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  until  1859.  His  years  prior  to  that  date 
were  passed  in  the  common  schools  and  in  assisting 
his  father  on  the  farm.  After  acquiring  an  educa- 
tion, he  continued  to  work  on  the  farm  summers, 
and  during  the  winter  of  1856-7  taught  school. 


524 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


In  the  fall  of  1858  Mr.  McCoy  came  to  this  State 
and  taught  school  that  winter,  and  the  next  spring 
again  returning  East.  In  1859,  he  again  returned 
to  this  State  and  stopped  with  an  uncle  in  Henry 
County,  Henry  Creswell  by  name.  He  remained 
with  his  uncle  for  seven  years,  engaged  in  working 
on  his  farm  and  a  part  of  the  time  in  managing  the 
same.  In  1867,  he  rented  a  farm  in  Warren  County, 
three  miles  west  of  Kirkwood,  and  for  seven  years 
was  occupied  in  its  cultivation,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  purchased  a  farm  of  240  acres  in 
Henderson  County,  on  which  he  resided  for  a  time 
and  then  moved  into  the  village  of  Kirkwood.  Pre- 
vious to  this,  however,  Mr.  McCoy  had  purchased 
130  acres  of  land  in  this  county,  the  date  of  his  pur- 
chase being  in  the  fall  of  1874.  He  has  a  fine  resi- 
dence and  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  land  where 
he  is  at  present  residing.  In  politics,  he  is  inde- 
pendent. He  is  one  of  the  Highway  Commissioners 
and  a  gentleman  possessed  of  far  more  than  ordinary 
business  ability. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  McCoy  to  Miss  Samantha  S. 
Hutchison,  a  native  of  this  State,  took  place  in  1868, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children — Lora  E. 
and  Martha  A. 


Norwood  S.  Woodward,  the  represen- 
tative Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery  at  Mon- 
mouth,  was  born  in  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa., 
May  3,  1842.  His  parents,  John  S.  C.  and 
Caroline  (Barclay)  Woodward,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland,  and  of  Scotch  and  Irish 
extraction,  reared  seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  and 
the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  next  to  the  last  born. 
Dr.  Norwood  S.  Woodward  is  the  only  son  living. 
His  father  was  a  merchant  and  stock  dealer  and 
while  absent  from  home  with  oneof  his  sons,  in  1847, 
they  were  both  taken  ill  and  died  suddenly,  at  Un- 
ionville,  Pa.,  After  a  pretty  thorough  education,  he 
began  at  the  age  of  17.  years  to  study  dentistry  with 
Doctor  Barcroft,  at  Elderton,  and  came  to  Monmouth 
in  1863.  Here  he  at  once  took  rank  as  one  of  the  most 
skillful  and  successful  operators  in  the  city,  and,  as 
time  has  increased  his  experience  in  this  delicate  and 


useful  profession,  he  has  found  no  difficulty  in  hold- 
ing his  position  well,  if  not  entirely,  to  the  front. 

Jan.  i,  1868,  he  was  married,  at  Monmouth,  to 
Miss  Maria  Crawford,  native  of  Warren  County,  and 
daughter  of  James  C.  and  Esther  (Sloan)  Crawford, 
Esq.,  now  of  Henry  Co.,  Mo.  Their  two  sons  are 
named  respectively  Charles  N.  and  Clifford  C 

In  politics,  Dr.  W.  is  a  Democrat,  in  whom  there  is 
no  guile,  and  that  his  friends,  regardless  of  party, 
appreciate  him  as  a  citizen,  is  attested  by  the  record. 
He  has  represented  his  ward  in  the  city  council  four 
consecutive  years  and  has  served  the  city  one  year 
as  its  Treasurer.  He  has  been  several  times  the 
delegate  of  his  party  to  State  conventions,  and  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  Warren  County 
Central  Committee  for  years. 

He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Fire  Company,  and  holds  an  official 
position  in  the  County  Agricultural  Society. 


Holliday,  M.  D.,  physician  and  sur-  \ 
geon,  at  Monmouth,  son  of  Alexander  and 
Nancy  (Mitchell)  Holliday,  natives  of  j 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  was  born  in  Lucas- 
ville,  Ohio,  Dec.  4,  1850.  His  parents  were 
married  in  the  Green  Isle,  in  1838,  came  to 
America  two  years  later,  resided  five  years  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  removed  thence  to  Lucasville,  Ohio,  where 
the  senior  Mr.  Holliday  died  in  1855,  at  the  age  of 
46  years.  The  widow,  and  children  consisting  of 
seven  sons  (a  daughter  having  died  in  infancy),  re- 
mained in  Ohio  several  years,  William  S.  coming  to 
Monmouth  in  1867,  where  his  two  brothers,  Mathew 
and  John  had  preceded  him,  the  first  arriving  here 
in  1861,  and  the  latter  in  1865.  (John,  James  and 
Daniel  were  soldiers  in  the  late  war.  The  first  and 
the  latter  were  members  of  Co.  C,  gist  Regt.  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  James  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  56th  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf.  James  and  Daniel  enlisted  when  they 
were  but  13  years  of  age.)  The  balance  of  the  family 
came  in  1875. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  pretty  thoroughly 
trained  in  the  common  schools  of  Ohio ;  pursued  his 
studies  after  coming  to  Monmouth ;  entered  the 
academic  department  of  Monmouth  College  and 


'••  ' 


-3- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


525 


spent  one  year  in  the  College  proper ;  began  reading 
medicine  with  Doctors  Webster  and  Crawford  when 
about  21  years  of  age,  and,  in  1872,  entered  Louis- 
ville, (Ky.)  Medical  College,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated  in  February,  1874,  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.,  taking  two  prizes,  and  the  clinics,  surgery  and 
anatomy  medal.  He  began  practice  in  May  following 
at  Monmouth,  and  though  among  the  very  youngest 
of  his  profession  in  the  place,  he  has  long  enjoyed  a 
reputation  that  might  be  justly  envied  by  many  mucli 
older. 

Dr.  Holliday  was  some  time  associated  with  Dr. 
Crawford,  six  years  with  Doctors  Hamilton  and  Mar- 
shall, and  since  1884  with  Dr.  Linn.  Dr.  Holliday 
has  held  the  offices  of  Alderman,  County  Physician 
and  Coroner,  his  choice  for  the  latter  office  devolving 
finally  upon  the  unusual  method  of  "drawing  straws" 
with  his  opponent.  It  was  in  1882,  the  opposing 
candidate  was  a  physician  in  the  city,  and  when  the 
votes  were  counted  they  were  found  to  be  evenly 
divided.  This  led  to  the  drawing  of  straws  and  re- 
sulted in  favor  of  Dr.  Holliday. 

The   Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  State   Medical 

I  Society,  Military  Tract  Medical  Society,  and  the 
American  Medical  Association.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Order  of  Modern  Woodmen  of  America; 
a  Mason  of  high  rank  ;  a  Democrat  politically,  and 
prominently  identified  with  the  Baptist  Church.  He 
is  a  member  of  Galesburg  Commandery,  No. 8,  K.T., 
and  has  been  for  the  last  two  years  a  member  of  the 
City  Council,  representing  the  First  Ward. 

On  April  29,  1875,  the  Doctor  was  married,  at 
Monmouth,  to  Miss  Emma  Jewell,  a  native  of  War- 
ren County,  daughter  of  Jacob  Jewell,  Esq.,  and  his 
three  children  are  named  respectively,  Jessie  Mabel, 
Alexander  Gaillard  and  Charles  Jewell. 


imothy  P.  Perry,  Junior,  retired  farmer  at 
Monmouth,  son  of  Timothy  P.  and  Mary 
(Clark)  Perry,  natives  of  Connecticut,  and 
of  English  descent,  was  born  in  Windham  Co., 
Conn.,  Jan.  19,  1826.  T.  P.  Perry,  senior, 
reared  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  viz.  :  Ol- 
iver H.,  who  lives  in  South  Windham,  Conn.  ;  Mary 
Ann,  who  married  Asa  Burgess,  and  is  now  deceas- 


ed ;  Elizabeth  L.  married  Joseph  Lillie  and  now  re- 
sides in  Lebanon,  Conn. ;  Susan  -married  Henry 
Loomis  and  is  deceased  ;  Timothy  P.  is  our  subject ; 
Silas  C.  now  lives  in  Almakee  Co.,  Iowa ;  Eunice 
married  William  Huntington,  and  she  is  now  num- 
bered with  the  dead  ;  and  one  child  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Pevry,  Sr.,  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  related 
to  Commodore  Perry. 

Mr.  Perry  of  this  sketch  was  the  second  son  and 
fifth  child.  The  old  gentleman  was  a  farmer  in  his 
native  State,  where  he  died,  in  1839,  aged  48  years. 
His  widow  survived  him  until  1884,  and  to  the  8gth 
year  of  her  age. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  brought  up  a  farm- 
er and  in  youth  acquired  at  the  common  schools  a 
fair  education.  At  the  age  of  19  years  he  began  the 
machinist's  trade  at  South  Windham,  and  followed  it 
about  14  years.  The  year  1856  brought  him  to 
Warren  County,  and  he  lived  awhile  in  Tompkins 
Township,  removing  thence  to  Lenox  Township, 
where  he  secured  a  fine  farm,  upon  which  he  resided 
until  1878.  By  this  time  he  had  accumulated  suffi- 
cient property  to  enable  him  to  retire  to  a  life  of 
ease,  and  he  forthwith  came  to  Monmouth.  Such  is 
the  compass  in  outline  of  one  of  Warren  County's 
most  solid  and  respected  citizens.  Not  a  soldier,  not 
a  statesman  ;  not  great  in  the  eyes  of  the  hero  and 
mammon-worshiping  people  of  the  world,  but  as  a 
factor  in  the  substructure  of  a  republic  that  makes  it 
possible  to  be  great.  They  subdue  the  forest,  till  the 
soil,  build  the  homes,  and  around  their  unpreten- 
tious hearthstones  kindle  not  only  a  love  of  home, 
but  a  love  of  country  that  warms  and  develops  into 
patriotism,  and  in  the  multiplicity  of  its  increase  be- 
comes so  great  that  the  superstructure  is  wholly  de- 
pendent upon  it  in  times  of  imminent  danger.  When 
a  nation  becomes  imperiled,  then  the  common  peo- 
ple are  great,  and  the  Shylocks  and  the  money 
king  and  the  railroad  princes  flee  from  the  presence 
of  those  that  have  served  as  lackeys,  and  cry  out  to 
the  factors  of  the  substructure,  the  yeomanry,  to 
arise  and  save  the  country.  Thus  it  is,  of  a  citizen, 
plain  and  unpretentious,  that  we  write. 

Mr.  Perry  was  married  in  Connecticut,  May  13, 
1856,  to  Miss  Ellen  A.  Armstrong,  daughter  of  John 
and  Lucinda  (Tenney)  Armstrong.  She  was  the 
I2th  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  13  children.  The 
father  was  of  English  descent  and  the  mother  Scotch. 
The  father  was  born  in  Franklin,  New  London  Co., 


526 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Conn  ,  in  the  year  1775,  and  died  in  1839.  The 
mother  was  born  in  the  above  place  in  the  year  1793 
and  died  in  South  Windham,  Conn.,  in  1876.  Out  of 
the  family  of  thirteen,  seven  are  now  living  and  the 
balance  are  deceased.  The  names  of  those  living 
are  Wolcott,  and  he  lives  in  Milford,  Oakland  Co., 
Mich.;  Zacheus  lives  in  Franklin,  Conn. ;  Jackson 
lives  in  the  same  place;  Martin  lives  in  Petaluma, 
Cal. ;  Alma  married  Jonathan  Hutch  and  resides  in 
South  Windham,  Conn. ;  Cornelia  married  Charles 
Smith  and  resides  at  Ellington,  Conn.;  Ellen  is  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Perry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr. 
Armstrong  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  They  have 
one  child,  Kate. 

Mr.  Perry  is  a  Republican,  but  such  for  "  revenue 
only. '  He  is  one  from  principle,  and  asks  no  fat  of- 
fice to  preserve  his  loyalty.  The  only  office  he  ever 
held  was  that  of  Township  Assessor  of  Lenox  Town- 
ship. 


[ifred  Lewey  is  a  settler  of  1857,  in  the 
county  of  which  he  is  still  a  resident.  He 
is  an  agriculturist  on  section  25,  Kelly 
Township.  He  was  born  Aug.  9,  1826,  in 
Guilford  Co.,  N.  C.  John  Lewey,  his  father, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  State  and  was  born 
in  Orange  County,  of  German  parentage.  He  married 
Phebe  Clap,  of  the  same  county  and  nativity  ;  they 
had  12  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  rear  families. 
They  located  after  their  marriage  in  Guilford  County, 
on  a  farm  situated  eight  miles  east  of  Green sborough, 
which  was  their  home  as  long  as  they  survived. 

Mr.  Lewey  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  home 
estate,_and  was  educated  in  the  subscription  school, 
which  was  the  only  means  of  education  then  availa- 
ble. In  the  fall  of  1846,  he  came  from  his  native 
State  to  Illinois.  He  found  a  place  to  locate  in 
Montgomery  County,  where  he  operated  as  a  farm 
assistant  four  years.  He  then  returned  to  North 
Carolina  and  fulfilled  a  long  cherished  purpose  to 
connect  himself  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Forbis.  She 
was  born  in  the  county  where  her  husband  was 
brought  up,  July  20,  1829.  Mr.  Lewey  had  invested 
his  earnings  in  land  in  Montgomery  County,  and  he 
returned  to  it  and  with  his  bride  prepared  to  enter 


upon  life  in  earnest.  He  built  a  house  and  pro- 
ceeded with  the  work  of  improvement,  breaking  the 
soil  and  enclosing  his  fields  with  suitable  fences.  In 
January,  1855,  his  wife  died,  and  Mr.  Lewey  put  an 
end  to  housekeeping  temporarily.  He  then  went 
back  to  North  Carolina  and  passed  the  ensuing  sum- 
mer. In  the  autumn  he  returned  to  Montgomery 
Co.,  111.,  and  was  there  a  resident  until  1857,  when 
he  came  to  Warren  County  as  has  been  stated. 

In  March  of  that  year  he  was  married  to  Janiza 
(Brown)  McDavid.  She  was  the  widow  of  Jesse 
McDavid  and  is  the  daughter  of  James  Brown,  a 
pioneer  of  Warren  County.  She  was  born  in  Indi- 
ana. In  the  fall  of  1857  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewey  set- 
tled on  the  homstead  farm  of  her  father,  on  section 
25  of  Kelly  Township,  which  is  now  their  property 
and  which  they  still  occupy. 

William  R.  and  Elizabeth,  the  children  of  the  first 
marriage  of  Mr.  Lewey,  are  both  deceased.  They 
died  in  infancy.  The  children  of  the  second  mar- 
riage are  two  in  number.  Eva  E.  is  the  wife  of  " 
George  Gregg,  of  Knox  County.  Florence  L.  is  the 
younger.  Mr.  Lewey  is  a  Republican  in  political 
belief  and  connections. 

Mrs.  Lewey  had  one  child  by  her  former  marriage, 
named  James  T.  McDavid,  who  ;narried  Ella  Pugh ; 
they  have  three  children.  He  is  a  resident  of  Gales- 
burg. 

Mrs.  Lewey  was  born  Jan.  7,  1830.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  her  mother  of 
Kentucky.  They  were  married  in  Kentucky,  moved 
to  Indiana  and  then  to  Illinois.  They  came  to  this 
point  at  an  early  date  and  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers here.  Isaac,  the  third  son,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Mexican  War ;  William  A.,  the  youngest  brother, 
served  for  three  years  in  the  late  war. 


amuel  Diffenbaugh,  retired  citizen  of  Mon- 
mouth,  where  for  many  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  active  business,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa..  March  12,  1828,  and  was 
the  second  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  six 
sons  and  one  daughter,  the  progeny  of  Chris- 
tian and  Nancy  (Doner)  Diffenbaugh,  who  were  also 
natives  of  Lancaster  County  and  descended  from  the 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


527 


German.  The  senior  Mr.  Diffenbaugh  was  a  farmer, 
distiller  and  tanner,  and  brought  his  sons  up  to  a 
thorough  acquaintance  with  these  various  industries. 

Mr.  Diffenbaugh  of  this  notice  received  a  fair 
English  education  through  the  common  schools,  and 
when  about  18  years  of  age  began  clerking  in  a  store 
at  New  Providence,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed 
the  same  for  eight  years.  He  then  removed  to  York 
Furnace  and  there  farmed,  kept  hotel  and  carried  on 
a  foundry,  and  was  general  manager  at  iron  works 
and  all  kinds  of  business  for  about  20  years.  In 
1863  he  came  to  Monmouth  and  engaged  in  the  res- 
taurant, confectionary  and  notions  business,  which 
received  his  attention  up  to  the  year  1881.  In  1882 
he  built  the  Diffenbaugh  Block,  corner  of  Main  and 
We  t  Streets,  now  occupied  by  the  Monmouth  Daily 
Gazette,  a  restaurant  and  the  Hayden  gun  store. 
Mr.  Diffenbaugh  inherited  probably  $1,500.  The 
rest  of  his  valuable  property  has  been  acquired  by 
his  individual  efforts  and  industry.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Monmouth  National  Bank  and  owns 
land  in  the  West. 

Mr.  Diffenbaugh  was  married  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  to  Miss  Fanny  Groff,  who  died  at  Monmouth, 
June  i,  1876,  at  the  age  of  37  years,  leaving  five 
children — Annie  (Mrs.  J.  R.  Hickman),  born  Feb. 
26,  1857;  Robert  B.,  born  Oct.  16,  1859,  died  May 
3,  1861  ;  Naomi  (Mrs.  Harry  Hodgins),  born  March 
26,  1862  ;  John  D.,  a  job  printer,  born  Nov.  8,  1865  ; 
Harry  R.,  student,  born  Oct.  14,  1869;  and  Lillie, 
born  Sept.  n,  1871,  died  Nov.  3,  1878. 

Mr.  Diffenbaugh  has  long  been  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Two  of  his 
brothers  were  in  the  Union  Army  and  one  of  them 
was  killed  at  Gettysburg. 


oseph,  B.  Malony,  manufacturer  of  har- 
ness and  dealer  in  harness  and  saddlery 
goods  at  Roseville,  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Margaret  (Cairnes)  Malony,  and  was  born  in 
Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  16,  1818.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Ireland  and  came  to 
America  about  the  year  1810,  locating  in  the  Key- 
stone State  where  the  father  was  engaged  as  contrac- 


tor for  stone  work.  In  1824  he  removed  into  Ohio 
and  there  engaged  in  farming,  also  following  his 
trade  at  stone  work,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
first  flouring  mill  on  the  Maumee  River.  He  made 
the  Buckeye  State  his  permanent  home  and  died 
there  about  1826-7,  n's  wife's  demise  occurring  in 
1846. 

Joseph  B.,  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  biographical  notice,  went  to  learn  the 
trade  of  saddle-maker  at  the  age  of  16,  at  which  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  and  a  half  years, 
and  again  ten  months  under  the  instruction  of 
another  firm.  He  followed  the  same  in  the  States  of 
Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  finally  settled  down 
in  Canton,  Fulton  County,  this  State,  and  opened  a 
shop,  which  he  carred  on  for  12  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  he  removed  to  Vermont,  same 
county,  but  remained  only  a  year,  when  he  again  re- 
turned to  Canton  and  embarked  in  the  same  busi- 
ness for  four  years.  His  next  move  was  to  Prairie 
City,  McDonough  Co.,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in 
business  and  remained  until  the  year  1861. 

In  the  latter  year  the  call  was  made  for  brave 
hearts  and  strong  arms  to  defend  the  Union  flag,  and 
Joseph  B.,  a  very  patriotic  gentleman,  enlisted  in 
the  Seventh  Regt.  of  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  and  served  two 
years  and  four  months,  having  held  the  position  of 
Sergeant  Saddler,  but  was  discharged  on  account  of 
disability.  He  then  returned  to  Prairie  City  and 
again  embarked  in  business,  which  he  continued 
until  the  year  187  2,  then  coming  to  Roseville  and  in- 
teresting himself  in  his  present  enterprise,  in  which 
he  has  met  with  remarkable  success  and  is  doing  a 
constantly  increasing  business.  He  has  gotten  up 
many  new  improvements  in  harness  that  have  come 
into  general  use.  He  invented  the  first  pad  for  a 
saddle,  padding  for  a  saddletree  and  the  roller  at- 
tachment to  the  ''Sensible  Combination  Buckle."  He 
is  also  the  inventor  of  a  combination  halter,  which  is 
not  only  the  best  in  use  but  cheap  and  durable. 

In  1841:,  one  of  the  most  important  events  in  the 
life  of  Mr.  Joseph  B.  Malony  occurred,  it  being 
his  marriage  to  Miss  -Jane  Anderson,  and  of  their 
union  were  born  four  children — Richard  A.,  Joseph 
C.,  Willia.n  N.  and  James  M.  Mrs.  Malony 's  de- 
mise occurred  in  1850,  and  Mr.  M.  formed  a  sec- 
ond matrimonial  alliance  with  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife,  Miss  Catherine  Anderson,  and  they  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  five  children,  only  four  of 


• 


5*8 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


whom  survive,  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  Nathaniel  L., 
Margaret  J.  and  Emma.  Mrs.  Malony  died  in 
1872.  Mr.  Malony  is  a  Greenbacker  in  politics.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Rose- 
ville. 


eorge  F.  Bruner,  a  thrifty  and  well-to-do 
farmer  of  Kelly  Township,  is  a  resident  on 
section  32.  The  family  from  which  he  is 
a  descendant  in  the  paternal  line  belongs  to 
two  ancestral  stocks,  that  located  in  the  early 
history  of  this  country  in  the  States  of  Mary- 
land and  Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather  of  John 
Bruner,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  personal  nar- 
rative, was  the  son  of  parents  who  emigrated  from 
Maryland  to  Breckenridge  Co.,  Ky.,  where  he  was 
born.  (The  great-grandfather  of  John  Bnmer  came 
from  Germany).  On  the  maternal  side  the  family  is 
of  Scotch  origin.  He  grew  up  under  the  influence 
that  prevailed  in  the  days  of  Daniel  Boone,  and  left 
a  notable  record  as  a  hunter.  In  one  year  the  ac- 
count of  his  exploits  relates  that  he  shot  300  deer. 
John  Bruner  was  born  in  Breckenridge  County,  in 
the  Blue  Grass  country,  March  1804.  He  was  rear- 
ed in  the  same  county,  and  married  Susan  Prance. 
She  was  born  near  the  capital  of  Virginia.  The  elder 
Bruner  remained  with  his  family  in  Kentucky  for  a 
long  time  and  in  1846  removed  to  Warren  County. 
When  they  made  their  journey  they  came  by  the 
river  route,  traveling  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to 
Oquawka,  whence  they  came  to  Monmouth.  Mr. 
Bruner  rented  land  in  what  is  now  Cold  Brook  Town- 
ship, on  which  he  operated  a  few  years  and  then 
bought  a  place  in  the  same  township.  He  remained 
there  about  30  years  and  in  1884  located  in  Kelly 
Township.  The  wife  and  mother  was  removed  by 
death  in  1879,  her  demise  taking  place  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Cold  Brook  Township.  Three  only  of 
their  eight  children  are  now  living.  Anzeler,  now 
deceased,  was  married  to  Amon  S.  Gilbert,  and  two 
children  mourn  her  loss.  John  H.  resides  in  the  na- 
tive county  of  his  parents,  in  Kentucky;  he  married 
Sally  Frymire  and  has  one  child.  Frank  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Salem,  Oregon ;  he  married  Mary  E.  Park- 
er and  has  five  children.  Mr.  Bruner  of  this  sketch 


is  the  youngest  of  the  survivors.  He  was  born  in 
Breckenridge  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  14,  1844.  He  was  a 
child  of  tender  years  when  the  family  came  to  War- 
ren County,  and  he  has  known  no  other  home,  as  his 
acquaintance  with  this  county  began  with  his  exist- 
ence. He  grew  up  in  Cold  Brook  Township  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  resided 
on  the  homestead,  which  he  sold  in  1863  and  re- 
moved to  section  4,  in  the  same  township.  He  was 
the  owner  of  his  property  there  until  1884,  when  he 
placed  the  farm  in  the  hands  of  a  renter  and  came 
to  Kelly  Township.  In  that  he  owns  a  farm  of  126 
acres,  which,  like  the  farm  in  Cold  Brook  Township, 
is  all  in  good  agricultural  condition. 

The  marriageof  Mr.  Bruner  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Clay- 
ton, took  place  Dec.  24, 1895.  She  was  born  in  Warren 
Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  29,  1845,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Pedigo)  Clayton.     She  was  the  eldest 
of  two  children.     Her  mother  died  about  1849.   Her 
father  was  again  married  lo  Miss  Ceny  Mitchell  and 
by  the  last  marriage  six  children  were  born.     Five  • 
children  are  now  living  of  both  marriages.     Mrs.  B.  j 
came  to  this  county  with  her  parents  in  the  fall  of 
1855.     The  names  of  the  children  of  G.  F.  Bruner  « 
are  Harden  F.,  born   March   28,   1871;    and  Clara, 
born  Sept.  r4,  1882. 

Mr.  Bruner  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  proclivi- . 
ties.     Mrs.    Bruner  is    a   member   of  the  Christian 
Church. 


•5- 


D.  Day,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion  34,  Berwick  Township,  was  born  in 
Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  25,  1819, 
and  is  a  son  of  Stephen  Day,  born  in  1785, 
and  who  died  in  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1825. 
The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Annie  Ransom,  about 
1808,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  She  was  born  in 
1790,  in  Vermont,  and  they  moved  to  Ohio  in  1821, 
where  she  died  in  1860.  Of  their  union  eight  chil- 
dren were  born — Lucinda,  Alzina,  Ransom,  David 
R.,  Electa,  Coridon,  Hiram  and  Sarah. 

Coridon  D.  Day  married  Miss  Lorena  Louk,  in 
January,  [845,  in  Fulton  County.  She  was  born  in 
New  York  in  1823,  and  died  in  1852.  By  their 
union  four  children  were  born — David  R.,  Clara  A. 


•     • 


It       Rk 

UNIVUtttll  -MM... 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


S3' 


(twin  sister  of  David  R.),  Hannah  M.  and  Jefferson. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  and  Mr.  Day  was  again 
married  to  Mrs. .  Lucinda  Griffin,  nee  Bante.  She 
was  born  July  23,  1839,  in  Indiana,  and  bore  her 
husband  seven  children,  namely  :  Mary  S.,  Lucinda 
E.,  Jason,  Silas  and  Sarah  (twins),  Stephen  and 
Sophronia.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Day,  Jacob  Bante, 
was  born  in  1802,  and  died  in  Kansas  in  1880. 
He  was  married  to  Salida  Wilder,  in  1826.  She 
was  born  in  1806  and  is  still  living.  Of  their  union 
14  children  were  born — David  H.,  Lucinda,  Isaac 
Jackson,  Daniel  Jefferson,  John  B.,  Mary  J.,  Benoni 
S.,  Lurana,  Sally  Ann,  Jacob,  Jessie,  Minerva, 
Amelia  and  Cylinda. 

Mr.  Day  and  his  family  are  pleasantly  situated  on 
his  fine  farm  of  240  acres  on  section  24,  Berwick 
Township,  and  is  there  actively  engaged  in  the  voca- 
tion of  an  agriculturist.  He  has  a  good  residence 
upon  his  place,  40  x  40  feet  in  dimensions;  and  two 
stories  in  height,  also  a  good  barn,  24  x  30  feet,  of 
brick.  In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  he 
is  to  a  considerable  extent  turning  his  attention  to 
the  raising  of  high  grade  Short-horn  cattle  and  Nor- 
man horses,  having  of  the  former  about  35  head. 
He  also  has  some  25  sheep  upon  his  place.  In  pol- 
itics, he  is  a  Jacksonian  Democrat.  His  father  and 
grandfather  were  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  his 
father  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 


i  ilson  Sheldon,  deceased.  The  Sheldon 
family  are  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Warren  County.  It  is  of  English  ances- 
try, and  the  founder  of  the  family  in  this 
country  settled  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
where  George  Sheldon,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  Wilson,  was  born,  Of  his  offspring  was 
Wilson  Sheldon,  the  father  of  the  present  family. 
He  was  born  in  New  York,  Feb.  3,  1808,  and  died 
in  the  city  of  Monmouth,  Sept.  13,  1873.  He  came 
to  VVarren  Co.,  in  1837,  and  settled  in  Floyd  Tp. 
When  Wilson  Sheldon  came  to  Warren  County,  in 
the  year  stated,  it  was  almost  a  wilderness;  but  little 
had  been  done  in  any  part  of  the  county  towards  its 
settlement.  Here  and  there,  however,  on  some 


points  of  timber,  might  be  seen  the  beginning  of  the 
labors  of  some  venturesome  pioneer.  He  finally  found 
a  suitable  location  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 32,  in  what  is  now  Floyd  Township.  This  he 
immediately  began  to  improve,  and  ere  long  was 
known  far  and  wide  as  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
and  enterprising  farmers  in  all  that  section. 

Mr.  Sheldon  was  the  pioneer  cattle-feeder  of  War- 
ren County,  embarking  in  this  department  of  farming 
as  early  as  1840.  In  the  early  part  of  1846,  he  took 
his  eldest  son,  Hiram,  and  went  to  where  Fairfield, 
Iowa,  now  stands,  and  bought  a  drove  of  two-year- 
old  steers,  at  $7  per  head,  which  they  drove  to  their 
farm  in  Warren  County,  where  they  were  fattened 
with  others.  This  was  the  first  drove  of  cattle  ever 
brought  east  over  the  Burlington  Ferry.  After  hav- 
ing put  them  in  a  proper  condition  for  the  market, 
he  sold  them  to  be  driven  across  the  Alleghanies  to 
the  Philadelphia  or  Baltimore  market.  After  Chi- 
cago had  become  a  market  for  stock,  which  was  prior 
to  the  building  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad,  he  drove  his  cattle  there.  His  enterprise 
was  again  displayed  on  the  opening  of  that  road,  for 
we  find  him,  in  company  with  D.  C.  Gale  of  New- 
burg,  N.  Y.,  the  first  to  build  loading-pens  and  also 
the  first  to  ship  stock  from  Monmouth  over  the  new 
railroad.  The  arrangement  then  constructed  for 
loading  was  but  temporary.  He  and  Mr.  Gale  con- 
tinued shipping  together  until  the  death  of  the  latter, 
which  occurred  several  years  after  their  first  ship- 
ment. Mr.  Sheldon  worked  energetically  and  used 
all  of  his  influence  to  have  the  Quincy  division  of 
the  Chicago  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  built 
through  Berwick,  but  was  defeated  by  the  Bushnell 
Land  Company. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Sarah  Matte- 
son,  Feb.  14,  1830.  She  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  the  daughter  of  Captain  Peleg  Matteson,  a  na- 
tive of  Vermont,  where  he  was  born,  April  i,  1778. 
Capt.  Matteson  married  Martha  Downer,  Jan.  17, 
1802,  the  latter  being  born  March  19,  1779.  Peleg 
Matteson  was  a  Captain  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
commanded  a  company  at  the  defense  of  Sackett's 
Harbor.  In  1838  he  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Floyd  Township,  where  he  died,  Feb. 
7,  1860.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Sheldon,  died 
Aug.  27,  1857.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Sheldon  is  the  only  survivor  of 
the  original  family.  She  was  born  Feb.  26, 181 1,  and 


532 


WARREN  COUNTY, 


resides  at  Monmouth,  in  company  with  her  daughter, 
Mary. 

There  were  nine  children  born  to  Wilson  and  Sa- 
rah Sheldon,  six  of  whom  are  living.  The  sketches 
of  Hiram  and  Burr  will  be  found  in  another  place  in 
this  volume.  Martha  married  W.  Wisvvell,  and  is 
the  mother  of  three  children.  George  married  Mary 
Dolph,  and  they  have  five  children.  Seneca  M.  mar- 
ried Mary  Williams,  and  they  have  one  child.  He  was 
remarried  April  6,  1885,  to  M.  E.  Balcolm.  Alma 
married  David  Van  Winkle;  they  have  two  sons. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  brief,  outlined  history 
of  the  life  of  Mr.  Sheldon,  that  he  was  a  very  impor- 
tant figure  in  the  history  and  settlement  of  Warren 
County.  His  enterprising  spirit  was  felt  in  almost 
every  undertaking  that  had  for  its  tendency  the  de- 
velopment or  progress  of  the  county.  He  acquired 
considerable  property,  owning  as  much  as  1,100 
acres  of  excellent  land,  which  he  divided  among  his 
children.  In  his  religious  belief,  he  was  a  Baptist, 
and  politically,  a  Democrat.  In  presenting  his  por- 
trait in  connection  with  this  sketch,  we  know  that  it 
will  be  welcomed  by  our  readers  and  that  his  mem- 
ory will  be  cherished  as  one  of  Warren  County's  most 
reputable  and  enterprising  citizens. 


likapt.  George  C.  Rankin,  Clerk  of  the  War- 
'J  ren  County  Circuit  Court,  and  Recorder 


of  Deeds,  was  born  at  Monmouth,  Aug. 
29,  1850,  and  is  the  son  of  N.  A.  Rankin, 
whose  biography  will  be  found  in  another  part 
of  this  volume.  He  was  about  22  years  of 
age  when  he  graduated  from  Monmouth  College, 
receiving  the  A.  B.  degree,  and  in  due  course  of  time 
the  degree  of  A.  M.  He  was  the  poet  of  his  class; 
editor  of  the  College  Courier  from  1870  to  1872; 
editor  of  the  Beta  Theta  P.  monthly  during  1877-8  ; 
city  editor  of  the  Council  Bluffs  (Iowa)  Daily  'J  ri- 
bune,  in  1873;  and  city  editor  of  the  Monmouth 
Atlas  from  1873  to  1880.  In  the  meantime  he  held 
twice  (1876-77  and  1879-80)  the  office  of  City  Clerk 
of  Monmouth.  In  June,  1880,  he  was  appointed 
Circuit  Cleik  of  Warren  County,  to  fill  out  the  unex- 
pired  term  of  J.  L.  Dryden,  resigned;  was  elected 
Circuit  Clerk  in  November  following,  and  re-elected 


in  1884,  receiving  a  larger  majority  than  any  other 
candidate  on  the  ticket.  Capt.  Rankin  is  Secretary 
of  the  Association  of  Circuit  Clerks  of  Illinois,  and 
Secretary  of  the  Warren  County  Agricultural  Society, 
having  been  elected  in  1877  and  unanimously  re- 
elected  annually  ever  since. 

April  29,  1 88 1,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  H, 
Sixth  Regt.  I.  N.  G. ;  promoted  to  Sergeant  Aug.  8, 
i88r  ;  elected  First  Lieutenant  Nov.  2,  1882,  and 
commissioned  Captain  Aug.  16,  1883. 


ames  Galbraith.  a  prominent  banker  and 
^  merchant  of  Warren  County,  located  at 
Kirkwood,  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,  in  1838.  His  parents,  Robert  and  Jane 
(McCrea)  Galbraith,  were  natives  of  Ireland 
and  Pennsylvania  respectively,  the  latter  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Washington  County,  where  their 
marriage  occurred.  In  1840  the  elder  Galbraith  of 
the  family  moved  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
1870.  He  was  by  occupation  a  farmer  and  owned 
1 60  acres  of  land  in  Ohio.  For  some  years  after  his 
marriage,  however,  he  was  engaged  in  teaching.  In 
1870,  he  moved  to  Johnson  Co.,  Kan.,  where  he 
purchased  land  and  made  his  home  until  his  death, 
which  event  occurred  Dec.  2,  1882,  in  the  75th  year 
of  his  age.  His  widow  still  resides  on  the  farm,  in 
company  with  a  son  and  daughter. 

At  the  early  age  of  13  years,  James  evinced  that 
love  for  business  life  that  has  since  characterized 
him,  for  at  that  period  we  find  him  engaged  in  clerk- 
ing in  a  dry-goods  store  at  New  Concord,  Ohio. 
Here  he  remained  five  years.  He  had,  however, 
received  a  liberal  education,  and  was  well  fitted  for 
business  life.  At  the  end  of  his  five  years'  engage- 
ment, he  enlisted,  in  1862,  in  Co.  E,  88tli  Ohio  Inf., 
and  did  faithful  service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Most  of  the  time  he  acted  as  clerk  for  Regimental 
and  Brigade  officers.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
in  1865  and  returned  to  his  home.  He  soon  came 
West  to  visit  a  brother  who  had  located  in  Kirk- 
wood,  111.,  and  who  at  that  time  was  Postmaster. 
James  accepted  a  position  as  assistant  Postmaster, 
from  which  position  he  was  ousted  by  Andy  John- 


' 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


533 


son,  and  has  since  that  time,  1865,  been  a  resident 
of  Kirkwood.  During  these  years  he  has  grown  into 
prominence  and  influence,  until  he  has  long  been 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the 
place,  and,  in  fact,  of  the  county.  After  leaving  the 
postoffice,  which  he  did  in  1866,  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  clerk  in  the  lumber-yard  at  Kirkwood,  where 
he  remained  until  March,  1875.  Afterwards  he  en- 
gaged with  the  firm  of  Chapin,  Houlton  &  Davis,  as 
clerk  in  their  establishment.  He  remained  in  this 
capacity  until  1883,  when  he  and  Mr.  Carmichael 
bought  out  Mr.  Davis'  interest,  and,  with  Mr.  Car- 
michael, in  February,  1885,  bought  out  the  interest 
of  Mr.  Houlton.  The  firm  is  at  present  known  as 
Chapin,  Houlton  &  Co.,  and  does  a  general  bank- 
ing and  mercantile  business. 

Mr.  Galbraith  was  married  in  May,  1869,  to  Miss 
Jennie  S.  Speer,  a  native  of  New  Concord,  Ohio. 
Mamie  J.,  who  was  born  Feb.  3,  1879,  is  their  only 
child.  Mr.  Galbraith  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
belief,  and,  with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church. 


i  illiam  Gallaugher  is  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  the  township  of  Spring  Grove, 
yet  he  came  to  Warren  County  with  no 
outfit  in  life  save  his  manhood's  strength  and 
a  laudable  purpose  to  carve  out  a  home  from 
the  resources  that  had  proved  so  available  in 
many  well-tested  instances.  He  is  of  foreign  birth, 
and  brought  from  Scotland,  his  native  land,  the  hardy 
endurance,  perseverance  and  energy  that  has  made 
his  country  the  representative  of  all  that  is  noble 
and  good  in  the  scale  of  humanity,  notwithstanding 
her  political  status.  The  pure,  bright  record  of  the 
Scots  gives  to  all  the  emigrants  from  her  shores 
a  passport  to  respectability  and  position.  Mr.  Gal- 
laugher was  born  in  Ayershire,  Western  Scotland, 
Jan.  7,  1824.  His  father,  Charles  Gallaugher,  died 
when  William  was  but  two  years  old,  and  before  he 
was  nine  he  was  obliged  to  earn  his  own  living.  His 
mother,  Janet  (Good)  Gallaugher,  died  in  1855. 
Young  William,  at  that  tender  age,  was  placed  in  the 


mines  where  there  is  a  variety  of  work  that  can  only 
be  done  by  small  children,  and  he  became  a  "pusher." 
That  labor  is  performed  by  persons  of  under  size 
because  the  coal-veins  are  so  narrow  in  extent  that 
in  some  localities  mules  or  horses  cannot  pass 
through  to  do  the  necessary  work.  Consequently  the 
small  cars  conveying  the  coal  must  be  pushed  over 
the  "trams"  by  children.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Gal- 
laugher was  sufficiently  grown  he  became  a  miner  in 
the  full  sense  of  the  term  and  wielded  a  "  pick."  He 
followed  the  same  vocation  in  his  native  shire  until 
1852. 

In  April,  1852,  he  started  from  Scotland  for 
America.  He  took  passage  on  "Zion's  Hope,"  a  sail 
vessel  from  the  river  Clyde  and  crossed  the  ocean, 
landing  at  Philadelphia.  He  was  on  the  water  six 
weeks  and  two  days,  and  after  landing  at  the  City  of 
Brotherly  Love  he  proceeded  to  Alleghany  Co.,  Md., 
to  enter  upon  a  situation  as  a  miner.  He  passed 
three  years  in  the  same  locality  and  went  thence  to 
Virginia.  He  operated  as  a  coal  miner  there  until  • 
18^7,  when  he  came  to  Warren  County.  He  remained 
at  that  time  but  a  few  months  and  went  to  Mercer 
County,  where  he  became  a  coal  miner  in  the  town-i 
ship  of  Greene^  He  continued  in  that  employ  there 
until  1864,  when  he  invested  the  money  he  had  saved 
in  80  acres  of  land  situated  half  a  mile  from  Nor-, 
wood.  There  was  a  vein  of  coal  running  through 
the  farm,  and  he  employed  laborers  to  perform  the 
agricultural  work  while  he  gave  his  attention  to  the 
business  of  developing  the  treasures  of  the  mine.  In 
1871  he  sold  the  place  and  removed  to  the  property 
he  now  holds.  He  is  the  owner  of  280  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land,  which  is  located  on  sections  15  and  22. 
The  farm  buildings  are  all  of  good  style  and  the 
entire  place  is  in  splendid  condition,  with  a  sub- 
stantial and  handsome  frame  residence.  He  has 
sp;nt  about  4:  years  of  his  life  in  making  a  living  at 
coal-mining,  but  is  new  prepared  to  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  an  energetic  life. 

In  his  political  profession  Mr.  G.  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  during  the  late  war  was  a  strong  Union 
man. 

Mr.  Gallaugher  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mar- 
garet Muir,  in  Ayershire,  Scotland,  O<  t.  22,  1848, 
where  she  was  born  May  r,  1825.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Michael  and  Janet  (Montgom- 
ery) Muir.  The  name  Muir  was  of  the  oldest 


534 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


in  the  county  of  Ayrshire.  They  have  had  ten 
children.  Margaret  married  Robert  Henderson  and 
they  settled  in  Ringgold,  Iowa.  Janet  is  the  wife  of 
Francis  Hogue,  who  is  a  citizen  of  the  same  place,  as 
is  Charles,  who  married  Alice  Palmer,  the  next 
child  and  eldest  son.  Agnes  is  married  to  Stewart 
Leonard,  of  Monmouth.  Michael  married  Minnie 
Thompson  and  is  farming  in  Spring  Grove  Town- 
ship. Mary  and  her  husband,  Car  Harper,  live 
in  Ringgold  County,  Iowa.  Isabella,  William,  James 
and  Anna  are  the  children  at  home.  Besides  their 
own  circumstances  of  comfort  the  parents  have  given 
their  children  a  thorough  training  in  the  common 
schools  and  now  have  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  their 
children  who  are  settled  in  life,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
a  reasonable  share  of  the  goods  of  this  world. 


"ohn  C.  Blayney  is  a  prosperous  and  prom- 
inent merchant  at  Alexis.  He  has  been 
connected  with  the  business  of  the  place 
since  1872.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Fannie 
(Alcorn)  Blayney.  He  is  a  native  of  Ireland 
and  was  born  Oct.  14,  1834,  in  County  Tyrone. 
He  was  brought  up  to  the  business  of  a  farmer  in  his 
native  island,  as  his  parents  belonged  to  the  agricul- 
tural class.  He  also  attended  the  common  schools 
while  he  remained  there,  and  was  but  14  when  the 
family  emigrated  to  America,  in  1848.  They  set- 
tled in  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  and  there  young  Blayney 
pursued  the  same  routine  of  life — attending  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  operating  as  his  father's  assistant. 
He  also  became  clerk  in  a  store,  where  he  obtained 
familiarity  with  the  details  of  business.  The  family 
remained  in  Wheeling  four  years. 

In  1853,  the  son  came  West,  determined  to  estab- 
lish himself  in  a  congenial  and  profitable  business. 
He  first  stopped  in  Peoria  and  there  operated  as  a 
farm  assistant  for  a  year.  He  then  returned  to 
Wheeling  and  remained  there  the  same  length  of 
time.  He  revisited  Illinois  and  was  interested  in 
farming  until  1860.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  went 
to  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  and  opened  a  store  in  West 


Alexandria.  After  conducting  a  general  store  there 
a  year,  he  sold  his  interest  and  came  to  Mercer 
County  in  this  State.  He  engaged  in  the  purchase 
of  stock  for  the  Chicago  market  about  the  space  of  a 
year.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  associated  with  G. 
M.  Evans,  he  went  to  Norwood  in  Mercer  County 
and  embarked  in  trade  under  the  style  of  Evans  & 
Blayney. 

The  branch  establishment  at  Alexis  was  instituted 
in  1872.  Mr.  Blayney  took  charge  of  the  new  enter- 
prise and  Mr.  Evans  remained  to  conduct  that  at 
Norwood.  Their  relations  were  maintained  until 
1882,  when  Mr.  Blayney  sold  his  interest  at  Norwood 
to  his  son,  Edward  D.  Blayney,  and  Mr.  J.  E.  Laff- 
erty  purchased  that  of  Mr.  Evans  in  the  store  at 
Alexis.  The  firm  name  is  now  Blayney  &  Lafferty. 
However,  the  individual  partnership  has  been 
changed  by  the  substitution  of  the  son  of  the  first 
Mr.  Lafferty,  Mr.  W.  A.  Lafferty.  The  house  carry 
a  large  and  well  assorted  stock  of  all  lines  of  mer- 
chandise suited  to  the  demands  of  their  patronage, 
and  are  doing  a  thriving  business. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Blayney  to  Catherine  Brown- 
lee,  of  Washington  Co.,  Pa,  took  place  in  the  fall  of 
1860.  bhe  was  the  daughter  of  William  Hutchison 
Brownlee.  They  came  to  Norwood,  Mercer  County, 
in  1851,  and  Mr.  Blayney  married  his  wife  there. 
She  is  of  Scotch  descent.  They  have  four  children  : 
Edward  D.  is  a  merchant  at  Norwood.  Charles  C. 
was  born  in  Mercer  County;  he  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  common  schools  and  later 
entered  the  college  at  Monmouth  as  a  student.  He 
lost  his  health  and  died  after  an  illness  of  12  months, 
in  his  zoth  year.  Lizzie  L.  and  Fred  H.  are  the 
names  of  the  younger  children. 

Mr.  Blayney  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  local  political  matters  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Village  Board.  He  acted 
as  the  President  of  that  body  during  the  time  of  his 
membership.  He  has  also  been  active  in  the  matter 
of  education  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  several  years.  He  has  been  Super- 
visor of  his  town  one  year. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blayney  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

John  Blayney,  father  of  the  present  family,  mar- 
ried Fannie  Alcorn,  daughter  of  William  and  Janet 
(Fatten)  Alcorn,  all  of  the  County  Tyrone,  Ireland. 
They  emigrated  to  America  in  1848,  and  settled  in 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


535 


Wheeling,  West  Virginia.  He  came  West  about 
1857,  and  remained  here  until  the  death  of  his  wife, 
in  1882.  She  died  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  while  on 
a  visit  there.  Mr.  Blayney  has  since  that  time 
made  his  residence  with  his  daughter,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Cadwallerder  Blayney.  He  is  now  in  the 
86th  year  of  his  age  and  is  yet  hale  and  vigorous 
and  bids  fair  to  live  for  many  years. 


ohn  S.  Spriggs,  Jr.,  pharmacist  at  Mon- 
mouth,  is  a  son  of  James  H.  and  Elea- 
nor J.  (McCune)  Spriggs,  and  was  born  in 
Cumberland  Co,  Pa.,  April  3,  1850.  (See 
biography  of  J.  H.  Spriggs,  this  volume).  He 
was  educated  at  Monmouth  College,  and  when 
about  1 8  years  of  age  began  the  drug  business  as 
rclerk  in  the  drug  house  of  his  father  and  uncle,  Dr. 
John  S.  Spriggs,  at  Monmouth.  At  the  end  of  an 
apprenticeship  of  four  .years  here,  he  attended  the 
^Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  and  graduated  in 

"1873- 

March  25,  1877,  he  was  married  at  Chicago  to 

,Miss  Annie  L.  Thome,  the  accomplished  daughter 
of  Stephen  and  Lydia  Thorne,  and  a  native  of  St. 
Johns,  N.  B.  Mrs.  Spriggs  is  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  Spriggs  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


lohn  C.  Wallace,  proprietor  of  a  fashiona- 
ble restaurant  and  fancy  grocer,  also  whole- 
sale and  retail  dealer  in  fruits,  vegetables, 
oils,  etc.,  of  Monmouth,  was  born  in  Guernsey 
Co.,  Ohio,  July  4,  1848,  and  was  the  fifth  child 
in  the  order  of  birth  of  six  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Hutchinson)  Wallace,  na- 
tives of  the  Buckeye  State,  and  descended  respect- 
ively from  Scotch  and  Irish  ancestry.  The  senior 
Mr.  Wallace  was  by  occupation  a  farmer;  emigrated 
from  Ohio  to  Iowa  in  1867,  and  there  died  in  1878 
or  '79,  aged  61  or  62  years,  surviving  his  wife  proba- 
bly about  three  years. 

John  C.  Wallace  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer's  boy, 


and  at  the  common  schools,  supplemented  by  two 
years'  attendance  at  Monmouth  College,  acquired  a 
fair  English  education.  After  clerking  awhile  in  a 
grocery  house,  he,  in  1871,  bought  the  interest  of 
Hurdman,  of  the  firm  of  Wallace  &  Hurdman,  and 
for  three  years,  or  thereabouts,  the  house  existed  un- 
der the  style  and  firm  name  of  Wallace  Bros.  Since 
the  retirement  of  his  brother,  Mr.  Wallace  has  been 
alone  in  the  business,  and  that  he  has  been  more 
than  ordinarily  successful  is  fully  attested  by  the 
brief  record  here  published  of  him.  In  1875,  after 
sustaining  a  severe  loss  by  fire,  he  built  the  brick 
block  now  occupied  by  him.  He  owns  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  the  city,  is  a  large  stock-holder 
in  a  banking  house  at  Greely,  Colo.,  and  an  exten- 
sive ranch  owner  in  both  Texas  and  Kansas.  All 
this,  and  more,  and  yet  it  is  but  the  product  of  his 
individual  effort  and  industry. 

He  was  married  in  Henderson  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  28, 
1871,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Hutchinson,  and  their  only 
child  is  named  Clyde. 


F.  Lowther,  of  Kirkwood,  was  born  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  April  14,  1826.  His 
father,  Thompson  F  ,  and  his  mother,  Sarah 
Lowther  (nee  Black)',  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  were  married  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1835,  locating  in  Schuyler  County, 
where  they  resided  until  1841.  During  the  latter 
year  he  came  to  Warren  County  and  settled  in  Hale 
Township,  where  he  purchased  96  acres  of  land  on 
which  he  lived,  following  his  vocation  until  April, 
1869.  At  that  date  he  purchased  a  house  and  lot 
in  Kirkwood,  and  in  company  with  J.  H.  Gilmore 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  continued 
for  about  ten  years.  About  three  years  prior  to  his 
death  he  retired  from  active  business,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  1885,  and  that  of  his  wife  in  1876. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  we  place  at  the  head 
of  this  notice,  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  was  23 
years  old,  having  received  a  fair  education  in  the 
common  schools.  After  leaving  home  Mr.  Lowther 
purchased  80  acres  of  la  id  in  Hale  Township,  on 
which  he  resided  for  one  and  a  half  years,  when  he 


536 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


sold  it  and  removed  to  Lenox  Township,  and  there 
purchased  another  80  acre  tract,  and  for  two  years 
was  engaged  in  its  cultivation.  He  then  returned  to 
Hale  Township,  and  lived  until  1869,  when  he  came 
to  Kirkwood  and  purchased  property,  since  which 
time  he  has  continued  to  reside  there. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Lowther  took  place  July  19, 
1849,  at  which  time  Miss  Julia  A.  M.  Robinson,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  became  his  wife.  There  were 
seven  children  of  this  union,  all  dead,  but  they 
took  an  orphan  boy,  J.  H.  Sterling^  at  the  age  of  18 
months,  whom  they  reared  to  manhood,  and  since  he 
has  attained  his  majority  have  assisted  him  in  ob- 
taining a  foothold,  whereby  he  may  acquire  in  this 
busy  world  of  strife  a  competency. 

Politically,  Mr.  Lowther  affiliates  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  Town  Board  in  Kirkwood. 


T.  Hole-hard,  the  leading  dry-goods 
merchant  at  Monmouth,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington Co.  Md.,  Nov.  i,  r842.  His  parents, 
¥  Daniel  and  Maria  (Brewer)  Reichard,  natives 
respectively  of  the  States  of  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  dating  their  ancestry  back 
to  Germany,  reared  six  sons,  and  they  were  all 
brought  up  to  the  occupation  of  the  father,  farming, 
but,  judging  from  the  memorandum  before  us,  while 
they  inherited  any  quantity  of  industry  and  native 
ability,  the  love  of  labor  in  the  fields  was  one  charac- 
teristic the  old  gentleman  failed  to  transmit.  Two  of 
the  sons  became  prominent  physicians,  one  a  druggist 
and  three  dealers  in  merchandise. 

The  father  removed  to  Warren  County,  in  1863, 
and  located  on  a  farm  in  Coldbrook  Township,  where 
he  lived  and  labored  until  his  death,  in  1866,  aged 
55  years.  His  widow  survived  him  until  1873, 
when  she  died  in  Monmouth,  at  the  age  of  63  years. 
John  T.  Reichard  was  educated  in  Maryland,  and 
was  at  Hagerstown  College  when  his  patriotism  over- 
came his  desire  for  classics,  and  August  i,  1862,  saw 
him  "  right  dress  "  as  a  private  in  Co.  A,  7th  Mary- 
land Vol.  Infantry.  There  is  no  reason  in  the  world 
to  believe  that  he  asked  for  the  change,  but  the  writer 


knows  a  great  many  reasons  why  he  should  have 
been  very  glad  of  the  transfer  from  the  ranks  to  clerk 
in  the  Quartermaster's  department.  He  had  been 
out  only  about  two  months  when  this  occurred,  and 
the  fact  that  he  was  retained  in  the  position  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  proves  that  he  was  as  efficient  as 
clerk  as  it  is  known  he  would  have  been  as  a  soldier. 

Leaving  the  service  at  Baltimore.  Md.,  he  came  at 
once  to  Monmouth  and  engaged  in  farming  with  his 
father,  and  at  the  death  of  the  latter  administered 
upon  the  estate  and  closed  it  up.  In  February,  1868, 
he  embarked  in  mercantile  business,  and  the  story  of 
his  success  was  told  us  by  his  rivals.  Mr.  Reichard 
is  a  man  who  would  succeed  in  anything,  except  that 
of  being  ungentlemanly.  This  no  sort  of  training 
could  induct  him  into. 

When  the  Monmouth  National  Bank  changed 
hands,  in  18 — ,  Mr.  Reichard  became  one  of  its  Di- 
rectors, and  subsequently  Vice-President,  a  position 
he  filled  up  to  January  r,  1885.  He  is  largely  inter- 
ested in  agriculture  and  stock-breeding,  and  has 
been  for  some  years  President  of  the  Warren  County 
Agricultural  Society.  He  is  a  popular  Mason,  and 
member  of  the  largest  Consistory  in  the  world,  that 
of  the  Oriental,  of  Chicago.  July  15,  1875,  Mr. 
Reichard  was  married  at  Newcastle.  Ind.,  to  Miss 
Jeane  Elliott,  daughter  of  Hon.  J.  T.  Elliott,  late 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Indiana,  and  his 
children  are  named  Lillian,  George,  Marie  and 
Elliott. 


yfiram  Baldwin,  proprietor  of  the   Baldwin 
House  and  one  of  the   pioneers  of  Mon- 
mouth, was  born   in  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec. 
9,  1808.     His   parents,  Wathel  and   Catherine 

I(Barr)  Baldwin,  were  married,   reared  their  six 
sons  and  four  daughters,  and  died  in  Chester 
County.     Hiram  Baldwin  was  brought  up  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm   and   fairly  educated  at  the  subscription 
schools. 

March  28,  r832,  he  was  married  in  his  native 
county  to  Miss  Mariah  Mackey,  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter Co.,  Pa.,  and  of  Irish  and  Dutch  parentage. 
Their  two  sons,  James  W.  and  George  W.,  were  born 
in  Lancaster  County,  the  first  in  1833  and  the  latter 
in  1835.  They  are  both  connected  with  the  man- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


537 


agement  and  direction  of  the  hotel  and  have  been 
for  many  years.  The  Baldwins  originally  came  from 
England,  probably  in  1645,  and  settled  in  Massa- 
chusetts The  Barrs  came  from  Germany,  in  1683, 
and  settled  at  Germantown,  Pa. 

The  family  came  to  Monmouth  in  the  spring  of 
1840,  and  here  Mr.  B.  began  the  manufacture  of 
wagons  and  plows,  and  followed  it  about  15  years. 
In  1846  he  moved  upon  the  spot  now,  and  since 
1855,  known  as  the  Baldwin  Hotel.  It  was  origin- 
ally a  two-story,  20  room  building;  in  1876  it  was 
remodeled  and  converted  into  a  three-story,  40  room 
house.  Mr.  B.  learned  the  trade  of  carriage  maker 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  He  farmed  some  since  com- 
ing to  Illinois,  but  for  20  years  has  devoted  his  time 
to  hotel  business.  His  house,  for  many  years  the 
best  in  Monmouth,  was  for  many  years  the  rendez- 
vous of  the  famous  Lincoln  and  his  friends.  The 
room  the  great  man  occupied  is  now  No.  17,  and 
contains  the  furniture  he  so  often  used.  Mr.  Doug- 
lass, when  at  Monmouth,  stopped  at  the  old  Warren 
House,  when  not  with  his  friend,  Hon.  J.  W.  David- 
son. Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  no  church  ;  has  never 
sought  office,  but  the  history  of  Warren  County  must 
in  truth  print  his  name  upon  its  pages  as  one  of  the 
best  men  the  county  has  ever  claimed  as  a  citizen. 


(jenry  H.  Pattee,  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Pattee  Plow  Company,  of  Monmouth, 
was  born  at  Canaan,  Grafton  Co.,  N.  H., 
April  17,  1840,  and  was  the  youngest  son  living 
of  Daniel  and  Judith  (Burleigh)  Pattee.  natives 
of  New  Hampshire,  and  descended  from  the 
French.  The  senior  Mr.  Pattee  was  by  occupation  a 
farmer,  and  brought  his  four  sons  up  to  that  voca- 
tion, though  none  of  them  followed  it  any  great 
length  of  time.  The  father  and  mother  both  died  in 
New  Hampshire,  he  in  1875,  aged  76  years,  and  she 
in  1883,  aged  83  years. 

Henry  H.  Pattee  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  State,  and  after  learning  the  art 
of  telegraphy  repaired  to  Canada,  in  1862,  as  man- 
ager of  the  Vermont  and  Boston  Telegraph  Co.  He 
left  Canada  in  1866,  and  came  to  Galesburg,  111., 


where  for  threeyears  he  was  engaged  in  millingbusi- 
ness.  In  1869  he  came  to  Monmouth,  and  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother  ran  the  Star  Flouring  Mill 
four  years.  In  1873,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  agricultural  implements.  (See  Pattee  Plow  Com- 
pany.) The  stock  company  was  organized  in  1881, 
and  Mr.  Pattee  has  since  been  its  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. 

He  was  first  married  at  Canaan,  N.  H.,  in  1867. 
His  wife,  nee  Miss  Lizzie  R.  Morgan,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Arnold  Morgan,  now  deceased,  died  in  her  na- 
tive town  (Canaan)  in  1879. 

Aug.  25,  i88r,  Mr.  Pattee  married  Miss  Anna  E. 
Willets^  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Elias  Willets. 
(See  biography  of  Judge  Willets,  this  volume.) 


ohn  W.  Matthews,  State's  attorney  for 
Warren  County,  resident  at  Monmouth,  is  a 
son  of  the  late  Rev.  Robert  C.  and  Louisa 
Matilda  (Martin)  Matthews,  and  was  born  at 
Macon,Noxubee  Co.,  Miss.,  July  7,  1848.  (See  [ 
biography  of  Rev.  Robert  Matthews,  D.D.,  this 
volume.)  John  W.  Matthews  was  educated  at  J 
Monmouth  College,  graduated  and  in  the  class 
of  1871,  with  the  degree  of  A.B.  Immediately 
after  leaving  college  he  began  reading  law  with  John 
J.  Glenn,  and  two  years  later  in  the  office  of  Hard- 
ing, McCoy  &  Pratt,  Chicago.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  at  Ottawa,  in  September,  1874,  and  returned 
to  Monmouth,  where  he  became  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Glenn  &  Matthews,  for  a  year,  .which 
then  became  the  firm  of  Glenn,  Kirkpatrick  &  Mat- 
thews. At  the  end  of  one  year  Mr.  M.  withdrew 
from  the  firm,  and  was  one  year  alone  in  practice, 
and  having  satisfied  himself  that  he  was  able  to  hold 
his  own  at  the  Warren  County  forum,  he  formed,  in 
1880,  the  -ixisting  partnership,  Matthews  &  Peacock, 
Mr.  T.  G.  Peacock  being  a  talented  young  attorney, 
and  the  junior  member  of  the  firm. 

In  the  fall  of  1880,  Mr.  Matthews  was  elected 
State's  Attorney,  which  office  he  filled  with  such  sat- 
isfaction to  the  people,  that  four  years  later  they 
placed  him  again  at  the  helm  as  a  pilot  of  the  pleas 
of  the  commonwealth. 

May  30,  1864,  he  made  up  his  mind  that   the    re- 


538 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


bellion  had  gone  on  long  enough,  so  offered  his  coun- 
try his  service  as  a  "  backbone  breaker  "  and  high 
private  in  Co.  A,  1381!!  III.  Vol.  Inf.,  for  the  term  of 
100  days.  Serving  out  his  term  in  the  138111,  he  was 
discharged  Oct.  14,  1864,  at  Springfield,  111.,  and  on 
the  1 8th  of  February  following  enrolled  as  a  musi- 
cian in  Co.  H,  47th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until 
August  17,  1865.  With  the  47th  he  penetrated  well 
into  "Dixie,"  and  his  experience  in  that  country  will 
be  remembered  by  him  for  many  a  long  year.  He 
left  the  service  to  accept  a  scholarship  at  Annapolis 
Naval  Academy,  but  ill  health  forced  him  to  aban- 
don it. 

He  was  married  at  Monmouth,  in  1876,  to  Miss 
Mary  G.  Stevens,  a  native  of  New  York,  an8  his  son 
is  named  Robert  C.  A  daughter,  Anna  Louisa,  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  Matthews  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  also  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  I.  O.  O.  F. 


A.  Carmiehael,  banker  and  merchant  at 
Kirkwood.  Among  the  early  pioneers 
who  came  into  Warren  County  in  1836,  were 
Arthur  P.  Carmiehael  and  Jane  Henderson, 
both  natives  of  South  Carolina.  Two  years 
after  their  arrival  they  were  united  in  marriage, 
which  was  a  prominent  event  among  the  pioneers  of 
that  day.  The  newly  married  couple  "  settled  down" 
in  Warren  County,  but  shortly  afterward  moved  into 
Henry  County,  where  they  lived  for  15  years. 
They  at  present  reside  at  Red  Oak,  Iowa.  The 
elder  Carmiehael  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  but  since  1877  has  been  a  grain 
dealer.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children — C.  A. 
being  their  eldest,  who  was  born  in  1840  while  his 
parents  were  living  in  Henderson  Count.-.  When 
he  was  a  young  man  of  21  years  of  age,  the  late  war 
had  just  broken  out,  and  with  his  brave  heart  and 
love  for  his  country  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  i7th  111. 
Vol.  Infantry,  and  for  three  years  and  three  months 
did  valiant  service  in  behalf  of  the  Union.  He  was 
twice  wounded,  but  slightly,  however.  His  first  bat- 
tle was  at  Frederickstown,  Mo  ;  then  he  was  at  the 
terrible  conflict  at  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth, 

LA: 


Vicksburg,  and  many  of  the  other  desperate  engage- 
ments of  the  war.  He  held  the  position  of  Sergeant 
and  at  the  end  of  a  long  service  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. 

After  the  war  had  closed  and  Mr.  C.  had  returned 
home,  he  found  a  situation  as  clerk  in  a  mercantile 
house  at  St.  Louis.  Here  he  remained  only  one 
year,  however,  when  he  came  to  Kirkwood  and  se- 
cured a  position  as  clerk  for  Carr  &  Beers.  At  the 
end  of  a  year  they  sold  out  to  A.  P.  Brown,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  a  year  and  a  half.  He  then 
engaged  with  Chapin,  Houlton  &  Davis,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  15  years.  At  the  end  of  this  long 
service,  in  1882,  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  firm, 
since  which  time  the  firm  name  has  been  Chapin, 
Houlton  &  Co.  He  is  an  enterprising,  pushing 
business  man,  and  has  long  held  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Politically  he  is 
a  Republican,  and  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Uni- 
ted Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  denomination  he 
is  a  Trustee.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Villagei 
Council,  and  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  and  of  the  G.  A.I 
R.,  in  fact  is  an  active  worker  in  everything  which| 
has  for  its  tendency  the  building  up  of  the  commu-^ 
nity  and  doing  good. 

Mr.  Carmiehael  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie,  the 
daughter  of  Nelson  and  Sarah  J.  Carr,  of  Kirkwood 
both  natives  of  New  York,  Jan.  21,  1869.  Nellie, 
their  only  child,  was  born  Dec.  17,  1869. 


,ilton  C.  Robison,  general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  residing  on  section  6,  Cold. 
Brook  Township,  was  born  in  Kelly 
Township,  this  county,  on  section  32,  Oct. 
2S>  '835-  His  father,  Andrew  Rcbison,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  came  thence  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Nancy  Stitt,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  was  reared  in  Kentucky,  and  of  Irish  parent- 
age. She  came  to  Ohio  when  a  young  woman.  In 
that  State  three  children  were  born  to  them  :  Isa- 
bella, Mary  and  Robert  G.,  the  latter  being  the  only 
survivor.  They  afterward  settled  in  Warren  Co., 
Ind.,  and  while  residing  there  three  more  children 


(.it-'-- 

1-.     rtt 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


54i 


were  added  to  their  family  :  John,  Martha  and  Wil- 
liam, the  latter  now  deceased. 

In  the  year  1829,  the  family  came  to  Illinois,  a«d 
settled  in  Wairen County,  while  it  was  unsettled,  and 
there  the  father  secured  a  tract  of  wild  land.  His 
demise  occurred  in  Cold  Brook  Township,  where  the 
son,  our  subject,  now  resides  The  mother  died  at 
the  same  place  in  1875. 

Of  the  three  children  born  in  Illinois,  our  subject, 
Milton  C.  L.,  was  the  youngest,  and  also  youngest  of 
a  family  of  nine  children.  He  resided  at  home  until 
he  reached  his  majority,  in  the  meantime  assisting 
his  father  in  the  duties  of  the  farm,  and  alternating 
his  labors  thereon  by  attendance  at  the  common 
schools,  at  which  he  acquired  a  fair  English  educa- 
tion. When  he  reached  man's  estate  his  father  died, 
and  he  began  fanning  on  his  own  account. 

The  m;irnage  of  Mr.  Milton  C.  L.  Robison  and 
Miss  Dru&illa  Hennen  was  celebrated  on  the  22d  of 
February,  1860,  in  Momnouth  Township,  the  latter 
being  a  native  of  Ohio.  She  came  to  Illinois  with 
her  parents  when  a  young  woman,  and  they  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  to  a  small  extent.  Mrs.  Rob- 
ison died  at  her  home  in  this  township,  March  i, 
i86r,  after  having  borne  to  her  husband  one  child, 
Drusilla,  who  lived  only  17  days,  and  whose  death 
occurred  the  same  day  as  that  of  the  mother. 

Mr.  Robison  is  the  possessor  of  122  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  on  which  he  now  resides  ;  in  his  chosen 
vocation,  agriculture,  he  has  met  with  decided  suc- 
cess. 

In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat. 


wjKSft  en-  Abner  C.  Harding,  deceased,  was  born 
I  ISat  at  East  Hampton,  Conn.,  Feb.  10,1807. 
He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Plainfield, 
Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1815,  and  soon  after 
that  date  he  engaged  in  working  at  a  carding 
machine,  but  did  not  continue  at  that  long. 
He  began  teaching  at  15  years  of  age.  The  educa- 
tion of  Mr.  Harding  was  acquired  at  the  schools  of 
Hamilton,  N.  Y. 

In  1821  young  Harding  enlisted  as  midshipman  in 
the  United  States  Navy,  but  was  rejected  for  want 


ot  proper  stature.  The  next  year,  in  i^f?,  he  en- 
gaged in  peddling  tin  ware  and  also  taught  school. 
In  1823  he  followed  the  vocation  of  a  drover  and 
was  also  engaged  in  teaching  school.  In  18^4-5  his 
occupation  was  that  of  a  school  teacher.  In  1826-7 
he  read  law  at  Bridgewater,  N.  Y.,  and  the  following 
year,  1828,  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  at  Lewisburg,  that  State.  Jan.  30, 
1829,  Mr.  Harding  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Rebecca  L.  Byers,  nee  Leibricks,  who  died  at  Bloom- 
field,  Pa.,  in  1833,  leaving  two  children — George  F., 
born  in  1830,  and  Mary  R.,  born  in  1833.  The  for- 
mer lives  in  Chicago,  and  the  latter  is  the  wife  of 
George  Snyder,  a  resident  of  Momnouth.  In  1835 
Mr.  Harding  was  elected  to  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention of  Pennsylvania.  Also,  during  that  year,  he 
formed  a  second  matrimonial  alliance,  at  Bloomfield, 
that  place,  with  Miss  Susan  A.  Ickes,  a  native  of  Perry 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  she  was  born,  July  28,  1815.  Their 
marriage  took  place  June  30.  During  the  year  1837 
Mr  Harding  served  in  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
.tion  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  became  acquainted 
with  Thad.  Stevens,  and  in  1837  followed  his  profes- 
sion, the  law.  Miss  Ickes,  to  whom  Mr.  Harding 
was  married,  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Jonas  Ickes,  who 
at  present  resides  with  Mrs.  Harding,  near  Mon- 
mouth.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb. 
3>  '793.  and  ls  therefore,  at  this  writing  (November, 
1885),  nearly  93  years  of  age.  He  has  lived  in  Illi- 
nois since  1856.  His  wife,  nee  Mary  Duncan,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  Perry  Co., .Pa.,  June  24, 
1814,  bore  him  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  and 
lived  to  be  76  years  of  age,  departing  this  life  in  July, 
1868. 

In  June,  1838,  Gen.  Harding  removed  to  Mon- 
mouth  and  at  once  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  was  a  good  lawyer  and  a  better  bus- 
iness man.  He  became  interested  in  politics,  acting 
with  the  Whigs  in  all  matters  of  interest  in  his 
county  and  State.  In  1847-48  and  '49,  Gen.  Hard- 
ing continued  to  follow  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Monmouth.  During  this  time  he  also  became  in- 
terested in  railroading  and  built  and  supervised  the 
building  of  the  road  running  between  Peoria  and 
Burlington,  now  a  part  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad.  In  1848  he  was  chosen  delegate 
to  the  Constitutional  Convention ;  was  a  member  of 
the  Illinois  Legislature  in  1848-49  and  '50.  In  1851, 
while  Gen.  Harding  was  actively  engaged  in  railroad 


54* 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


matters,  his  eyesight  began  to  fail  him,  and  from  that 
time  he  ceased  to  practice  law.  From  1852  to  1860, 
he  spent  a  portion  of  his  time  traveling  for  his  health 
and  when  not  engaged  in  traveling  he  was  occupied 
in  railroad  matters. 

In  1851,  Gen.  Harding,  in  partnership  with  Chan- 
cy Hardin  and  Judge  Ivory  Quinby,  under  the  style 
of  C.  Hardin  &  Co.,  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
what  was  then  known  as  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka 
Railroad.  Gen.  Harding  having  procured  the  char- 
ter some  time  previous  to  the  above  date,  the  right 
of  way  was  procured  by  the  above  named  gentlemen 
and  they  changed  somewhat  the  original  route  and 
built  the  road  from  Burlington  to  Knoxville  and  from 
the  latter  place  it  was  to  be  continued  by  Kelly, 
Moss  &  Co.  The  latter  firm  proved  unable  to  com- 
plete the  road,  and  Gen.  Harding  bought  out  their 
contract  and  completed  the  same  in  1856,  and  for  a 
short  time  the  road  was  operated  by  the  above  com- 
pany, they  subsequently  selling  the  same  to  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company. 

Gen.  Harding  enlisted  as  private  of  the  83d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  in  1862.  He  was  elected  Colonel,  and 
mustered  into  service  Aug.  21,  of  that  year.  As  in 
civil  life,  so  he  was  in  war,  bound  to  rise.  In  shoit, 
he  was  one  of  the  few  men  born  to  command.  On 
March  23,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral of  volunteers.  Another  writer  has  said  that  this 
promotion  was  a  reward  for  his  gallant  conduct  in  de- 
fending Fort  Donelson  so  successfully  after  it  fell 
into  Federal  hands,  and  against  an  attack  of  the 
Confederate  Generals,  Wheeler,  Forrest  and  Whar- 
ton,  with  a  command  of  over  8,000,  while  Harding 
had  only  800.  For  the  truth  of  history,  it  might  be 
well  to  say  that  Gen.  Harding  was  at  that  time  al- 
ready in  the  line  of  promotion,  though  his  conduct 
on  the  occasion  mentioned  may  have  hastened  his 
commission.  The  true  history  of  that,  lo  Harding, 
most  important  engagement  shows  that  on  Feb.  3, 
1863,  a  portion  of  Gen.  Forrest's  command,  under 
Gen.  Wheeler,  left  Palmyra  and  advanced  on  Fort 
Donelson,  then  garrisoned  by  Col.  Harding,  in  com- 
mand of  some  nine  companies  of  the  83d  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  a  battalion  of  the  Fifth  Iowa  Cav.,  and  Flood's 
Battery,  consisting  of  four  rifled  guns  and  one  32 
pounder  siege  gun,  mounted  on  a  pivot  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  fort.  Gen.  Harding,  learning  that 
the  enemy  was  approaching,  telegraphed  to  Colonel 
Lowe,  at  Fort  Henry,  asking  for  reinforcements. 


That  officer  sent  word  back  for  Harding  to  send  out 
scouts  and  learn  the  exact  course  of  the  rebels, 
which  was  done.  Lowe  could  send  no  aid,  but  tel- 
egraphed the  gun-boats,  then  pushing  up  the  river, 
that  Donelson  was  in  a  tight  place,  and  at  the  same 
time  telegraphed  to  Col.  Harding  to  "hold  the  place 
at  all  hazards  until  dark,  when  help  would  arrive.  " 
At  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  fort  was  attacked  from  the 
eastward,  and  an  effort  made  to  carry  the  works. 
The  ammunition  of  the  garrison  was  low,  but  it  was 
skillfully  and  economically  handled.  Col.  Harding 
was  everywhere  encouraging  his  men.  Wherever 
the  fight  was  most  severe  or  the  danger  most  immi- 
nent, there  he  was,  swowd  in  hand,  advising  and 
commanding  his  men.  Night  came  on,  the  enemy 
had  surrounded  the  three  sides  of  the  fort,  and  Gen. 
Wheeler  under  a  flag  of  truce  demanded  a  surrender 
of  the  garrison  or  to  take  the  consequences.  Gen. 
Harding  sent  back  word  that  they  "would  take  the 
consequences."  The  fight  was  renewed;  a  second  de- 
mand to  surrender  made,  and  again  refused.  It  was  8 
o'clock,  and  Capt.  Fitch's  fleet  astounded  the  eneiry 
with  well  directed  broadsides  from  his  several  gun- 
)  boats,  and  in  20  minutes  not  a  healthy  rebel  was  in 
sight.  Col.  Harding  had  obeyed  orders  unnecessary  to 
be  given.  With  the  information  that  help  was  assured 
any  time  within  a  week,  Harding  would  have  held  the 
fort  against  all  such  generalship  as  that  manifested  by 
Wheeler  in  that  attack.  Why  a  General,  with  a  super- 
ior force  would  hang  around  a  small  garrison  6  hours, 
and  in  just  such  position  as  to  have  250  of  his  men 
killed,  600  wounded  and  105  taken  prisoner,  might 
be  explained  by  Wheeler,  but  by  no  one  else.  Col. 
Harding  lost  13  killed,  51  wounded  and  20  taken 
prisoners.  It  was  certainly  a  successful  defense. 

In  r864  Gen.  Harding  was  elected  as  the  candi- 
date of  the  Republican  party  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in.  the  United  States  Congress,  and  served  in 
the  ^gth  and  4oth  Congresses,  being  re-elected  in 
1866.  While  in  Congress,  Gen.  Harding  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Manufactories  and  Militia  in  the 
39th,  and  on  the  Committees  on  Union  Prisoners' 
Claims  and  Militia  in  the  4oth  Congress.  While  in 
Congress,  he  secured  the  charter,  in  his  own  name, 
to  build  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Mississippi  River 
at  Burlington,  Iowa.  The  ownership  of  the  charter 
proved  to  be  very  valuable  property,  which  he  after- 
ward sold  to  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  Company,  who  built  the  bridge. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


543 


In  1869  the  health  of  Gen.  Harding  began  to  fail, 
and  in  May,  1871,  he  went  to  Europe,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  October  following,  when  he  again 
returned  to  his  home  at  Monmouth.  Here  he  contin- 
ued to  reside  an  invalid  during  the  years  1872-3, 
and  July  19,  1874,  at  nine  oclock  p.  m.,  he  passed 
away.  The  foundation  of  Gen.  Harding's  fortune 
may  be  said  to  have  been  laid  in  his  judicious  in- 
vestment in  real  estate  and  the  consequent  rise  of 
the  same  in  value.  As  3  lawyer  he  ranked  high,  es- 
pecially in  the  branch  pertaining  to  the  laws  relating 
to  titles  and  real  estate.  As  a  pleader,  his  papers 
were  prepared  with  consummate  skill,  resulting  from 
a  broad  and  comprehensive  knowledge  and  applica- 
tion of  the  law  bearing  on  the  case  in  hand.  As  an 
advocate,  he  was  a  clear,  terse  and  powerful  reas- 
oner,  and  frequently  very  eloquent.  He  participated 
during  his  extended  practice  in  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant cause  celebra  which  have  shed  lustre  upon 
the  jurisprudence  of  Illinois. 

I  He  began  life  a  poor  boy,  but  as  an  accumulator 
of  wealth  he  certainly  proved  the  greatest  success 
known  to  Warren  County.  He  died  leaving  a  very 
large  fortune.  As  a  gentleman,  worthy  to  be  recog- 
nized in  this  work  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Warren  County,  in  the'days  that  are  past  and  gone, 
we  take  pleasure  in  being  enabled  to  present  to  the 
reader  a  true  likeness  of  one  of  the  County's  self- 
made,  respected  and  honored  citizens. 


evi  Maley,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  1837,  in  the  township  ofSumner. 
He  was  born  March  22,  1822,  in  Ritchie 
Co.,  West  Virginia.  His  father,  William  Maley, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  r,  1780. 
The  family  is  of  Irish  origin,  the  father  of  Mr. 
Maley  last  named  having  been  born  in  that  country, 
whence  he  came  to  America  about  the  time  of  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  He  entered  the  Colonial 
military  service,  and  after  his  enrollment,  while  on 
his  way  to  join  his  command,  in  company  with  the 
organization  to  which  he  belonged,  was  surprised  by 
a  detachment  of  British  dragoons,  taken  prisoner  and 
confined  for  some  time  on  board  a  prison  ship,  in  the 


harbor  of  New  York.  After  the  close  of  the  war, 
about  1796,  he  went  to  West  Virginia.  He  had  be- 
come the  possessor  of  a  tract  of  land  in  that  part  of 
the  Old  Dominion  which  was  located  in  Wood  Coun- 
ty, and  by  a  subsequent  municipal  division  was  set 
off  to  Ritchie  County.  The  condition  of  the  route 
thither  from  the  then  limited  bounds  of  civilization 
can  better  be  imagined  than  described.  The  way 
was  literally  trackless  from  the  county  of  Rockbridge, 
in  Virginia,  where  he  was  warned  of  the  insecurity 
of  the  place  where  he  purposed  to  settle,  on  account 
of  the  Indians  there.  He  heeded  the  advice  and  lo- 
cated in  Rockbridge  County,  among  the  mountains. 
Their  stay  continued  four  or  five  years  and  then 
three  of  the  sons,  one  of  whom  was  the  subject  of 
this  personal  narration,  pushed  their  way  to  Wood 
County.  They  took  possession  of  their  father's 
claim,  erected  a  log  cabin  and  proceeded  to  clear 
the  land  from  the  heavy  growth  of  timber.  As  soon 
as  the  work  of  improvement  was  fairly  under  way 
they  were  joined  by  their  parents  and  the  remaining 
members  of  the  family.  The  grandparents  were  in- 
cluded in  the  household,  and  their  lives  came  to  a 
close  in  Wood  County,  on  the  frontier  farm. 

William  Maley  married  Nancy  Wells.  She  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  her  father  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Wood  County.  From  him  she  re- 
ceived a  tract  of  land  which  comprised  320  acres. 
Her  husband  cleared  it  and  placed  it  in  profitable 
condition  for  agricultural  purposes.  It  was  their 
home  for  many  years  and  was  the  birthplace  of  their 
13  children.  In  1837  the  household,  including  15 
persons,  started  for  an  overland  trip  to  Illinois  ;  the 
party  made  quite  a  little  procession  with  their  eight 
horses,  two  wagons  and  a  carriage.  They  cooked 
and  ate,  and  slept  on  the  way  in  their  wagons,  and 
after  a  journey  of  four  weeks  arrived  in  Warren 
County.  In  the  vicinity  of  Little  York  they  found  a 
vacant  cabin,  which  they  took  possession  of,  and 
which  was  their  home  through  the  first  winter. 
Meanwhile  the  father  bought  land  in  the  Township 
of  Summer,  on  Section  31.  It  had  no  house  and  the 
family  found  shelter  in  a  log  house  which  stood  on 
another  farm  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  of  which 
they  were  the  occupants  until  August  of  that  sum- 
mer, when  their  own  house  was  in  readiness  for 
them.  With  the  assistance  of  his  sons  the  senior 
Maley  improved  a  farm,  and  on  it  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  died  in  1858.  His  wife's 


544 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


death  transpired  in  1838.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  He  belonged  to  the  seceding 
branch  of  the  same  denomination. 

Lev!  Maley  came  to  Warren  County  with  his  fa- 
ther, and  was  an  inmate  of  the  parental  home  until 
his  marriage,  Dec.  6,  1841,  to  Margaret  F.  Paxton. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  Pax- 
ton,  and  was  born  May  i,  1829,  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio. 
Her  parents  were  pioneers  of  Warren  County.  Her 
husband,  associated  with  two  brothers,  bought  land 
on  section  20  in  Sumner  Township,  on  which  they 
located  at  the  time^f  their  marriage.  Their  home 
was  at  first  the  pioneer  log  cabin,  but  this  in  time 
gave  way  to  a  laree  frame  house,  and  soon  after  the 
other  buildings  on  the  place  were  made  to  correspond 
in  value  and  appearance.  Mr.  Maley  died  July  15, 
1866.  His  five  children  were  born  in  the  following 
order:  William,  born  Junes,  1852;  died  Dec.  23, 
1876,  leaving  a  wife  and  three  children.  Margaret 
A.  is  the  wife  of  William  Berry.  They  live  at  Little 
York.  Clarissa  married  B.  S.  Dodson,  and  they  are 
residents  of  the  same  place,  as  is  John  P.  Elizabeth 
married  J.  Alison.  Mr.  Maley  united  with  the  Uni- 
ted Presbyterian  church,  to  which  his  wife  belonged 
before  her  marriage.  Mrs.  Maley  is  a  resident  of 
Little  York,  with  her  son  John  P.,  who  is  a  stock 
dealer. 


rus  Bute,  resident  of  Kirkwood,at  which 
place  he  is  the  Police  Magistrate,  was 
born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  26,  1929,  his 
parents  being  John  and  Mary  (Morrison) 
Bute,  natives  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania 
respectively.  His  father  was  a  farmer  in  his  na- 
tive State,  and  continued  to  reside  there  with  his 
wife  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1855,  that  of 
his  wife  occurring  two  years  later,  in  1857. 

Cyrus  Bute,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  we  give  in  this 
volume,  remained  under  the  family  roof-tree  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  manhood.  He  received  a  com- 
mon school  education  in  his  native  county,  and  as- 
sisted his  father  on  the  farm  up  to  the  time  he  left 
the  old  homestead.  After  leaving  home  he  was 
engaged  in  running  his  father's  flour  mill,  and  con- 


tinued in  that  vocation  until  1850.  He  then  came  to 
this  State  and  located  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mon- 
mouth,  where  for  four  years  he  was  engaged  in  culti- 
vating a  rented  farm.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time 
he  purchased  75  acres  of  good  farm  land,  located  on 
section  9,  Tompkins  Township,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Bute  enlisted  in  the  S^d  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  Co.  A,  and  served  in  the  Union  army  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  appointed  3d  Sergeant  of 
the  company,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  Feb. 
3,  1863,  when,  after  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  he 
was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  continuing  to 
hold  that  position  until  he  was  honorably  discharged 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  July,  1865.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  many  battles  and  skirmishes,  and  received 
but  one  wound,  although  he  had  his  clothes  pierced 
with  the  enemies'  bullets  in  many  places.  His  com- 
pany gave  him  the  control  of  a  large  amount  of  prop- 
erty to  deliver  at  Fort  Henry,  and  while  on  the  way 
he  was  attacked  by  guerillas  and  had  two  of  his  men 
shot,  but  by  killing  the  leader  of  the  band  they  suc- 
ceeded in  safely  delivering  the  property  at  Fort 
Henry. 

After  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Bute  returned  to  War- 
ren County  and  was  elected  Sheriff  in  1868,  and 
served  a  term  of  three  years.  In  1873  he  was  elect- 
ed to  the  position  that  he  at  present  occupies,  Police 
Magistrate. 

His  marriage  took  place  in  1841,  at  which  time 
Miss  Margaret  Gibson,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
became  his  wife.  Of  their  union  four  children  were 
born, all  of  whom  are  living,  and  named  as  follows: 
Mary  E.,  Achsa  J.,  Margaret  E.  and  John  M.  The 
last  named  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  union  at  the 
age  of  13  years,  having  joined  Co.  L.  i2th  Cav.  He 
participated  in  quite  a  number  of  skirmishes  and 
engagements,  never  receiving  any  wounds.  After  the 
war  was  over  he  continued  in  the  service  over  a  year 
(being  under  the  command  of  the  late  lamented 
Gen.  Custer)  doing  service  in  Texas.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  at  Houston,  Tex.  Mr.  Bute 
had  one  son  killed  in  the  army,  M.  DeLafayette.  He 
enlisted  in  Co.  C,  36th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Chicamauga,  Sept.  20,  1863. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Bute  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masons. 

Mr.  Bute  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  representative 
men  of  this  county,  always  aiding  any  laudable  en- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


545 


terprise  that  is  calculated  to  benefit  the  community 
in  which  he  resides. 

The  children  of  Mr.  Bute  are  settled  as  follows: 
Mary  E.,  married  Dr.  E.  Hicks,  of  Greenfield,  Iowa  ; 
Achsa  J.,  married  L.  D.  Earp,  and  resides  in  Mon- 
mouth,  and  has  two  children,  Effie  and  George ; 
Margaret  E.  married  Mulford  Sewell,  and  now  re- 
sides in  Huntington,  Indiana;  John  M.  married  Car- 
rie Hall,  and  has  one  child,  Thadeus. 


• 


— •}&- 


iram  Sheldon,  one  of  the  successful  and 
prominent  agriculturists  of  Warren  County, 
residing  upon  section  33,  Floyd  Township, 
is  a  native  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  at  which 
place,  on  the  zoth  of  November,  1831,  he  was 
born,  being  a  son  of  Wilson  Sheldon,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  city,  Feb.  3,  181 1.  He  died  Sept. 
r3i  '873,  in  the  city  of  Monmouth. 

In  1837,  Wilson  Sheldon,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Floyd  Township.  He 
married  Miss  Sarah  Matteson,  a  native  of  New 
York,  Feb.  14,  1830.  She  was  born  Feb.  26,  1817, 
and  still  survives,  residing  in  Monmouth,  enjoying 
good  health.  Of  this  union  nine  children  were  born, 
namely  :  Hiram,  Martha,  George,  Seneca,  Burr,  Al- 
ma, Aurilla,  Mary  and  Jerome.  With  the  exception 
of  Jerome  and  Aurilla,  all  of  the  above  are  living. 
Martha  is  the  wife  of  Wyram  Wiswell ;  they  reside 
in  Galesburg.  Alma  married  David  Van  Winkle, 
and  lives  in  Chicago.  Mary  resides  with  her  mother 
at  Monmouth.  George  is  married  and  lives  in  Ne- 
braska. The  balance  reside  in  this  county. 

Hiram  Sheldon  married  Miss  Emma  J.  Aylsworth, 
Jan.  29,  1862.  She  is  a  native  of  Warren  County, 
and  was  born  in  Berwick  Township,  April  6,  1841. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Aylsworth,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  born  in  the  year  1816,  and  about  the 
year  1836  came  to  Illinois,  and  two  years  later  mar- 
ried Miss  Harriet  Roberts.  She  was  born  on  July 
1 6,  1817.  They  became  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, viz. :  Norman  and  Emma  J.,  who  is  the  wife  of 
our'subject.  Mr.  Aylsworth  came  from  Otsego  Co., 
N.  Y.,  to  this  State,  his  demise  occurring  in  1846, 
and  that  of  his  widow  Sept.  4,  1885.  Afterthe death 


of  the  first  husband,  Mrs.  Aylsworth  married  An- 
drew Whitenack,  who  still  survives  her. 

Mr.  Hiram  Sheldon  is  the  proprietor  of  800  acres 
of  good  land  in  this  county.  His  home  dwelling  is  a 
substantial  residence,  two  stories  in  height.  His 
barn  is  36  x  48  feet,  with  2O-foot  posts. 

Mr.  Sheldon  is  largely  engaged  in  shipping  and 
feeding  stock,  and  has  made  this  business  a  very 
profitable  one.  Besides  this  he  is  one  of  the  Direc- 
tors of  the  Monmouth  National  Bank,  having  been 
connected  therewith  for  about  12  years.  He  has 
served  in  the  capacity  of  School  Director  and 
Road  Commissioner.  Mr.  Sheldon  is  considered 
one  of  Warren  County's  solid  and  substantial  cit- 
izens, besides  being  a  well-to-do  and  well  known  ag- 
riculturist of  Floyd  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheldon  have  a  family  comprising 
four  children  :  Wilson  J.,  born  Oct.  28,  1862;  Irene, 
Jin.  to,  1864;  Doana  L.,  Sept.  5,  1868,  and  Ken- 
neth R.,  Oct.  28,  1876,  all  now  residing  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheldon,  with  three  of  their  children, 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  politically, 
Mr.  S.  is  a  Democrat. 


-43 — 


It;"  ames  Henry  Spriggs,  of  the  firm  of  Spriggs 
&  Bro.,  prominent  druggists  and  pharma- 
'cists  at  Monmouth,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  Sept.  15,  1822,  and  was  the  eld- 
est son  of  his  parents.  (See  biography  of  James 
S.  Spriggs,  this  volume.)  After  the  death  of 
his  father,  James  H.  had  largely  the  care  and  sup- 
port of  his  mother  and  the  younger  children,  a  trust 
ever  discharged  by  him  with  the  utmost  degree  of 
good  faith  and  filial  devotion.  As  with  the  boy,  so 
with  the  man,  true  to  the  instinct  of  that  high  order 
of  humanity  that  springs  naturally  fron.  a  heart  un- 
incumbered  by  any  of  the  passions  that  mark  and 
mar  the  lower  class. 

James  H.  Spriggs,  in  his  dealing  with  people  has 
been  purposely  the  cause  of  no  pang  of  pain  or  sor- 
row to  any  one.  With  this  small  tribute  the  com- 
ment of  the  historian  ends,  and  by  a  brief  recital  of 
minor  events  will  conclude  the  biography  of  jne  of 
Monmouth's  best  citizens.  He  was  educated  as  op- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


portunity  offered  at  the  common  schools  and  acad- 
emies of  his  neighborhood,  and  from  the  age  of  22 
to  35  was  conducting  a  farm  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa. 
He  came  to  Monmouth  in  1857,  and  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  engaged  at  once  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness. This  has  since  received  his  attention,  varying 
its  duties  somewhat  occasionally  by  outside  ven- 
tures. For  instance,  he  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Monmouth  Mining  &  Manufacturing  Co.,  and 
was  for  two  years  its  President.  He  was  also  a  stock- 
holder and  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Monmouth,  but  when  the  limitation  of  the  charter 
expired  he  sold  his  stock  and  severed  his  connection 
therewith.  He  also  represented  his  Ward  three  or 
four  times  in  the  common  Council.  Politically  he  is 
identified  with  a  preference  for  the  time-honored 
principles  that  made  the  old  Republican  party.  His 
first  vote  was  cast  for  Henry  Clay. 

.  Mr.  Spriggs  was  married  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
Dec.  23d,  1845,  to  Miss  Eleanor  J.  McCune,  native 
of  that  county,  and  has  had  borne  to  him  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  Mary  E  ,  born  January,  1847,  died 
1851 ;  Ellen  M.,  born  Sept.,  1848,  died  185  i  ;  John 
S.  was  born  April,  1850;  Albert,  formerly  Secretary 
of  the  Mining  &  Manufacturing  Co.,  was  born  in 
April,  1852,  and  William  Henry,  born  March  16, 
1854,  died  April,  1866.  Since  1854  Mr.  Spriggs  and 
wife  have  been  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


C.  Twitchell,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
young  business  men  of  Roseville,  where  he 
is  engaged  quite  extensively  in  the  business 
of  a  merchant,  was  born  in  Delaware  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  April  22,  1856,  his  parents  being  Perry  and 
Belarma  (Woodmansee)  Twitchell,  natives  of 
the  Empire  State.  Mr.  Perry  Twitchell,  the  father, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  late  civil  war,  having  enlisted  in 
r86z,  and  served  within  two  months  of  its  close. 
He  was  a  member  of  Co.  C,  i2th  Conn.  Vol.  The 
1 2th  was  a  part  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  subse- 
quently transferred  to  Butler's  command  at  New  Or- 
leans. He  is  at  present  a  resident  of  Wallingford, 
Conn.  His  wife  died  April  25,  1878. 

J.  C.,  our  subject,  remained  companion  to  his  par- 


ents until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  22  years,  hav- 
ing worked  in  the  meantime  with  his  father  at  the 
carpenter's  trade,  and  attended  the  public  schools, 
receiving  a  fair  education. 

He  arrived  in  Roseville  Dec.  8,  1877,  and  began 
clerking  for  J.  L.  Woodmansee,  his  uncle,  remaining 
with  him  until  1881.  He  then  bought  out  the  busi- 
ness, and  has  continued  to  conduct  the  dry  goods, 
grocery  and  boot  and  shoe  business,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  splendid  success,  with  a  trade  constantly 
increasing. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Twitchell  and  Miss  Margaret  Harbaugh 
were  married  in  1882,  she  being  a  native  of  Illinois, 
and  a  daughter  of  Peter  Harbaugh. 

Mr.  Twitchell  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  regarded  as  a  representative  and  solid 
business  man  of  Roseville. 

Politically,  Mr.  Twitchell  affiliates  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 


rank  J.  Pine  is  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Pine  &  Porter,  hardware  merchants 
of  Alexis.  HL-  was  born  in  Kelly  Town- 
ship, Warren  County,  Sept.  14,  1855.  He  is 
the  son  of  Joseph  and  Letitia  (Watson)  Pine, 
and  the  parents  were  pioneers  of  the  township 
where  the  son  was  born.  They  were  farmers,  and 
reared  their  children  to  the  same  calling.  Mr.  Pine 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  pioneer 
period  of  Warren  County,  and  obtained  a  fair  degree 
of  knowledge  of  books,  although  the  facilities  of  the 
schools  of  thai  day  were  in  no  sense  like  those  of  the 
present.  It  is  an  open  question  whether  the  latter, 
with  their  attendant  ease,  are  of  greater  benefit  as 
a  means  of  mental  discipline.  At  a  later  date  Mr. 
Pine  passed  18  months  at  Knox  College,  where  he 
took  advantage  of  all  that  institution  afforded  in  the 
way  of  advancement,  for  the  limited  time  that  he  was 
within  its  reach. 

In  1877  he  entered  the  employ  of  Messrs.  Gibson, 
Postlewaite  &  Co.,  as  a  clerk,  and  continued  in  their 
service  one  year.  The  next  year  he  passed  in  Gales- 
burg,  and  he  returned  from  there  to  the  township 
where  he  was  born,  and  interested  himself  in  farm- 


;  y  .  ~ — "~~ 

WARREN  COUNTY. 


547 


ing.  He  indulged  in  that  calling  until  he  had  raised 
two  crops.  In  1880,  in  company  with  R.  T.  Wray, 
he  opened  a  hardware  store  at  Alexis,  and  establish- 
ed a  popular  and  profitable  business.  The  firm  was 
known  in  business  circles  as  R.  T.  Wray  &  Co.  In 
addition  to  the  lines  of  goods  common  to  the  trade, 
they  were  agents  for  agricultural  implements, 
in  which  line  of  traffic  they  did  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness. 

In  the  spring  of  1881  Mr.  Wray  was  killed  on  the 
railroad,  and  the  father  of  Mr.  Pine  bought  the  in- 
terest of  the  deceased  man  in  the  business,  which 
father  and  son  managed  together  until  1884.  In  that 
year  the  change  was  effected  by  which  the  firm  be- 
came as  now.  The  business  is  the  same  as  when  the 
firm  was  first  established,  and  is  operated  with  satis- 
factory results  to  all  concerned. 

In  the  spring  of  1882  Mr.  Pine  was  married  to 
Louisa  Thierne,  a  native  of  Chicago,  and  they  have 
one  child — Ethel. 


R.  Gilliland,  of  the  mercantile  firm  of 
F.  S.  Talbot  &  Co.,  at  Alexis,  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  county  in  which  he  is  a 
prominent  business  man,  since  1852.  He  is  a 
citizen  who  has  made  a  creditable  record  in 
point  of  manly  worth  and  probity,  and  has  the 
satisfaction  of  realizing  that  he  has  advanced  in  ex- 
act proportion  to  his  merits  and  abilities. 

He  was  born  Oct.  22,  1828,  in  Barre  Township, 
Huntington  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  oldest  son  of  John 
and  Margaret  Gilliland.  His  parents  were  worthy 
people,  bat  for  good  and  honorable  reasons  had  not 
been  successful  in  storing  an  abundance  of  the 
world's  surplus.  This  was  not  the  worst  condition 
in  which  the  oldest  son  of  a  family  might  be  placed, 
as  riches  do  not  always  exert  the  best  influence  on 
the  young,  and  whatever  might  have  been  the  result 
to  Mr.  Gilliland  of  a  different  state  of  affairs,  it  is 
quite  certain  that  he  had  little  opportunity  of  specu- 
lation about  possibilities,  as  necessity  compelled  him 
to  take  a  practical  view  of  the  situation  at  an  early 
date  in  his  life.  He  was  16  when  the  privilege  of 
providing  for  his  own  wants  was  accorded  to  him, 


and  he  went  to  Mifflin  County  in  his  native  State  to 
accept  a  situation  on  a  farm,  where  he  earned  $4 
per  month.  He  passed  eight  months  in  the  same 
employ  at  the  same  wages.  His  pay  increased  until 
he  could  command  nine  dollars  a  month,  which  was 
the  largest  amount  he  received  until  after  he  was 
21.  The  discontents  and  strikers  of  the  present  day 
have  forgotten,  those  times  when  the  consideration 
was  to  obtain  work  without  much  reference  to  the 
remuneration,  and  when  the  quality  of  service  a  man 
could  render  was  also  considered.  The  winter  suc- 
ceeding his  arrival  at  the  age  of  manhood  he  taught 
school  in  his  native  county,  and  received  $18  a 
month  and  boarded  himself.  He  officiated  as  ped- 
agogue in  the  same  school-house  where  he  first  at- 
tended school. 

He  remained  in  Huntington  County  two  years  and 
then  came  to  Warren  County,  as  has  been  stated. 
He  passed  the  first  season  in  Hale  Township  as  a 
farm  assistant.  In  the  ensuing  fall  he  went  to 
Spring  Grove  Township,  where  he  passed  the  winter 
and  labored  at  50  cents  a  day,  husking  corn,  taking 
his  pay  in  corn  at  ten  cents  a  bushel. 

His  marriage  to  Rebecca  E.  Campbell  occurred 
March  i,  1853.  This  event,  transpiring  at  this 
period  in  the  history  and  fortunes  of  Mr.  Gilliland, 
proves  the  material  of  which  he  is  made,  as  he  is 
not  a  man  to  assume  a  responsibility  to  which  the 
test  would  be  likely  to  prove  him  inadequate.  The 
young  couple  took  possession  of  a  rented  farm, 
managed  on  shares.  It  was  situated  in  Suez  Town- 
ship in  Mercer  County.  They  rented  land  in  the 
same  township  in  the  following  year,  and  were  its 
occupants  until  the  fall  of  1854,  when  they  took  pos- 
session of  a  tract  of  40  acres  which  had  been  located 
by  Mr.  Gilliland  in  1853.  The  land  was  on  section 
4  in  Spring  Grove  Township,  and  was  in  unimproved 
condition.  The  proprietor  built  a  house  on  his 
property  and  lived  there  until  1872.  In  the  mean- 
time he  bought  additional  land,  until  he  was  the 
owner  of  120  acres.  He  put  the  place  in  tillable 
condition  and  in  the  year  named  rented  it,  and  re- 
moved to  Alexis.  He  bought  a  lot  and  built  a  house. 
In  January,  1874,  he  bought  a  drug  business  and 
managed  it  until  the  spring  of  1876.  He  closed  his 
affairs  in  that  line  and  went  to  the  Centennial  at 
Philadelphia,  and  also  visited  his  old  home  and 
friends  in  Mifflin  County,  where  his  father  still  lived. 
He  returned  to  Alexis  in  the  fall  and  formed  a  part- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


nership  in  the  mercantile  business  under  the  name 
of  Gibson,  Postlewait  &  Co.  At  the  end  of  six  years 
the  firm  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Gilliland  bought  an  in- 
terest in  the  general  store  of  F.  S.  Talbot  &  Co., 
which  is  still  in  existence. 

Politically,  Mr.  Gilliland  was  formerly  a  Democrat, 
but  has  latterly  cast  his  fortunes  with  the  prohibition 
element.  While  a  resident  of  Spring  Grove  Town- 
ship, he  officiated  as  Assessor  several  terms,  and  as 
Collector. 

Mrs.  Gilliland  was  born  in  Huntington  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Hannah  Camp- 
bell. She  is  the  mother  of  two  daughters.  Maggie 
H.  is  the  wife  of  F.  S.  Talbot,  her  father's  business 
associate.  The  younger  is  named  Mary  E. 


eorge  W.  Claycomb,  Supervisor  of  Mon- 
mouth,  and  a  retired  farmer  living  there,  is 
a  son  of  Frederick  and  Mary  Ann 
Claycomb.  (See  biography  of  Andrew  Clay- 
comb  in  this  volume  of  family  history).  He 
was  born  in  Breckenridge  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  4, 
1828,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  State  in 
1836.  He  was  brought  up  on  his  brother's  farm  and 
educated  at  the  common  schools. 

At  the  age  of  21  years  Mr.  Claycomb  began  busi- 
ness for  himself.  He  bought  an  8o-acre  tract  of 
land  in  Cold  Brook  Township  and  improved  it.  He 
then  traded  it  for  a  I2o-acre  tract  in  the  same  town- 
ship, which  he  now  owns  and  which  is  occupied  by 
his  son  ;  and  from  this  comparatively  small  begin- 
ning he  owns  at  this  writing  (Oct.  18,  1885)  one  of 
the  best  farms  in  the  county.  It  contains  about  415 
acres  and  lies  about  eight  miles  northeast  from  Mon- 
mouth  Court  House. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Floyd  Township, 
Dec.  17,  1851,  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Godard,  a  native 
of  Indiana,  and  daughter  of  Francis  Godard,  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Warren  County,  whither  he  removed 
from  Indiana  at  an  early  day.  He  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  died  at  the  age  of  84  years.  Mr.  Clay- 
comb  retired  from  active  farming  in  1882,  and  in 
April,  1885,  was  elected  Supervisor. 

Mr.  and   Mrs  Claycomb  have  had  born   to  them 


four  children — Laura  E.  (Mrs.  P.  H.  Shelton),  Al- 
bert R.,  born  Nov.  7,  1853,  died  aged  seven  years; 
Frank  E.  and  Alta  M.  The  family  belongs  to  the 
Christian  Church,  and  Mr.  Claycomb,  socially,  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry. 


ohn  Salter  who,  in  his  7oth  year,  is  resting 
•  from  the  labors  of  the  past,  enjoying  the 
comforts  which  a  life  of  toil,  energy  and 
economy  have  brought  him,  at  his  resi- 
dence, one-half  mile  from  the  village  of  Kirk- 
wood, was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Aug.  24,  1815. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Salter,  Paul  and  Elizabeth 
(Culberly)  Salter,  were  natives  of  New  Jersey.  They 
came  to  this  State  in  1845,  his  father  settling  in  Hen- 
derson County,  where  he  purchased  800  acres  of 
land,  which  he  subsequently  supplemented  by  400 
acres  more,  and  on  which  he  resided  until  a  few 
years  prior  to  his  death,  when  he  purchased  a  resi- 
dence and  lot  in  Kirkwood  village.  He  continued 
to  reside  at  the  latter  place  until  his  death. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  we  place  at  the  head 
of  this  notice  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  receiving  a  good  common-school 
education.  Prior  to  the  age  named,  when  18  years 
old,  he  engaged  in  the  oyster  and  fish  trade,  and, 
after  leaving  home,  he  continued  in  the  same  busi- 
ness until  1855.  During  that  year  he  came  to  this 
State  and  located  in  Henderson  County,  on  160 
acres  of  land,  which  he  had  purchased.  He  per- 
chased  ten  acres  one-half  mile  from  the  village  of 
Kirkwood,  which  he  sold  and  bought  another  house 
and  lot,  where  he  is  at  present  living.  He  remained 
on  his  farm  until  1883,  following  the  vocation  at 
which  he  passed  the  major  portion  of  his  life  and 
meeting  with  success,  when  he  moved  to  his  present 
residence,  as  stated. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Salter  was  solemnized  in 
1839,  at  which  time  Miss  Jane  Vreeland,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  Oct. 
17,  1821,  and  has  borne  her  husband  eight  children 
seven  of  whom  survive — Eliza  J.,  Henry  V.,  Lucin- 
da,  Mary  A.,  John,  Sarah  T.  and  Emma.  Rachel, 


•     ' 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


55' 


C.   was  drowned   in  Peoria  Lake,  at  the  age  of  13 
years  and  4  months. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Salter  affiliates  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  he  and  his  wife  attend  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Mr.  Salter  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  Warren  County,  and  although  his 
hair  is  silvered  by  the  lapse  of  time,  he  is  yet  in 
comparatively  good  health,  and  taking  a  retrospect- 
ive view  of  the  past,  he  can  call  to  memory  no  acts  of 
injustice  to  his  fellow-man,  and  lives  in  the  knowl- 
edge that  his  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods  is 
the  outgrowth  of  no  legacy,  but  of  his  own  energy 
and  perseverance,  coupled  with  the  active  co-opera- 
tion of  his  good  helpmeet  and  children. 


' 


ohn  P.  McClanahan,  M.  D.,  is  a  well  known 
j?  and  highly  respected  physician  of  Warren 
County,  his  reputation  extending  far  be- 
yond the  bounds  of  Alexis,  where  he  resides, 
or  of  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  John  P. 
McClanahan  is  the  sixth  son  of  John  McClan- 
ahan, whose  sketch  is  given  in  this  volume  and  to 
which  we  refer  for  the  record  of  the  family  of  Dr. 
John  P.  The  latter  was  born  Nov.  5,  1831,  in 
Adams  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  six  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  with  their  family  removed  to  Brown 
County  of  the  same  State,  and  there  the  remaining 
years  of  his  minority  were  passed,  not  only  in  ac- 
quiring a  knowledge  of  books,  but  in  learning  to  suc- 
cessfully labor  in  business  and  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  at  first  attended  the  schools  in  his  immediate 
neighborhood,  taught  mainly  by  his  father  or  one  of 
the  older  members  of  the  family.  He  next  had  the 
advantages  of  the  high  school  at  Ripley,  which  was 
the  adjoining  town,  and  later  attended  a  select  school 
at  North  Liberty,  Ohio.  In  1851  he  began  the 
study  of  his  profession,  in  the  office  and  under  the 
preceptorship  of  Dr.  Alexander  Dunlap  of  Ripley. 

The  Doctor  attended  his  first  course  of  medical 
lectures  at  the  Western  Reserve  Medical  College,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  his  second  course  at  the  Jeffer- 
son Medical  College  of  Philadelphia.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  latter  institution  in  the  spring  of  1854. 
Soon  thereafter  he  located  at  Ashland,  Ky.,  where  he 


practiced  for  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1856,  he 
determined  on  making  a  move,  and  having  heard 
favorable  reports  from  Illinois,  he  made  this  State 
his  objective  point.  He  located  at  Norwood,  Mercer 
County,  where  he  remained  practicing  his  profession 
until  1862,  when  he  entered  the  army,  as  First  As- 
sistant burgeon  of  the  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  Upon  his 
return  from  the  service  of  his  country,  he  resumed 
his  practice  at  Norwood. 

In  1872,  the  Doctor  decided  to  change  his  location 
from  Norwood  to  Alexis,  on  account  of  better  rail- 
road facilities,  and  with  this  aim  in  view,  purchased 
a  building  site  adjoining  Alexis  on  the  Mercer  County 
side.  Here  he  erected  a  dwelling,  with  the  neces- 
sary accompanying  structures.  To  the  original  site 
he  subsequently  added  several  acres  adjoining,  thus 
combining  with  his  village  property  that  of  the  farm. 

During  the  trying  times  of  the  late  Rebellion,  in- 
spired with  like  patriotism  of  many  of  his  friends  and 
neighbors,  he  responded  to  his  country's  call,  and 
was  commissioned  First  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  S^d 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  which  was  organized  at  Monmouth  in 
1862.  He  served  faithfullyMn  this  capacity  for  two 
years,  when,  in  1864,  on  account  of  failing  health, 
he  resigned  and  returned  to  his  Illinois  home,  where,  t 
even  before  his  health  had  been  no  more  than  slightly 
improved,  he  took  up  his  old  line  of  practice,  in  j 
Warren  and  Mercer  Counties.  This  arduous  labor 
he  has  faithfully  performed  to  the  utmost  extent  of 
his  limited  physical  ability  to  the  present  time  (Jan- 
uary, 1886),  though  never  equal  to  the  call  for  his 
services. 

Dr.  McClanahan  was  married  Nov.  14,  1854,  to 
Margaret  J.  Jones,  daughter  of  Richard  Jones,  of 
Ashland,  Ky.  Mrs.  McClanahan  is  a  lady  of 
refined  taste  and  culture,  and  a  prominent  figure  in 
the  social  circles  of  the  community.  She  had  not, 
however,  the  advantages  of  either  a  collegiate  or 
academical  course  during  her  school  days,  but  im- 
proved such  early  opportunities  as  she  enjoyed  in 
such  a  way  as  to  have  made  of  herself  an  excellent 
scholar.  She  has,  also,  daily  added  to  the  accumu- 
lations of  earlier  years  by  constant,  careful  reading, 
when  leisure  from  household  cares  permitted.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McC.  have  three  children — the  eldest,  H. 
M.  McClanahan;  the  second,  A.  A.  McClanahan; 
the  third,  Alice  M.,  sole  daughter  of  the  home,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Morgan  Park  Female  College  in  the 
class  of  1884.  Dr.  H.  M.  McClanahan,  who  is  prac- 


•-A1 


552 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


ticingliis  profession  at  Woodhull,  111.,  received  his 
collegiate  education  at  Monmouth  College,  and  grad- 
uated in  his  profession  from  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  of  Philadelphia,  in  1878.  The  second  son, 
also  a  Monmouth  College  student,  is  a  practicing 
attorney  located  at  Omaha,  Neb.  He  attended  the 
law  school  at  Chicago  the  first  year,  and  the  second 
at  Bloomington,  111  ,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at 
Springfield,  111.,  in  May,  1885. 

The  Doctor  is  a  Republican  in  political  principles, 
and  the  entire  family  are  Presbyterians  in  religious 
belief. 

As  orie  of  the  leading  professional  men  of  this 
portion  of  the  State,  as  well  as  an  esteemed  and  en- 
terprising citizen,  the  publishers  take  pleasure  in 
presenting  to  their  patrons  the  portrait  of  Dr.  Mc- 
Clanahan,  which  is  done  in  connection  with  this 
sketch. 


|j  amuel  Graham,  retired  farmer,  residing  at 
Monmouth,  was  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Pa.,  April  10,  1806,  and  was  the  son 
of  John  and  Martha  (Hutchinson)  Graham, 
natives  also  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Scotch 
and  Irish  descent  respectively.  Of  the  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters  reared  to  men  and  women 
by  John  and  Martha  Graham,  Samuel,  of  whom  we 
write  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth,  and  the  fourth 
of  the  sons.  At  this  writing  (September,  1885) 
three  sons  and  two  daughters  only  are  living. 

The  senior  Mr.  Graham  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion in  his  lifetime,  and  brought  up  his  sons  in  that 
honorable  calling.  He  and  his  wife  spent  the  last 
years  of  their  lives  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  and  there 
their  remains  were  laid  to  rest. 

Samuel  Graham  has  himself  grown  old.  He  was 
born  when  the  present  century  was  but  an  infant, 
and  his  memory  runs  back  to  events  in  the  history  of 
our  country  that  to  nearly  all  of  us,  as  we  read  of 
them,  sound  as  remote  as  the  wars  of  the  Medes  and 
Persians.  He  heard  the  beat  of  the  drums  that 
marshalled  again  the  defenders  of  a  new  and  unde- 
veloped country  against  an  ancient  foe,  and  he  clap- 
ped his  childish  hands  in  glee  as  the  bells  from  the 
tops  of  the  little  white  churches  pealed  forth  their 


chimes  of  victory.  He  was  a  man  of  family  when 
Taylor's  army  trod  the  streets  of  Mexico;  and  he 
had  grown  almost  too  old  for  service  when  the  late 
war  between  the  States  cast  a  shadow  of  gloom 
across  the  threshold  of  every  family  in  the  land. 

The  common  schools  at  best  in  his  day  offered  but 
comparatively  small  opportunity  for  education,  and 
his  circumstances  were  such  as  deprived  him  even 
of  much  of  that.  He  came  to  Warren  County,  in 
1839,  and  settled  in  Suinner  Township,  where  he 
spent  many  years  of  his  life,  coming  to  Monmouth  in 
1863.  For  about  two  years  after  coming  to  town 
he  was  engaged  at  milling,  since  which  time  he  has 
taken  life  easy. 

Mr.  Graham  was  first  married  in  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,  April  21,  1831,  to  Margaret  Eaton,  who  died  in 
Warren  County,  Dec.  14,  1854,  leaving  two  children  : 
Mary  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Thos.  W.  Smiley,  and  Lucin- 
da  M.,  who  died  Jan.  24,  1835,  at  the  age  of  16 
years.  Six  of  her  little  ones  preceded  her  to  the 
other  world,  viz. :  John,  who  died  June  to,  1841, 
aged  five  years,  and  five  infants,  not  named.  In  1856 
Mr.  Graham  returned  to  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
there,  on  Sept.  15  of  that  year,  he  was  married  to 
Ann  Wright,  who  died  Sept.  20,  1871,  leaving  one 
child,  which  lived  but  a  few  months.  In  Scott  Co., 
Iowa,  Nov.  21,  1872,  Mr.  Graham  was  married  to. 
the  excellent  lady  who  presides  over  his  household  at 
this  writing.  Her  name  was  Mary  Ann  McConnell, 
a  native  of  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  and  daughter  of 
George  and  Jaennette  (Stark)  McConnell,  who  came 
respectively  from  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
who  spent  the  last  years  of  their  lives  in  Scott  Co., 
Iowa. 

Below  will  be  found  the  record  of  the  parents  of 
Mrs.  Graham:  Thomas  McConnell,  her  grandfather, 
was  born  Sept.  i,  1759;  Mary  Ann  (Watt)  McCon- 
nell, his  wife,  was  born  April  23,  1765.  They  were 
married  Sept.  4,  1791,  and  on  the  i4th  of  June, 
1795,  they  set  sail  for  America  on  the  ship  Cincin- 
nati, arriving  in  this  country  after  a  long  and  tedious 
voyage  of  47  days.  Upon  landing  they  went  direct 
to  Richmond,  Va.  Of  their  union  nine  children  were 
born.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Graham,  George  McCon- 
nell, was  married  to  Jaenette  Stark,  Aug.  23,  1825, 
in  Pennsylvania.  The  latter  was  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Jaenette  (Morton)  Stark,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Their  parents  were  born  and  married  in 
Scotland.  George  McConnell  had  10  children,  six 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


553 


sons  and  four  daughters  eight  of  whom  are  living. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  McConnell  remained  in 
Pennsylvania  until  1850.  when  he  removed  to  Scott 
Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  remained 
thereuntil  his  demise.  He  was  born  Dec.  31,  1795, 
and  died  April  5,  1865.  His  wife  was  born  Nov.  24, 
1800,  and  died  in  1873. 

Whatever  of  this  world's  goods  Mr.  Graham  pos- 
sesses and  enjoys,  he  has  acquired  by  his  individual 
effort  and  industry.  He  began  life  a  poor  boy,  but  a 
ripe  old  age  finds  him  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  hand- 
some competency. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  his  religious 
faith  is  founded  upon  the  tenets  of  the  scriptures  as 
expounded  in  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 


losephus  Wray,  residing  on  five  acres  ad- 
joining the  village  plat  of  Kirk  wood,  where 
he  is  passing  the  closing  days  of  his  life  in 
peace  and  quiet  retirement,  having  the  greater 
portion  of  his  years  followed  the  vocation  of  an 
agriculturist,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  June  6, 
1822.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Wray,  Isaac  and  Mary 
(Carlton)  Wray,  were  natives  of  Virginia.  They 
moved  from  their  native  State  to  Kentucky,  and  from 
Kentucky  to  Indiana  in  1827,  where  his  father  was 
engaged  in  farming  until  1837.  During  that  year, 
in  company  with  his  family,  he  came  to  this  State  and 
located  on  section  7,  Tompkins  Township,,  where 
the  parents  resided  until  their  death,  that  of  the 
father  occurring  Oct.  14,  1844,  and  that  of  the 
mother  Oct.  16  of  the  same  year,  only  two  days 
apart.  They  were  buried  in  one  grave  in  the  beau- 
tiful cemetery  at  Monmouth. 

Josephus  Wray,  their  son,  and  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  with  his  brother  John,  purchased  160  acres 
of  land  on  the  same  section  on  which  his  parents 
resided.  Josephus  lived  on  that  land,  engaged  in 
the  occupation  of  an  agriculturist,  until  1878,  when 
for  the  purpose  of  educating  his  children,  he  moved 
to  Kirkwood  and  located,  as  stated  at  the  com- 
mencement of  this  notice.  He  has  a  fine  residence 
on  his  five  acres,  and  is  living  in  the  enjoyment  of 
the  accumulations  of  a  life  of  labor,  coupled  with 
that  of  energetic  effort  and  determination. 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  Wray  to  Miss  Rebecca  J. 
Woods,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  solemnized  in 
1861,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth 
of  two  children — Samuel  W.  and  Mary  C.  After 
nine  years  of  married  life,  the  wife  was  called  to  the 
better  land,  and  Mr.  Wray  is  living  with  his  chil- 
dren. 

He  is  Republican  in  politics,  and  one  of  those  gen- 
tlemen of  Warren  County  whose  veracity  in  business 
matters,  or  socially,  is  never  doubted. 


[elville  C.  Soule,  real  estate  dealer  at  Mon- 
mouth, is  a  son  of  Rev.  Justus  and  Mary 
„      'Ann  (Harding)  Soule,  natives  of  New  York, 
3>  and  of  mixed  French  and  Irish  ancestry.  Mr. 
Soule  was  born  in  New  York  State,  April  10, 
1847,  and  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of  a 
family  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

The  late  Rev.  J.  Soule  was  19  years  a  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  came  to  Mon- 
mouth in  1856,  preached  here  awhile,  itinerated 
to  Geneseo,  111.,  and  from  there,  at  the  end  of  a 
couple  of  years,  to  Moline,  where  he  died  Oct.  21, 
1859,  aged  50  years.  His  widow  reared  the  family, 
saw  the  children  all  settled  in  life,  and  has  since 
made  her  home  with  them.  Her  eldest  son,  E.  O. 
Soule,  is  Division  Superintendent  of  the  Burlington, 
Cedar  Rapids  and  Northern  Railroad,  and  her 
daughter,  Ella  F.,is  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Reed  Stu- 
art, of  battle  Creek,  Mich.  In  the  year  1867,  at  the 
age  of  20  years,  he  embarked  in  the  book,  stationery 
and  music  business  at  Monmouth,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Clark  &  Soule. 

Melville  C.  Soule  was  educated  at  Monmouth  Col- 
lege. At  the  age  of  21  years  he  became  a  local 
preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Dur- 
ing a  part  of  the  year  187  i  and  '72  he  had  charge  of 
a  congregation  at  Groveland,  111.  Failing  health 
compelled  him  to  give  up  the  active  work  of  the 
ministry,  and,  much  to  the  regret  of  the  people  of 
Graceland,  he  returned  to  Monmouth,  where,  in 
1872,  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  W.  F.  Smith  &  Soule,  afterward  Soule 
&  Graham,  While  in  this  line  they  did  a  very  large 


554 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


and  lucrative  business,  running  two  large  lumber 
yards  and  taking  contracts  for  building,  having  at 
times  27  or  30  men  in  their  employ.  Mr.  Soule  sold 
out  in  1877,  and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  the 
boot  and  Shoe  business.  During  all  these  years,  he 
was  interested  more  or  less  in  real  estate,  which  has 
since  1880  occupied  all  his  time.  He  is  also  inter- 
ested in  banking,  but  notwithstanding  all  the  labor 
incident  to  these  various  interests,  he  gives  much 
time  to  temperance,  church  and  Sabbath-school 
work.  For  15  years  he  has  been  Recording  Steward 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  atMonmouth; 
for  six  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Wesleyan  University,  at  Bloomington,  111. ;  and  dur- 
ing the  same  period  has  been  a  member  of  Hedding 
College(  at  Abingdon,  III.)  Board  of  Trustees ;  and 
for  the  past  three  years  President  of  the  Board.  Mr. 
Soule  was  married  at  Monmouth,  April  12,  1869,  to 
Miss  Ina  Belle  Smith,  daughter  of  W.  F.  Smith, 
whose  biography  appears  in  this  work,  and  has  had 
borne  to  him  seven  children — Edwin  Olin,  born 
Feb.  1 6,  1870;  Francis  J.,  May  19,  1872;  Melville 
Glenn,  July  6,  1874;  Elbert  Earl,  Nov.  23,  1876; 
Mary  Ella,  Nov.  23,  1876,  died  Aug.  25,  1882  ;  Ina 
Aleta,  born  March  13,  1880;  Myrta  L.,  born  May 
13,  1883. 


— J- 


,rank  L.  Hall,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
grower,  section  17,  Cold  Brook  Township, 
was  born  in  this  township,  June  10,  1865. 
He  is  a  son  of  W.  M.  Hall  (see  sketch),  now 
residing  in  that  township,  and  who  is  one  of 
the  most  extensive  land  owners  there.  Our 
subject  resided  under  the  home  roof  with  his  parents 
until  he  entered  college  at  Abingdon,  in  1881.  While 
there  he  took  a  special  course  in  the  college,  and 
there  met  his  present  wife.  After  she  had  completed 
her  regular  course,  June  6,  1884,  they  were  united  in 
marriage,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Dec.  31,  1884,  the  lady 
being  Miss  Minnie  M.  Younkin,  daughter  of  Dr.  E. 
Younkin,  Professor  of  Surgery  in  the  American  Med- 
ical College,  at  St.  Louis,  since  about  the  year  1872. 
Her  mother  was  Mattie  Hart,  native  of  Ohio,  and  her 
father  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  both  of  whom  are  of 
American  parentage,  and  the  father  of  German  an- 


cestry. They  both  in  their  younger  days  attended 
college  at  Abingdon,  and  there  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance which  afterwards  resulted  in  marriage.  The  fa- 
ther completed  his  education  in  surgery  at  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  they  are  now  residents  of  St.  Louis, 
where  they  occupy  a  high  position  in  society  and 
Prof.  Younkin  takes  first  rank  in  the  school  of  medi- 
cine. Mrs.  Hall,  of  this  notice,  was  born  in  West 
Liberty,  Iowa,  Dec.  21,  1863.  Afterward  the  parents 
moved  to  Abingdon,  111.,  thence  to  Leavenworth, 
Kas.,  and  afterward  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  they 
have  since  lived.  Mrs.  Hall  received  her  early  ru- 
dimentary education  principally  in  St.  Louis.  Since 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall  have  resided  in 
Cold  Brook  Township. 

They  are  both  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  politically,  Mr.  Hall  is  a  supporter  of  the  princi- 
ples advocated  by  the  Democratic  party 


ames  C.  Blythe,  of  the  firm  of  D.  B. 
Blythe  &  Co.,  dealers  in  hardware,  at  Kirk-  J 
wood  village,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born,  June  14,  1850,  his  parents 
being  David  B.  and  Mary  M.  (Finley)  Blythe, 
natives  of  the  same  state.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Blythe  came  to  Illinois  in  1865  and  settled  at  Knox- 
ville,  Knox  County,  where  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising. At  the  present  time  he  resides  in  Tompkins 
Township,  this  county,  on  400  acres  of  land,  and  is 
also  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  D.  B.  Blythe  & 
Co.,  at  Kirkwood.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, died  in  Pennsylvania  in  1865. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  we  place  at  the  head 
of  this  notice  was  under  the  care  of  his  parents  until 
he  attained  his  majority,  receiving  in  the  common 
schools  a  good  education,  which  was  supplemented 
by  a  thorough  business  course  at  the  Keokuk  Busi- 
ness College,  Iowa,  from  which  institution  he  grad- 
uated in  1877.  In  1878  he  engaged  in  the  drug  bus- 
iness at  Woodburn,  Clark  Co.,  Iowa,  and  was  thus 
occupied  until  1882.  During  that  year  he  sold  his 
interest  in  the  business  mentioned  and  came  to  Kirk- 
wood,  where  he  embarked  in  the  hardware  business, 
and  has  continued  the  same  until  the  present  time. 
By  strict  attention  to  business,  honest  and  fair  deal- 


•     : 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


555 


ing  with  his  customers  and  quick  sales,  he  has  built 
up  a  business,  which  is  a  profitable  and  constantly 
increasing  one. 

Mr.  Blythe  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lau- 
ra A.  Randolph,  April  2,  1879.  She  was  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  D.  W.  Randolph,  of  Woodburn, 
Iowa,  and  has  borne  her  husband  three  children,  all 
sons,  namely:  Charles  B.,  Harry  R.  and  Edward  F. 
In  political  matters,  Mr.  Blythe  is  an  active  worker 
in  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  also  Presi- 
dent of  the  School  Board,  is  Fire  Marshal  at  Kirk- 
wood  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health.  He 
carries  the  largest  stock  of  hardware  in  Kirkwood 
village,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men,  as 
well  as  respected  citizens,  of  that  thriving  little  place. 


amuel  T.  Shelton,  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  is  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent agriculturists  of  Warren  County,  as  well 
as  one  of  its  old  pioneers  and  leading  citizens. 
He  was  born  Sept.  6,  1821,  in  the  vicinity  of 
1  Mammoth  Cave,  near  Pruett's  Knob,  Barren 
Co.,  Ky.  He  attended  school  in  the  old  log  school- 
house  of  that  early  day,  which  was  sustained  by  sub- 
scription. His  lessons  were  learned  by  the  feeble 
light  which  struggled  through  window  panes  made  of 
greased  paper.  There  was  only  one  arithmetic  in  the 
school,  the  lessons  being  given  out  on  slates  and  then 
copied  into  books. 

Mr.  Shelton,  accompanying  his  father's  family,  left 
his  native  place  Oct.  27,  1837,  and  emigrated  to 
Warren  Co.,  where  he  arrived  November  24,  of  that 
year.  The  outfit  for  moving  was  a  large  Kentucky 
wagon,  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  by  the  tongue  and  a  span 
of  horses  in  the  lead.  The  family  stopped  on  the 
way  with  the  early  settlers,  and  were  feasted  on  ven- 
ison and  wild  turkey.  Arriving  at  their  destination, 
the  whole  family  of  12  persons  wintered  in  a  log 
cabin,  in  size  about  16  feet  square.  The  cooking 
utensils  consisted  of  skillet,  oven,  pot,  frying-pan  and 
coffee-pot.  Stoves  were  unknown  at  that  time,  as 
well  as  matches,  and  fire  had  to  be  "  borrowed  "  from 
neighbors. 

Mr.  Shelton  worked  on  his  father's  farm  in  his  na- 


tive slate  until  the  family  arrived  in  Illinois,  when 
his  first  labor  in  this  state  was  to  assist  his  father  in 
splitting  rails,  for  sustenance,  meanwhile  attending 
school  winters,  and  studying  evenings  by  the  light  of 
a  log  fire.  On  April  ist,  1838,  he  commenced  for 
himself  as  a  farmer,  renting  his  labor  to  his  uncle, 
Isaac  Murphy,  at  $15  per  month  and  board,  and  his 
earnings  being  paid  principally  by  his  obtaining  a 
horse  and  partly  in  goods  from  the  store.  Payment 
for  labor  was  largely  made  in  pork,  which  was  quite 
a  circulating  medium  in  those  days.  Payment  was 
also  made  in  wheat  at  the  rate  of  two  bushels  per 
day  in  exchange  for  an  individual's  labor,  in  harvest 
time.  The  wheat  so  obtained  was  then  often  hauled 
to  Peoria,  a  distance  of  60  miles,  which  occupied  a 
week's  time,  and  was  there  sold  in  1846  at  40  cents 
per  bushel,  pay  being  taken  in  salt  at  50  cents  a 
bushel,  which  was  hauled  back  home  and  peddled 
out  in  exchange  for  something  else.  Mr.  Shelton 
continued  to  work  out  until  about  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  and  in  the  meantime  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing about  six  months. 

About  this  period  in  Mr.  Shelton's  life  he  ran  in 
debt  for  80  acres  of  land  in  Floyd  Township,  the 
same  being  purchased  in  the  Fall  of  1847,  but  not 
paid  for  until  1851.  He  remained  on  that  land,  en- 
gaged in  following  the  vocation  of  an  agriculturist  for 
about  30  years,  then  moved  to  Cold  Brook  Township 
March  27,  1876,  and  purchased  70  acres  of  land  ly- 
ing in  Cold  Brook  Township,  and  a  portion  of  the 
same  being  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town 
of  Cameron,  in  which  he  now  lives.  He  is  also  the 
owner  of  the  old  homestead  of  400  acres,  and  240 
acres  elsewhere,  and  in  1839  located  a  claim  in 
Washington  Co.,  Iowa,  which  he  afterwards  sold. 

Until  he  left  his  old  home  in  Floyd  Township,  Mr. 
Shelton  had  been  a  practical  and  successful  farmer, 
stock-raiser  and  dealer.  He  became  School  Director 
about  1850,  and  successfully  served  as  Trustee, 
Township  Treasurer,  Assessor  and  Collector,  and  was 
also  Supervisor  from  1863  to  1870.  He  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  in  1870,  serving 
out  his  term,  during  which  time  there  were  four  ses- 
sions to  revise  the  laws  under  the  New  Constitution, 
and  Mr.  Shelton  also  had  the  pleasure  of  assisting  in 
the  election  of  John  A.  Logan  the  first  time  he 
ever  became  Senator  from  the  great  Commonwealth 
of  Illinois.  Mr.  Shelton  has  always  been  active  in 
politics,  and  has  gained  no  inconsiderable  reputation 


556 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


as  a  public  speaker.  He  was  for  many  years  a  Re- 
publican, but  is  now  an  Anti-Monopolist  Greenback- 
er  and  Prohibitionist.  At  present  he  holds  the  office 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Mr.  Shelton  was  united  in  marriage  in  Cold  Brook 
Township,  June  16,  1846,  with  Miss  Eliza  Murphy, 
Rev.  John  G.  Haley  officiating.  She  was  born  March 
10,  1824,  in  Northumberland  Co.,  Va.  They  have 
four  children,  namely:  Patrick  H.,  born  Oct.  30, 
1848;  Melissa  F.,  Dec.  17,  1849;  James  M.,  Feb.  2> 
1852;  Ophelia  E.,  March  27,  1855.  Patrick  H.  mar- 
ried Laura  E.  Claycomb,  Nov.  14,  1871,  and  resides 
near  Cameron;  Melissa  F.  became  the  wife  of  Zach- 
ariah  T.  Nelson,  June  12,  1870,  and  resides  in  David 
City,  Neb. ;  James  M.  married  Julia  E.  Sayles,  Feb. 
4,  1874,  and  resides  near  Cameron;  Ophelia  E.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Eugene  M.  Clay,  Jan.  30,  1876,  and 
resides  on  the  old  homestead,  near  Cameron. 

David  Shelton,  father  of  Samuel  T.,  was  born  near 

Danville,   Ky.,   Dec.    23,  1792,  and  was  one  of  the 

(•veterans  of  the  War  of  1812.     He  died  March  16, 

1847.     His  mother,  Patsey,  was  born  June  12,  1795, 

I  in  Virginia,  and  died  Nov.  30,   1883,  after  a  remark- 

=  bly  strong  and  healthy  life  of  over  80  years.     All  the 

1  family  were  long-lived  and  marvelously  healthy. 

The  descendants  of  David  and  Patsey  Shelton  in- 
L  creased  during  a  period  of  70  years,  two  months  and 
two  days,  from  the  birth  of  their  first  child,  Sept.  28, 
1813,  to  the  death  of  Patsey  Shelton,  Nov.  30.  1883, 
in  numbers  as  follows:  14  children,  eight  males,  six 
females;  eight  living  and  six  dead  ;  95  grandchildren, 
55  males,  40  females;  74  living,  21  dead;  150 
great  grandchildren, 75  males,  75  females;  124 living, 
26  dead;  15  great  great  grandchildren,  six  males) 
nine  females,  to  living,  5  dead,  and  making  a  total  of 
274  children,  144  males  and  130  females,  216  living 
and  58  dead.  Also  six  sons-in  law  and  nine  daugh- 
ters-in-law, 26  grandsons-in-law,  and  27  grand- 
daughters-in-law  ;  4  great  grand-sons-in-law  and 
three  great  daughters-in-law,  making  a  total  of  sev- 
enty-five which,  added  to  their  descendants  enumer- 
ated, makes  a  grand  total  of  349.  There  are  twen- 
ty-eight different  names  among  the  274  descendants, 
as  follows  :  [05  Sheltons,  29  Freemans,  20  Whit- 
mans, 16  Robinsons,  15  Norrises,  9  Means,  9  Clay- 
tons, 7  Otises,  6  Haleys,  6  Mills,  5  Loafmans,  5 
Bradleys,  5  Goddards,  4  Clays,  4  Durhams,  4  John- 
sons, 4  Smiths,  3  Legerwoods,  3  Riggles,  3  Nelsons, 
3  Reisers,  2  Hascalls,  2  Sayles,  i  Thompson,  i 


Jones,  i  Seals,  i  Vesser  and  i  Cutler.  The  above 
named  live  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Mis- 
souri and  California,  the  larger  portion  living  in  the 
state  first  named.  A  newspaper  containing  the 
above  summary  relative  to  David  and  Patsey  Shel- 
ton was  placed  in  the  corner-stone  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  at  Monmouth,  111.,  which  was  laid  in 
1882. 

Mr.  Shelton  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Christian 
Church,  in  which  he  bears  the  title  of  Rev.,  having 
been  ordained  an  Elder  by  the  congregation,  and  has 
served  30  years  or  more;  also  as  an  Evangelist  since 
1860. 


sal  P.  Randall,  residing  on  Section  21,  Ber- 
wick Township,  where  he  is  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  and  on  which  section  he 
owns  an  excellent  farm,  was  born  in  Jefferson 
County,  N.  Y.,  May  6,  1812.  His  father  was 
Thomas  Randall,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  1787. 
The  father  participated  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  battles  of  Brownsville  and  Sackett's 
Harbor,  and  remained  in  the  army  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  dying  in  Jeffe-s-in  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1838.  He 
married  Miss  Hannah  Field,  also  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, born  in  1791.  She  also  died  in  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y  ,  in  1882.  Their  children  were  seven  in  num- 
ber, namely:  Betsey,  Elijah,  Alvira,  Asal,  Alfred, 
Deborah  and  Ardelia,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  ex- 
cept three. 

Asal  P.  Randall  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Jane  A.  Brown,  at  Watertown,  Jefferson  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  in  1836.  She  was  born  in  that  county  in  1816, 
and  bore  her  husband  two  children,  Dilly  E.,  born  in 
1837,  and  Orlando  T.,  in  1843.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  1852,  in  Wisconsin,  whither  Mr.  Randall  had 
removed  with  his  family  one  year  previous. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife  Mr.  Randall  again  re- 
turned to  York  State,  where,  in  1856,  he  was  again 
married,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Mather,  at  Brownville, 
that  state.  She  died  June  9,  1878,  in  Berwick  Town- 
ship, this  county,  having  borne  her  husband  seven 
children:  Edgar,  born  1849;  Emma,  1851;  Eva, 
1855;  Francis,  1859;  William,  1861 ;  Homer  W 
1863  and  May  A.,  1865.  Four  of  Mr.  R.'s  children 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


557 


are  married,  namely :  Orlando,  Edgar,  Dilly  and 
Francis.  Mr.  Randall  is  pleasantly  situated  on  70 
acres  of  good  land,  which  he  has  under  a  good  state 
of  cultivation,  and  there,  with  his  devoted  daughters 
and  sons,  is  passing  the  sunset  of  his  life  in  peace 
and  quiet.  He  and  his  family  are  Close  Communion 
Baptists,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Randall  is,  and  always 
has  been,  a  Republican. 


sapt.  John  P.  Higgins,  of  Monmouth,  was 
born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  8, 
1830,  and  his  parents  were  Durrett  and 
Mary  (Graves)  Higgins,  who  reared  seven 
sons  and  four  daughters,  John  being  the  third 
son  in  order  of  birth,  ,and  one  of  the  three 
sons  now  living.  The  sons  were  brought  up  as 
tillers  of  the  soil  upon  the  farm  of  their  parental 
ancestor.  The  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  and 
the  parents  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  in  Tazewell 
County,  the  father  dying  in  1851,  at  the  age  of  62 
years,  and  his  widow  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  62  years. 

From  the  common  schools  of  Tazewell  County, 
the  subject  of  our  sketch  took  a  scientific  course  at 
Galesburg  Liberal  Institute  (now  known  as  Lombard 
University),  and  in  1855  began  teaching  school. 
For  nearly  20  years  he  taught  in  Warren  County. 
His  home  was  in  Swan  Township,  where  he  held  the 
office  of  Supervisor  for  four  years,  beginning  in  1879, 
and  was  also  holding  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  at  the  same  time.  In  1881  he  removed  to 
Monmouth,  where  he  was  at  once  appointed  County 
Superintendent,  to  fill  out  an  unexpired  term  of  that 
office. 

Capt.  Higgins  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and 
as  such  has  held  several  minor  offices  in  the  county. 
In  1883,  he  was  the  candidate  of  that  party  for 
Sheriff,  but  was  defeated,  almost  as  a  matter  of 
course  in  a  county  so  radical  in  its  blind  following  of 
party  as  to  exclude  the  possibility  of  recognition  of 
the  claims  of  even  a  battle-scarred  veteran  when  he 
chose  to  assert  a  conviction  contrary  to  their  own. 

At  Macomb,  111.,  in  July,  1862,  Mr.  Higgins  en- 
rolled as  a  private  soldier  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  and  at  the  organization  of  Co.  A,  84th 


111.  Vol.  Inf.,  he  was  chosen  Captain,  a  position  he 
filled  until  Jan.  25,  1865,  when,  on  account  of  i 
health  he  was  forced  to  resign.  Up  to  that  time  he 
was  with  his  regiment  all  the  time,  and  partici- 
pated in  its  numerous  engagements.  In  March, 
after  leaving  the  army,  he  came  to  Warren  County 
and  has  since  made  this  his  home.  Capt.  Higgins 
inherited  nothing  in  the  way  of  a  fortune.  What  he 
has  he  has  earned  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow. 

He  was  married  in  Swan  Township,  Dec.  4,  1856, 
to  Miss  Zoa  A.  Simmons,  and  their  three  children 
were  named  respectively,  Hezekiah  D.,  who  died  in 
1871;  Robert  P.  and  Nellie  C.  The  Captain  is 
Past  Master  in  Good  Hope  Lodge  in  Masonry,  and 
for  two  years  was  first  Commander  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Post  at  Monmouth. 


.ichael  W.  Hall,  residing  in  Cold  Brook 
Township,  a  gentleman  of  more  than 
ordinary  business  ability,  owning  1,500 
acres  of  land  in  Warren  County,  and  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  stock-raiser,  was  born  in 
Barren  Co.,  Ky.,  April  30,  1837.  The  father 
of  Mr.  Hall,  Robert  S.  Hall,  was  also  a  native  of 
Barren  Co.,  Ky.,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer  during  his  life  time.  He  was  married  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity  to  Julia  Harber,  and  six  chil- 
dren were  born  of  their  union,  in  Kentucky.  After 
the  demise  of  his  wife  he  was  again  married  to  Julia 
Madden,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Of  both  marriages  of 
Mr.  Hall,  senior,  nine  children  were  the  result — six 
by  the  first  marriage  and  three  by  the  second,  with 
record  as  follows:  Susan  married  A.  B.  Miller  and 
resides  in  Kansas  :  six  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  of  whom  two  are  deceased.  Mildred  became 
the  wife  of  Alick  Anthony,  and  the  mother  of  five 
children :  she  is  now  deceased,  as  also  are  two  of  the 
children.  Mary  Jane  married  Edward  Grover,  and 
they  reside  in  Mercer  County  and  have  a' family  of 
five.  Michael  W.  was  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  John 
D.  married  Phcebe  Airsmith,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  two  children  :  father  and  mother  are  both 
deceased.  Joseph  lives  in  Texas.  Kate  is  married 
and  resides  in  Michigan.  Robert  S.  lives  in  Mon- 


558 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


mouth.  The  three  latter  are  by  the  second  mar- 
riage. 

Michael  W.  Hall  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county  and  located  in  Monmouth  Township.  His 
father  purchased  partly  improved  land,  whose  value 
he  augmented  by  cultivation,  and  at  the  date  of  his 
death  was  the  owner  of  400  acres.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  Monmouth  Township  at  about  the  begin- 
ning of  the  War  for  the  Union,  his  wife,  the  mother 
of  Michael  W.,  having  departed  this  life  some  five 
years  previous.  She  was  killed  near  the  city  of 
Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  by  the  train  on  which  she  was 
riding  being  thrown  from  the  track.  The  cause  of 
the  accident  was  a  bovine,  who  obstinately  refused 
to  give  way  to  the  "  iron  horse."  She  was  at  the 
'time  on  a  visit  to  her  former  home  in  Kentucky,  and 
the  accident  she  received  was  so  severe  that,  al- 
though she  reached  her  native  State,  she  lingered 
but  a  short  time,  and  then,  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  de- 
parted this  life. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother,  Mr.  Hall  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  own  account.  He  had  previously 
purchased  about  50  acres  of  land  in  Monmouth 
Township,  and  on  this  he  began  the  occupation 
which  he  has  continued  during  his  entire  life.  Sept. 
8,  1859,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents  in 
Monmouth  Township,  Mr.  Hall  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Candis,  the  accomplished  daughter 
of  John  and  Permelia  (Tapscott)  Miller  natives  of 
Barren  Co.,  Ky.  Her  parents  were  married  in  Glas- 
gow and  were  of  Virginia  parentage  and  Scotch  ex- 
traction. Her  father  was  a  cabinet-maker,  and  for 
some  years  after  marriage  resided  at  Glasgow  Ky., 
at  which  place  Mrs.  Hall  was  born,  Dec.  16,  1843. 
She  was  next  to  the  oldest  in  order  of  birth  of 
four  children,  viz. :  Charley,  who  was  married  to 
Adaline  Parker,  now  deceased ;  Candis  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Hall;  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  In 
1845,  when  but  two  years  of  age,  Candis,  now  Mrs. 
Hall,  was  brought  by  her  parents  to  this  State.  They 
located  in  Monmouth  Township,  where  her  father 
followed  his  trade  up  to  within  a  short  time  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  June  7,  1854.  Her  mother 
was  again  married,  and  died  in  Cold  Brook  Town- 
ship Dec.  22,  1876. 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  were  united  in  marriage, 
they  located  upon  a  farm  in  Monmouth  Township, 
which  Mr.  Hall  had  previously  purchased.  Six 
months  later  they  moved  on  a  farm  in  Cold  Brook 


Township,  consisting  of  124  acre's,  to  which  Mr.  H. 
has  since  added  tracts  located  in  Cold  Brook  and 
Monmouth  Townships  to  the  extent  as  heretofore 
mentioned  and  most  of  which  is  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation,  with  the  exception  of  125  acres 
which  is  timber. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  located  at  Talbott  Creek,  to  which  denomi- 
nation they  have  belonged  for  some  25  years.  The 
issue  of  their  union  has  been  seven  children.  The 
living  are  Frank  (see  sketch),  George  C.,  Addie  B., 
Ella  M.,  James  B.  and  George  M.,  all  of  whom  are 
living  at  home  and  have  received  good  educations. 
Edison  G.  is  deceased. 


obert    S.    Patton,    Treasurer  of   Warren 
\    County,  was  elected  first  in  1879  and  re-  : 

elected  in  1882,  term  to  expire  in  Decem- 
ber, 1886.  The  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  notice  was  born  in  Adams  Co.,  Ohio, 
Jan.  1 6,  1837,  and  was  the  first  child  of  five 
born  to  John  S.  and  Sarah  (Morrison)  Patton,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Virginia  and  Ohio.  They  were  _ 
of  Irish  extraction.  The  father  was  married  before 
to  Miss  McCague,  and  by  that  marriage  four  chil- 
dren were  the  result  —  George  A.,  Mary  J., 
Nathaniel  T.  and  Martha.  Of  this  marriage  all  are 
deceased  except  Nathaniel  T.  He  married  Esther 
Stevenson,  she  being  a  native  of  Ohio  and  now  de- 
ceased. The  five  children  of  the  second  marriage 
are  Robert  S.,  Carrie  S.,  Eliza  M.,  John  H.  and  Sa- 
rah; the  latter  died  while  young.  Gary  S.  married 
Miss  Lizzie  Harsha;  Eliza  married  J.  B.  Woods; 
John  H.  married  Sarah  M.  Woods.  Judge  Robert 
Morrison,  grandfather  of  Mr.  P.,  on  the  maternal 
side  of  the  house,  was  an  officer  in  the  war  of  1812. 
His  grandfather,  Nathaniel  Patton,  on  the  paternal 
side  of  the  house,  was  one  of  the  first  defenders  of 
his  country. 

Mr.  Patton  settled  in  Hale  Township  in  1860. 
His  parents  came  the  next  year  and  in  that  town- 
ship spent  the  rest  of  their  lives,  the  senior  Mr.  Pat- 
ton  dying  in  1863,  aged  64  years,  and  his  widow  in 
1876,  at  the  same  age. 

Robert  S.  Patton  lived  on  his  father's  farm  in  Hale 


• 


UMVUtth i  v 


/          /o 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Township,  which  he  had  previously  bought  from  the 
heirs,  until  the  spring  of  1880,  when  he  removed  to 
Monmouth  to  take  charge  of  the  office  that  he  was 
elected  to  fill.  He  has  always  been  a  consistent 
Republican,  but  his  selection  for  the  office  which  he 
so  ably  filled  was  made  not  so  much  on  account  of 
his  politics,  as  his  fitness.  With  the  exception  of 
the  School  Treasury  of  his  township,  which  he  han- 
dled for  12  years,  the  present  is  the  only  official  po- 
sition he  has  ever  filled  or  sought  to  fill. 

Mr.  Patton  was  married  in  his  native  county  to 
Miss  Sarah  Ann  Sheppard,  on  the  zd  of  February, 
1860,  and  of  the  seven  children  born  to  him,  Anna 
S.,  George,  John  and  Guy  are  living,  and  three  were 
buried  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Patton  was  the  daughter  of 
Johnston  and  Mary  (Henry)  Sheppard.  She  was 
born  in  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  June,  1839.  Her  parents 
came  from  Ohio.  Her  parents  are  of  American  or- 
igin as  far  back  as  known. 

Mr.  Patton  belongs  to  no  secret  order,  but  has  been 
many  years  a  consistent  member  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church. 


"  ohn  P.  Terpening,  a  well  known  resident 
-  of  Kelly  Township,  is  a  settler  of  Warren 
County  of  1836.  He  is  a  native  of  Sara- 
toga Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Illinois  in  1835.  His  father,  Ezekiel  Ter- 
pening, was  born  in  the  town  of  Clifton  Park, 
Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y., in  1781.  The  great-grandfather 
of  John  P.  came  from  Holland  and  settled  in  New 
York  after  i's  capture  by  the  English.  From  there 
he  moved  with  his  family  to  Ulster  County,  that 
State,  where  he  died.  One  of  his  sons,  Peter,  moved 
to  Saratoga  County,  to  what  is  now  called  Clifton 
Park,  where  he  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his 
life.  He  served  as  a  soldier  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  His  son,  who  was  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  grandfa- 
ther, on  the  maternal  side,  assisted  in  defending  the 
rights  of  the  colonies,  and  died  from  the  effects  of 
the  hardships  that  he  endured  while  in  the  service. 
His  name  was  Peake,  and  he  was  of  English  ances- 
try. 

Ezekiel   Terpening   had   learned   the  trade    of  a 


blacksmith.  He  gave  his  attention  to  that  business 
until  the  proceeds  of  his  labor  enabled  him  to  buy  a 
farm,  after  which  he  abandoned  his  trade  for  the 
pleasures  of  agriculture.  In  1835,  accompanied  by 
his  family,  he  set  out  to  seek  a  home  in  the  West. 
They  started  on  the  Erie  Canal,  by  which  they 
reached  the  city  of  Buffalo,  whence  they  took  a  steam- 
boat to  Cleveland.  From  that  city  they  again  took 
passage  on  a  canal  extending  from  that  place  to 
Portsmouth,  on  the  Ohio  River,  where  they  embarked 
on  a  steamboat  on  the  same  river  and  reached  the 
Mississippi  River,  on  which  they  journeyed  to  St. 
Louis.  The  freezing  of  the  river  detained  them  there 
a  month,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  they  proceeded 
to  Quincy,  where  they  arrived  on  the  ist  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1836.  No  vacant  house  could  be  found  at 
Quincy,  and,  in  company  with  other  emigrants,  they 
took  possession  of  a  camp  three  miles  from  the  city, 
where  they  remained  a  month.  About  the  ist  of 
February,  the  father  and  son  (the  latter  the  subject 
of  this  sketch)  set  out  for  Rock  Island  County  to  see 
the  claim  J.  P.  had  previously  bought,  but  met  a  man, 
who  was  then  living  where  Moline  is  now  located 
and  whom  he  knew  was  living  near  the  place  he  had 
purchased.  Mr.  T.  learned  from  him  that  the  claim 
had  again  been  sold,  the  man  getting  only  $5  more 
than  Mr.  T.  was  to  give.  He  had  agreed  to  pay 
him  $450  on  taking  possession,  the  ist  of  March. 
They  were  then  some  30  miles  south  of  Monmouth, 
but  thought  best  to  go  to  Hendersonville,  Knox 
County,  and  look  around.  They  finally  found  a  de- 
sirable location,  on  section  33,  in  township  12  north, 
of  range  i  west  (Kelly  Township).  Previous  to 
starting,  the  family  had  removed  to  a  vacant  house 
in  Quincy,  where  the  remaining  members  were  com- 
fortable situated  while  the  father  and  son  were  away 
seeking  a  place  for  their  future  home.  They  re- 
turned to  Quincy  and  remained  in  that  city  until 
spring,  when,  with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon  they 
drove  to  their  new  home.  There  were  a  few  im- 
provements on  the  place,  consisting  of  a  log  hous: 
and  stable  and  four  acres  of  prairie  broken.  This 
was  the  homestead  during  the  remaining  years  of  the 
life  of  the  father,  and  he  also  bought  additional  land, 
until  he  was  the  owner  of  480  acres.  He  died  July 
16,  1864.  The  wife  and  mother  died  Feb.  8,  1867. 
Their  family  included  1 1  children. 

Mr.  Terpening  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  in  order 


562 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


of  birth.  He  was  born  in  the  same  town  in  which 
his  father  was  born,  April  12,  1811.  He  was  reared 
on  the  homestead  in  Saratoga  County  and  received 
a  good  common-school  education.  At  the  age  of  21 
he  became  a  clerk  in  a  grocery,  at  Rexford's  Flats,  in 
the  county  of  his  nativity.  In  May,  of  that  year 
(1835),  he  set  out  for  Illinois.  He  stopped  in  vari- 
ous places  in  the  intervening  States  of  New  York 
and  Ohio,  and  after  he  reached  Jackson,  in  the  Buck- 
eye State,  he  came  the  remainder  of  the  distance  to 
Illinois  on  foot.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he 
returned  to  Saratoga  County  for  the  sake  of  fulfilling 
a  promise  to  a  young  lady  named  Mindwell  Smith, 
to  whom  he  was  joined  in  marriage,  Sept.  24th  after 
he  arrived  home.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Richard 
and  Sally  (Peck)  Smith,  and  was  also  born  in  Clifton 
Park  Township,  Saratoga  County,  April  2,  1813. 

Mrs.  Terpening  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eight 
children,  namely  :  Abijah,  Eliza,  Nathan,  Richard 
P.,  Samuel,  Solomon  P.  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Eliza  married  Solomon  Waite,  and  now  lives 
in  St.  Clair  Co.,  Mo.  Samuel  now  lives  in  Pettis 
Co.,  Mo.  Solomon  C.  resides  at  Waterford,  N.  Y. 
He  was  a  Colonel  in  the  late  war,  in  which  he  lost 
one  of  his  arms.  Of  the  paternal  side,  as  far  back  as 
she  can  trace,  Mrs.  T.  is  of  American  ancestry,  and 
on  the  maternal  side  is  of  English  origin. 

Upon  the  2d  of  November,  1835,  the  elder  Ter- 
pening and  liis  family,  including  the  bride  of  his  son, 
set  out  for  the  journey  to  Illinois  that  has  been  re- 
lated in  detail  in  connection  with  what  has  been  told 
above  concerning  the  fortunes  of  the  father.  The  ar- 
rival of  the  entire  party  in  what  is  now  Kelly  Town- 
ship, occurred  March  9,  1836.  The  elder  Terpen- 
ing bought  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  33  of  L. 
W.  Billups.  Upon  this  was  a  log  cabin,  18  x  20  feet 
in  size,  and  Mr.  Billups  and  his  family  of  ten  and 
Mr.  Terpening's  family  of  twelve,  twenty-two  in  all, 
lived  in  it  for  three  weeks.  Mr.  Terpening  says  that 
"  we  were  thicker  than  three  in  a  bed,  as  the  floor, 
our  only  bed,  was  covered.  "  At  the  end  of  three 
weeks,  Mr.  B.  had  completed  his  house  in  the  vi- 
cinity and  moved  out.  (It  should  have  been  stated 
that  the  elder  Terpening  assisted  a  man  and  his  fam- 
ily to  come  with  himself.  This  man  settled  in  Scuy- 
ler  Co.,  Ill) 

The  first  year  of  his  stay  in  Warren  County,  Mr. 
Terpening  rented  a  farm  on  section  28,  and  in  1837 
he  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section  26.  It  was 


nearly  all  covered  with  timber,  but  a  small  log  cabin 
had  been  erected,  of  which  he  and  his  wife  took  pos- 
session for  a  short  time,  until  a  more  comfortable 
and  convenient  dwelling  could  be  prepared  for  their 
use.  The  new  house  was  built  of  logs,  but  it  was 
the  home  of  the  household  for  seven  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time,  Mr.  Terpening  bought  a  farm  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  34,  to  which  he  re- 
moved. They  were  there  resident  five  or  six  years, 
after  which  the  proprietor  bought  and  removed  to  the 
place  a  frame  house.  He  continued  to  manage  the 
place  until  he  had  broken  and  fenced  about  50  acres, 
when  he  again  sold  his  farm  and  bought  a  place  on 
section  2,  of  the  township  of  Cold  Brook.  The  family 
were  the  occupants  of  this  until  1851,  when  Mr. 
Terpening  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  is  at  pres- 
ent residing.  It  was  then  unbroken  prairie.  He 
moved  a  log  house  to  it  and  commenced  to  improve 
his  property.  He  has  placed  it  in  a  condition  which 
will  compare  favorably  with  others  in  the  township  of 
similar  pretensions.  . 

Mr.  Terpening's  household  included  eight  chil- 
dren. Smith,  the  eldest  son,  resides  in  Galesburg, 
111. ;  J.  Wesley  is  a  resident  of  Marion  Co.,  Mo. ;  , 
Sarah  is  the  widow  of  William  M.  Arnibtrong,  who  ' 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and  Cap- 
tain of  Company  B,  io2d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  to  which  ref-  . 
erence  has  so  often  been  made  in  the  course  of  these 
records.  At  the  battle  of  Averysburg  he  was  se- 
verely wounded  and  never  recovered  from  the  con- 
sequences of  the  injury.  After  his  return  he  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  Warren  County,  but  did  not  live  to 
fill  his  term  of  office.  Harrison  P.  is  a  resident  of 
Marion  Co.,  Mo.;  Olive  is  the  wife  of  W.  B.  Arm- 
strong, and  they  are  settled  in  Vernon  Co.,  Mo. ; 
Nathan  is  a  citizen  of  the  same  county  ;  Charles  is 
the  manager  of  the  homestead ;  Edwin  lives  in  the 
township  of  Cold  Brook.  The  son,  Harrison,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Rebellion,  and  served  in  the  59th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.  William,  Wesley  and  Nathan  were  soldiers 
in  the  same  company  and  regiment  of  which  their 
brother-in-law  was  the  chief  officer.  All  served 
through  the  war. 

The  record  of  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mr.  Ter- 
pening is  as  follows :  Maria  T.  is  the  wife  of  George 
W.  Brown,  of  Galesburg,  the  inventor  of  the  corn 
planter  that  bears  his  name  ;  Olive  is  Mrs.  Boswell  ; 
Peter  lives  in  Vernon  Co.,  Mo.  ;  George  is  a  resident 
on  section  28,  in  Kelly  Township;  David  lives  on 


>.' 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


563 


section  33,  of  the  same;  William  H.  is  a  citizen  of 
Pettis  Co.,  Mo. 

Mr.  T.  has  held  various  township  offices,  such  as 
Collector,  Assessor,  School  Director  and  Superintend- 
ent of  Highways.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster  of 
the  office  at  Utah,  under  the  administration  of  Zach- 
ary  Taylor,  and  held  the  office  for  eight  years.  Dur- 
ing the  late  war,  he  was  enrolling  officer.  He  wanted 
to  enlist  himself  and  follow  the  fortunes  of  his  three 
sons  in  the  service  of  his  country,  but  owing  to  his 
age  the  recruiting  officer  would  not  accept  him.  His 
friends  very  justly  thought  he  had  already  shown 
sufficient  patriotism  and  done  enough  by  sending  to 
the  front  three  of  his  sons,  two 'of  his  sons-in-law  and 
one  brother,  Samuel  Terpening.  Politically,  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  he  was  elected  President  of  the 
Union  League.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church. 

As  one  of  the  best  known  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
this  part  of  the  State,  as  well  as  a  venerable  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  the  county,  the  portrait  of 
John  P.  Terpening  will  be  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  valued  in  this  ALBUM. 


illiam  D.  Miller,  of  Berwick  Township 
Warren  County,  who  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm,  with  beautiful  surroundings,  on  sec- 
tion 10,  was  born  in  Pefry  Co.,  Ihd.,  Feb. 
16,  1848.  John  Miller,  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in 
January,  1805,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1851. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  died  on  his  home 
farm,  in  this  county,  Oct.  8,  1878.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Lucy  Carrin  1830.  She  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, in  1807,  and  died  in  this  county,  Nov.  21, 
1861.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  eight  children  were 
born,  five  of  whom  still  survive  them. 

William  D.  Miller  is  the  present  Supervisor  of 
Berwick  Township,  and  has  faithfully  served  the 
township  in  that  capacity  for  seven  years.  He  has 
also  served  as  School  Director  for  ten  years,  and  as 
Assessor  for  three  years.  By  industry  ,  enterprise 
and  frugality  he  has  accumulated  a  handsome  prop- 
erty, and  has  beautified  his  farm  with  a  neat  resi- 
dence and  inviting  surroundings.  In  addition  to  his 


agricultural  pursuits,  he  has  devoted  considerable 
time  to  raising  stock  and  dealing  in  graded  cattle. 

May  21,  1873,  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Georgia  Cable.  She  was  born  Sept.  27, 
1851.  To  them  a  son,  Walter,  was  born,  Dec,  19, 
1879. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Miller,  like  his  .father  before  him, 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  one  of 
the  recognized  leaders  of  the  democracy  of  Berwick 
Township.  His  wife  united  with  and  is  a-memberof 
the  Baptist  Church  of  Berwick. 


"urr  Sheldon,  owning  304  acres  of  good 
farm  land,  located  on  section  3  2,  Floyd 
Township,  where  he  resides  and  is  active- 
engaged  in  its  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion, was  born  Nov.  8,  1838,  in  the  same 
township,  and  is  a  son  of  Wilson  Sheldon, 
born  in  New  York  city,  Feb.  3,  1811,  and  now  de- 
ceased. 

The  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  came 
to  this  State  in  1837,  located  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  32,  Floyd  Township,  and  became  the 
owner  of  640  acres  of  land,  where  he  resided,  follow- 
ing the  vocation  of  a  farmer,  until  1868,  when  he 
moved  to  Monmouth  and  lived  there  until  his  death, 
Sept.  13,  1873.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  Matteson 
in  1831.  She  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  in  1813, 
and  when  eight  years  old  her  parents  removed  to 
Onetda  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  she  continued  to  reside  un- 
til the  fall  of  1837,  when  she  came  to  this  State  with 
her  husband,  the  subject  of  this  notice.  Of  their 
union  nine  children  were  born  —  Hiram,  Martha, 
George,  Seneca  M.,  Burr,  Alma,  Aurilla  (who  died 
on  attaining  her  2ist  year),  Mary  and  Jerome,  the 
latter  dying  in  infancy. 

Burr  Sheldon  was  married  to  Miss  A.  J.  Morey, 
Oct.  13,  1869.  She  was  born  Dec.  10,  1845,  in  Knox 
Co.,  111.,  and  bore  her  husband  two  children — Clar- 
ence M.,  born  Jan.  18,  1871  ;  and  Carrie,  Jan.  16, 
1879.  The  father  of  ?j[rs.  Sheldon,  Hiram  T.  Morey, 
was  born  in  New  York,  about  1820;  married  Miss 
Caroline  I.  Patrick,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  January, 
1845.  She  was  born  in  1825,  and  bore  him  five  chiU 


5  64 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


dren  —  Anna  J->  Caroline,  William  F.,  Hiram  and 
Jane.  He  came  to  this  State  about  1840,  and  lo- 
cated at  Knoxville,  Knox  County,  where  he  contin- 
ued to  reside  for  20  years,  during  which  time  he 
served  as  Circuit  Clerk  four  years.  He  then  moved 
to  Monmouth,  where  he  is  at  present  residing,  and  is 
keeping  books  for  his  son,  Hiram  Morey,  engaged  in 
business  on  Main  Street. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  Sheldon  of  this  notice  is  under  an 
advanced  slate  of  cultivation,  and  in  addition  to  the 
tilling  of  his  land,  he  is  to  a  considerable  extent  en- 
gaged as  a  stock -dealer,  and  lias  also  added  to  these 
interests  the  baling  and  shipping  of  hay.  He  has  a 
fine  hay  press  and  is  doing  a  very  extensive  business 
in  that  line. 

Socially,  Mr.  Sheldon  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  Lodge,  No.  619,  Berwick.  In  religion,  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in 
politics,  Mr.  Sheldon  always  casts  his  vote  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  served  his  township  as  School 
Director  for  a  number  of  years. 


yman  H.  Young.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  among  the  substantial  and  pro- 
gressive farmers  of  Warren  County.  He 
was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  Feb.  25,  1822, 
and  is  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Annis  (Smith) 
Young.  The  former  was  a  native  of  the  above 
named  county,  but  his  father  was  born  in  Scotland. 
He  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Connecticut, 
while  it  was  yet  under  colonial  government.  There 
he  lived,  and  when  Stephen  was  but  five  years  old, 
died.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Joel 
Smith,  was  of  English  nativity.  He  came  to  Con- 
necticut, where  he  followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Young  is  descended 
from  the  best  English  and  Scotch  ancestry. 

Mr.  Young  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
state,  attending  the  excellent  schools,  and  also  re- 
ceiving a  good  academic  education,  which  he  has 
supplemented  with  a  careful  and  extensive  course  of 
reading,  and  is  not  only  well  informed  on  general  and 
current  topics,  but  has  a  mind  stored  with  valuable 
and  practical  information.  After  leaving  school  he 


engaged  in  teaching  for  the  next  six  months.  He 
ventured  West  in  the  Spring  of  1854,  and  settled  in 
Cold  Brook  To.vnship,  Warren  County,  where  he 
purchased  land  on  Section  7.  Here  he  has  since 
followed  farming  and  stock  raising,  in  both  of  which 
departments  he  has  been  more  than  ordinarily  suc- 
cessful. 

Mr.  Young  was  united  in  marriage  Oct.  n,  1846, 
with  Miss  Emeline  A.,  daughter  of  Walker  and  Con- 
stant (Humaston)  Cole.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed in  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Cole  and 
family  resided.  They  were  also  natives  of  Connect- 
icut, but  had  settled  in  Ohio,  at  an  early  day.  There 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  seven  chil- 
dren, whose  names  in  the  order  of  birth,  are  as  fol- 
lows: Stephen  Nelson,  who  is  married  and  living  in 
Nodaway  Co..  Mo.;  Clark  Milton,  a  farmer  of  Cold 
Brook  Township,  and  a  sketch  of  whom  is  given  else- 
where in  this  Album.  Clarence  is  married  and  a 
farmer  of  Kelly  Township.  George  L.  is  also  mar- 
ried, and  is  a  resident  of  Nance  Co.,  Neb.  Elmer 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Levi  E.  is  married, 
and  also  a  resident  of  Nance  Co.,  Neb.  Dr.  Arthur 
Young,  now  a  student  of  Monmouth  College,  is  the  - 
youngest  of  this  family.  Mr.  Young  has  given  all 
his  children  the  benefits  of  a  thorough  practical  ed- 
ucation, and  they  have  gone  forth  into  the  world  fully 
equipped  to  meet  the  responsibilities  of  life. 

In  1876  Mr.  Young  organized  and  put  into  suc- 
cessful operation  the  Cold  Brook  Rural  Mutual  In- 
surance Company,  and  was  elected  its  President. 
About  two  years  afterwards  the  State  Legislature 
passed  an  Act  permitting  mutual  companies  to  or- 
ganize, and  under  that  Act  a  re-organization  was  ef- 
fected which  includes  the  entire  County  of  Warren. 
It  then  took  the  name  of  the  Monmouth  Farmers' 
Mutual  County  Insurance  Company.  Mr.  Young 
was  elected  its  President,  which  position  he  has 
since  held.  Under  his  fostering  care  and  guidance 
the  Company  has  grown  to  be  second  to  none  of  sim- 
ilar character.  The  volume  of  business  or  amount 
of  policies  carried  last  year  aggregated  $960,000. 
The  benefits  accruing  to  the  farmers  of  the  county 
can  be  easily  estimated.  Much  credit  is  due  Mr. 
Young  for  inaugurating  and  carrying  forward  this  en- 
terprise, which  has  been  of  great  advantage  as  secu- 
rity from  loss  in  case  of  fire,  in  the  farming  districts. 
Mr.  C.  M.  Young,  son  of  the  President,  is  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Company.  Father  and  son  perform  the 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


565 


duties  of  their  respective  offices  for  a  mere  nominal 
consideration,  having  the  general  good  of  the  Com- 
pany at  heart.  Mr.  Young  has  held  the  office  of 
School  Trustee  and  Road  Commissioner.  In  politics 
he  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  since  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  has  been  a  staunch  supporter 
of  it. 


& 

t  rville  Ray,  engaged  in  stock-raising  and  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  on    section   8,  Berwick 
Township,  where  he  resides  and  owns  200 
acres  of  land,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  Feb.   18, 
1819,  and  is  a  son  of  Hickerson  Ray,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  who  emigrated  to  this  State   in   1845, 
locating  in  Roseville  Township,  this  county,   where 
he  died  about  1855. 

The  father  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Kelly  about 
1815.  She  was  born  in  Virginia,  about  1800,  and 
died  in  1881,  in  this  county.  Of  their  union  the 
>  following  children  were  born  :  Wyatt,  Orville,  William, 
'  Thomas  and  Elizabeth,  twins,  Hickerson,  John  C., 

Jane,  Emily,  Harriet  and  Paradine. 
I  Mr.  Ray  came  to  Warren  county  as  early  as  1840, 
for  a  time  worked  by  the  month.  By  using  economy 
and  diligence,  for  which  he  is  noted,  he  had  put  him- 
self in  such  shape  that  by  1845  he  was  able  to  pur- 
chase some  land,  and  began  farming  for  himself.  At 
that  time  he  located  in  Roseville  Township.  He 
moved  from  there  to  Floyd  Township,  where  he 
lived  until  1870. 

Orville  Ray  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Jane  Smith,  Feb.  i,  1845.  She  was  born  in  March, 
1827,  in  Kentucky,  and  has  become  the  mother  of 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  namely, 
Archie  M.,  Ira  T.,  Harvey  L.,  Eliza,  Victoria  and 
Silas  O.  John  H.  died  in  infancy.  Archie  married 
Elizabeth  Welch,  who  died  leaving  two  children, 
Charles  and  Mary.  Ira  T.  married  Miss  Millee 
Ayers,  and  they  have  one  child.  They  live  in  Gage 
County,  Neb.  Harvey  selected  for  a  wife  Milinda 
Jane  Carr :  the  names  of  their  two  children  are  Mary 
E.  and  Mable.  Eliza  became  the  wife  of  John  W. 
Smith,  of  Ringgold  County,  Iowa,  and  is  the  mother 
of  four  children — Nora,  Henry,  Arthur  and  Lena. 
Victoria  is  the  wife  of  Joshua  Roswell.  They  have 


four  children  living,  as  follows  :  Arnold  N.,  Charles, 
deceased,  Mina  Ester  and  Harvey.  Silas  O.  lives 
with  his  parents. 

Mr.  Ray  is  the  owner  of  260  acres  of  land  where 
he  resides,  and  in  addition  to  its  cultivation,  is  de- 
voting a  considerable  part  of  his  time  to  raising  and 
dealing  in  fine  horses.  He  has  some  fine  roadsters 
and  heavy  draught  horses,  23  head  in  all,  and  in 
this  branch  of  his  vocation  he  is  meeting  with  marked 
success.  In  religion,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ray  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  R. 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Ray,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  John  Smith,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1800, 
and  died  in  this  State  in  1839.  He  was  married  in 
1822,  to  a  Miss  Usurla  Hendricks,  who  was  born  in 
Virginia,  in  1800.  She  died  in  April,  1873,  in  this 
State,  after  having  borne  her  husband  eight  children, 
namely :  Elizabeth,  David,  Nancy,  James  A.  J., 
John  T.,  William  H.,  Brison  B.  and  Keziah  Jane.  , 
The  parents  came  to  this  State  during  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  in  1832.  They  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  politics  her  father 
was  a  strong  supporter  of  the  principles  advocated  by 
the  Democratic  party. 


-iH 


ohn    A.    McKnight,   of  the    township  of 
Spring  Grove,  is  a  descendant  from  a  fam- 
ily that  became  associated  with  the  history 
of  this  country   previous  to  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.     His  first  ancestor  on  the  Amer- 
ican   Continent   was    James   McKnight,    who 
was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland  of  Scotch  progeni- 
tors, and  therefore  belonged  to  the  class  of  people 
distinctively  known  as  the  Scotch  Irish.     Their  na- 
tionality as  Scotch  is   practically  intact,  as  in  few 
instances  did  they  intermarry  with  the  native  people 
of  Ireland.     They  were  all   Protestants  of  decided 
type.     The  first  of  the  family  in  this  country,  who 
has  been   referred  to,   settled  in  Adams    Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until   1808.     He  then 
went  to  Crawford   County  in   the  same  State,   and 
there,  by  the  purchase  of  a  large  acreage,  became  an 
extensive  landholder.     The  land  was  covered  with 
A  *~  '     - 


566 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


timber  and  he  passed  his  life  in  its  improvement. 
Captain  James  McKnight,  his  son,  became  noted  for 
his  predilection  for  military  affairs,  and  at  the  age  of 
1 8  he  was  made  Captain  of  a  militia  Company,  which 
he  commanded  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  father  gave 
him  a  tract  of  land,  on  which  he  settled  at  the  close 
of  the  war  and  which  he  cleared  from  its  original 
condition.  He  remained  thereon  resident  until 
1864,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  located  in-War- 
ren  County  and  bought  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 31  in  Spring  Grove  Township  and  lived  there 
until  the  date  of  his  death.  His  wife,  previous  to 
her  marriage  to  him,  was  Miss  Lucinda  Adams.  She 
was  born  in  Virginia,  April  17,  1799.  They  had 
nine  children  :  Mr.  McKnight  of  this  sketch  is  the 
oldest;  Mary  Ann  is  deceased;  James  C.  lives  in 
La  Bette  Co.,  Kan.;  William  lives  in  Mercer  Co., 
111. ;  Margaret  is  deceased  ;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
Allen  Dunn-,  a  farmer  of  Spring  Grove  Township; 
Thomas  resides  in  the  township  of  Monmouth; 
David  S.  lives  in  Alexis;  Lucinda,  the  youngest, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Jeff  Calvin,  of  La  Bette  Co., 
Kan.,  is  deceased. 

John  A.  McKnight  was  born  in  Mead  Township, 
Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  July  10,  1823.  His  father,  of 
whom  an  account  is  incorporated  in  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  April  i,  1786.  Mr.  Mc- 
Knight was  brought  up  in  the  county  where  he  was 
born  and  was  reared  in  the  calling  in  which  all  his 
ancestors  had  been  engaged.  He  received  such  ed- 
ucation as  could  be  obtained  in  the  district  schools. 
On  arriving  at  the  age  of  independent  manhood,  he 
fitted  himself  for  the  business  of  a  carpenter,  which 
he  followed  eight  years. 

Mr.  McKnight  was  married  to  Elmina  C.  Dunn, 
Sept.  28,  1854.  She  was  born  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa., 
March  13,  1835.  On  making  ready  to  locate  in  life, 
Mr.  McKnight  bought  a  farm  in  Hayfield  Township 
in  his  native  County.  The  place  had  no  buildings 
on  it  and  only  20  acres  had  been  cleared.  He 
erected  the  necessary  buildings  for  the  family  and 
his  stock  and  crops  and  proceeded  with  the  work  of 
clearing  the  land.  He  cut  the  timber  on  15  acres 
while  he  continued  to  occupy  the  farm,  but  disposed 
of  it  in  1857  and  came  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in 
Warren  County  on  60  acres  of  land  situated  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  31.  The  previous  owner 
had  erected  a  log  cabin  and  had  placed  30  acr,es  un- 
der the  plow.  The  family  passed  the  winter  in  the 


log  building  and  in  the  spring  Mr.  McKnight  built  a 
small  frame  house.  He  has  since  made  additional 
purchases  of  land  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  the 
whole  quarter-section  on  which  he  at  first  settled. 
The  buildings  and  all  the  accessories  of  the  place 
are  of  excellent  character.  He  also  bought  land  in 
Monmouth  Township. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  McKnight  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1866.  Feb.  25,  1868,  he  was  again  married,  to 
Sarah  J.  Stevenson.  She  was  born  in  Adams  Co., 
Ohio,  Jan.  28,  1838,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James 
and  Margaret  (Cameron)  Stevenson.  Her  father 
was  born  in  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  and  her 
mother  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 

Of  the  first  marriage  of  Mr.  McKnight  there  were 
born  five  children — James  E.,  Emma  E.,  John  O., 
Ida  L.  and  Edward  L.  Of  the  second  marriage, 
Alexander  C.  and  Albert  S.  are  the  issue. 

Mr.  and  Mr  .  McKnight  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  political  faith  and  connections. 


•s 


amuel  Douglas  is  a  resident  of  Monmouth. 
He  is  a  veteran  of  two  wars,  and  is  an 
Irishman  by  birth  and  a  Scotchman  by 
descent.  He  was  born  in  County  Antrim, 
Ireland,  in  February,  1819.  He  was  brought 
up  on  the  Green  Isle,  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  At  the  age  of  19  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  accompanied  by  his  mother  and 
brother.  They  landed  at  the  port  of  New  York  af- 
ter an  ocean  voyage  of  six  weeks'  duration.  After  a 
residence  of  a  few  months  in  the  city  of  New  York 
he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  was  occupied  in  va- 
rious pursuits  in  that  city  until  1839,  when  he  rented 
land  on  the  bluffs  of  the  river  near  the  city,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  was  occupied 
in  that  vocation  until  1846,  when  he  came  to  Mon- 
mouth. He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  there,  and 
he  bought  a  house  and  lot  and  rented  land  on  the 
borders  of  the  village,  as  it  then  was.  The  Mexican 
war  attracted  him  with  an  irresistible  influence,  and 
he  determined  to  enter  the  military  service  of  his 
adopted  country.  He  enrolled  Aug.  6,  1846,  under 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


567 


Captain  Wayne  B.  Stupps,  and  went  to  the  "halls  of 
the  Montezumas."  The  company  was  independent, 
and  was  mounted  and  did  effective  service  as  volun- 
teers. 

On  March  n,  1848,  Mr.  Douglas  was  discharged 
and  returned  to  Monmouth.  Soon  after  he  bought 
a  farm  situated  two  miles  east  of  the  city.  He  was 
its  owner  and  occupant  three  years.  He  then  sold 
the  place  and  removed  to  town.  He  was  a  resident 
of  Monmouth  two  years,  and  managed  a  tract  of 
land  which  he  had  purchased  in  the  same  township. 
He  was  occupied  in  its  improvement  when  the  civil 
war  broke  out,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist 
in  defense  of  the  Union.  He  enrolled  July  5,  1861, 
in  Co.  B,  First  111.  Cav,,  and  on  the  organization  of 
the  command  was  made  First  Lieutenant.  The  reg- 
iment was  mustered  into  service  July  15,  1861.  Mr. 
Douglas  received  a  severe  wound  at  the  battle  of 
Lexington,  Mo.,  and  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  same 
action  by  the  rebel  cavalry  under  General  Price.  He 
was  taken  to  St.  Louis  and  shortly  after  was  set  at 
liberty  on  parole.  He  resigned  on  account  of  disa- 
bility June  23,  1862,  and  returned  to  Monmouth. 
For  some  years  after  he  was  in  active  business  life, 
but  has  been  livine  for  some  years  in  retirement  at 
his  pleasant  residence  in  the  suburbs. 

Mary  A.  Merrifield  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Doug- 
las. She  was  born  in  Logan  Co.,  Ky  ,  in  February, 
1824.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  A. 
(Burroughs)  Merrifield.  A  son,  Hercules  Douglas, 
resident  at  Monmouth,  is  the  only  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Douglas. 


form    G.    Burchfield.      Among   the   many; 
notable  events  of  the  late  war,  there  were; 
few  if  any  that  at  the  time  of  their  occur-' 
rence  created  any  greater  sensation   than  did 
the  killing  of  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan,  the  fa- 
mous guerrilla  chief  of  Kentucky.     Many  and 
different  versions  of  the  affair  have  from  time  to  time 
been  given,  but  generally  by   persons  wholly  unac- 
quainted with   the  facts  other  than  through  hearsay 
testimony. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  the  princi- 


pal  actors  in  that  tragedy,  being  present  from  first 
to  last,  and  a  participant  in  the  raid  that  had  for  its 
design  the  routing  of  Morgan  from  the  vicinity  of 
Greenville,  Tenn.  The  very  bitter  and  unrelenting 
hatred  engendered  in  the  hearts  of  the  whole  Union 
people  against  the  leaders  of  the  Rebellion  and  par- 
ticularly against  Morgan,  was  calculated  later  on  to 
fit  the  mind  of  the  unbiased  reader  for  the  accept- 
ance as  true,  of  the  claim  of  Basil  Duke  and  others, 
that  their  chief  had  been  ruthlessly  murdered  after 
his  surrender. 

Mr.  Burchfield,  who  was  a  member  of  Co.  G,  13111 
Tenn.  Cav.  (Federal),  after  detailing  much,  and  very 
minutely,  the  movements  of  his  immediate  command 
upon  the  morning  of  August  4,  1864,  makes  the  fol- 
lowing statement  in  explanation  of  the  killing  of  the 
distinguished  partisan  at  Greenville,  Tenn.,  upon 
that  occasion  : 

"It  was  just  growing  light ;  we  had  dashed  through 
the  town,  completely  surprising  and  putting  to  rout 
1,500  or  2,000  rebels  there  encamped,  and  turning  ^ 
back  the  street  through  which  we  had  charged,  I 
rode  up  to  the  hotel  of  Mrs.  Col.  David  Fry,  and  ad- 
dressing that  lady,  who  was  my  cousin,  by  the  way, 
was  informed  by  her.  that  Gen.  Morgan  was  just  j 
back  of  the  hotel  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Williams.  I 
reported  the  fact  at  once  to  Capt.  Wilcox,  who  was  in  J 
command  of  our  men,  and  he  ordered  us  to  surround 
the  block.  Andrew  Campbell  (now  of  Hawville, 
Ind.)  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  block;  Lieut.  Wil- 
cox and  myself  entered  the  grounds  and  passed 
north  towards  the  premises  of  Mrs.  Williams.  In 
passing  an  outhouse  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Mrs. 
Williams'  lot,  two  officers,  Rodgers  and  Clay,  came 
to  the  door  and  surrendered.  At  that  moment  a 
man  in  shirt  sleeves  and  bareheaded,  ran  from  behind 
the  outhouse  towards  the  residence.  We  followed 
through  the  grape  arbor  and  got  between  him  and 
the  house  and  ordered  him  to  surrender.  He  fired 
at  us  and  passed  behind  a  bunch  of  vines.  I  saw 
Campbell  ride  out  from  behind  a  stable  and  fire, 
when  we  shouted  to  him  not  to  shoot,  as  the  man 
was  on  a  line  between  Campbell  and  us.  The  .man 
walked  a  few  paces  toward  Campbell,  who  dis- 
mounted, laid  his  gun  on  the  fence  and  was  taking 
deliberate  aim,  when  the  man  faced  about  with  pis- 
tol raised,  took  a  step  or  two  towards  us,  and  Camp- 
bell fired.  The  ball  entered  just  below  the  left 
shoulder  and  passed  out  below  the  left  nipple,  and 


S68 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Gen.  Morgan,  with  the  exclamation  'Oh,  God!'  fell 
and  was  dead."  The  maltreatment  of  the  dead  body 
is  all  contradicted  by  Mr.  Burchfield. 

John  G.  Burchfield  was  born  at  Clark  Springs, 
Tenn.,  May  5,  1846,  and  was  the  youngest  of  five 
sons  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Gourley)  Burchfield, 
both  now  deceased.  He  was  brought  up  to  farming 
and  received  in  his  early  life  only  four  months' 
schooling,  but  a  relative,  James  I.  Tipton,  who  reared 
him,  taught  him  and  placed  him  at  Henry  and 
Emery  College,  Abingdon,  Va.  The  war  closed  the 
college,  and  young  Burchfield  returned  to  Tennes- 
see to  find  that  his  guardian  had  died  ;  and  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  blacksmith,  John  J.  Edens,  at 
Elizabethtown,  Tenn. 

In  November,  1861,  he  went  out  with  Fry's  bridge 
burners,  and  helped  burn  the  railroad  bridges  at 
Union,  across  the  Holistein  River,  Nov.  9,  1861,  and 
staid  in  the  mountains  until  February,  1862.  In 
August,  1863,  he  entered  the  army  and  served  until 
Sept.  5,  1865. 

In  January,  1866,  he  came  to  Illinois,  worked  at 
various  places,  landed  at  Monmouth  in  1879,  and 
has  since  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Weir  Plow 
Company,  He  is  a  skillful  mechanic  and  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him.  He  is  Past  Master 
of  Monmouth  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Principal  So- 
journer  in  the  Chapter,  and  illustrious  Grand  Master 
of  the  Council.  He  is  also  Past  Master  of  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  and  Officer  of  the  Day  in  the  G.  A.  R.  In  1880 
he  was  the  candidate  of  the  Greenback  party  for 
Circuit  Clerk;  he  is  now  a  Republican. 

He  was  married  in  Springfield,  111.,  Dec.  10,  1868, 
to  Miss  Margaret  Bumgardner,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  six  children — William  E.,  Martha  E., 
George  S.,  Charles  M.,  Orion  and  Nellie  V.  The 
three  last  named  are  deceased. 


•» 


C.   Miles  represents  one  of  the  most 
important  industries  of  Warren  County.  He 
is  a  brick  and  tile  manufacturer  and  is  lo- 
cated  on    section    i,  in  the   township   of  Cold 
Brook.     He  is  also  interested  in    the  manufac- 
ture of  lumber  and  is  the  owner  of  a  saw-mill. 
He  was  born  in  Kelly  Township,  July  6,  1832,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Froman)  Miles.   He  is 


a  member  of  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  pioneer  fami- 
lies of  the  county  in  which  he  has  passed  most  of  his 
life.  After  he  had  spent  about  the  allotted  time  at 
school  and  had  worked  on  the  farm  until  about  17 
years  old,  he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  a 
carpenter.  He  operated  for  a  short  period  as  a  jour- 
neyman, and  afterward  commenced  to  act  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  an  independent  builder  and  contractor  and 
has  since  managed  his  business  as  a  craftsman  in 
those  departments,  to  which  he  has  also  added 
bridge  building. 

In  1858  Mr.  Miles  bought  the  Ferris  steam-mill  in 
Henderson,  Knox  County,  and  was  engaged  in  its 
managemeni  until  1862.  The  civil  war  interfered 
with  his  business  and  he  took  up  arms  in  the  de- 
fense of  the  union.  In  August  of  the  second  year  of 
the  war  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  io2d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
after  a  service  of  six  months  he  was  discharged  for 
disability.  He  returned  to  his  home,  resumed  his 
former  business  and  continued  to  conduct  the  affairs 
of  the  mill  for  four  years,  when  it  was  burned.  He  im- 
mediately rebuilt  the  structure  and  continued  to  con-  ] 
duct  it  for  a  period  of  two  years.  Then  the  boiler 
exploded  and  blew  the  mill  to  pieces,  killing  two.; 
men.  The  pecuniary  loss  to  Mr.  Miles  was  $3,000. 
He  then  turned  his  attention  exclusively  to  the  busi- 
iness  of  a  contractor  and  builder,  in  which  he  was 
occupied  two  years,  after  which  he  bought  a  quarter 
interest  in  the  steam-mill  in  Kelly  Township,  and  in 
which  he  is  at  present  interested  in  connection  with 
other  business.  For  the  first  six  years  he  had  a 
partner,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  became  by 
purchase  the  sole  owner  and  has  since  operated 
singly.  He  added  the  tile  and  brick  business  in 
1882,  and  is  prospering  in  the  several  industries  in 
which  he  is  interested.  The  clay  beds  are  situated 
about  two  miles  from  the  factory. 

Miss  Harriet  T.  Rogers  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Miles  in  September,  1854.  After  their  marriage  they 
located  in  Galesburg,  and  after  a  residence  there  of 
two  years  went  to  Brown  Co.,  Kas.,  and  pre-empted 
a  claim  of  land,  on  which  they  resided  six  months. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  they  returned  to 
Henderson,  which  was  their  place  of  abode  until 
1882,  when  they  removed  to  section  i,  in  Cold  Brook 
Township.  The  farm  of  Mr.  Miles  contains  120 
acres  and  is  in  thorough,  good  condition  for  prosper- 
ous farming.  He  is  also  proprietor  of  160  acres  of 
land  in  Kelly  Township,  situated  on  section  24,  and 


•  '•  ' 


tit 
IN 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


57' 


has  a  tract  which  includes  20  acres  on  section  25,  of 
the  same  township.  The  farms  are  under  the  man- 
agement of  his  sons.  The  household  comprises 
seven  children — John  H.,  Eddie  H.,  Frank  G.,  Geo. 
C.,  Willie,  Theodore  and  Helen.  Mrs.  Miles  is  a 
native  of  New  York.  Mr.  Miles  is  a  Republican. 


!  ohn  Calder.  One  of  the  most  substantial 
farmers  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Kelly  Township,  is  John  Calder.  He  is  a 
native  of  Somersetshire,  England,  and  was 
born  Jan.  12,  1819.  He  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  Calder,  who  were  engaged  as 
farmers  in  their  native  land.  John  remained  at 
home  until  he  attained  his  I4th  year,  when  he  was 
apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  a  butcher.  He  served 
his  time  faithfully  and  then  went  to  London  to  fol- 
low the  calling  he  had  thus  chosen.  He  remained 
in  that  city  during  the  winter  of  1839  and  1840,  and 
in  the  spring  shipped  for  South  Australia.  From 
there  he  went  to  Van  Diemansland,  where  he  re- 
mained engaged  in  different  avocations  several 
months.  He  then  went  to  China,  where  he  stayed 
for  1 8  months,  going  thence  to  Bombay  City,  India. 
He  remained  a  citizen  there  for  six  months,  when  he 
returned  to  England.  After  a  six-months  sojourn  at 
home,  he  became  restless,  and  the  desire  for  a  change 
was  too  great  for  him  to  resist.  He  therefore  ship- 
ped for  Aden  in  Arabia,  and  from  there  up  the  Per- 
sian Gulf,  then  back  to  India,  where  he  remained 
six  months  and  then  returned  to  England.  There 
he  was  content  to  remain  during  the  winter,  but  on 
the  following  spring  he  embarked  for  South  America 
and  stopped  at  Monte  Video,  Buenos  Ayres  and 
other  places  along  the  River  La  Platte  and  in  the 
Argentine  and  Uraguay  Republics  a  little  over  two 
years.  From  thence  he  went  to  the  Brazils,  stop- 
ping at  Rio  ile  Janeiro  six  or  seven  months,  and 
returned  to  England  in  March,  1848. 

During  the  last  year  named,  1848,  the  expedition 
was  being  fitted  up  to  go  in  search  of  Sir  John  Frank- 
lin, under  the  command  of  Sir  James  Ross  and  Cap- 
tain Bird.  Mr.  Calder  shipped  in  H.  M.  S.  Investi- 
gator, under  the  command  of  Captain  Bird.  The 
fleet  set  sail  in  the  spring  of  1848,  and  passed 
through  David's  Straits,  Baffin's  Bay,  Lancaster 


Sound  into  Barrow's  Strait,  at  Prince  Regent's  Inlet, 
and  wintered  at  Leopold  Bay,  North  Somerset,  but 
discovered  no  traces  of  the  fated  explorer,  and,  una- 
ble to  push  further  North,  returned  to  England,  in 
November,  1849. 

The  country  had  now  become  thoroughly  alarmed 
for  the  fate  of  the  great  explorer  and  his  party  and 
immediately  set  about  organizing  an  expedition  that 
would  make  a  thorough  search  for  Sir  John  and  his 
crew.  The  Government  fitted  out  the  Enterprise, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Collison,  and  the  Investiga- 
tor, under  Commander  McClure.  They  set  sail  in 
January,  1850,  and  parted  company  after  passing 
through  the  Straits  of  Magellan,  never  seeing  the 
Enterprise  afterward.  The  Investigator,  the  vessel 
upon  which  Mr.  Calder  shipped,  as  Captain  of  the 
forecastle,  passed  the  winters  of  1850  and  1851  at 
Prince  Royal  Island,  in  the  Arctic  Ocean.  In  the 
spring  of  1851  Commander  McClure  turned  his  ves- 
sel southward  around  the  southern  extremity  of  Bar- 
ring's Island,  and  commenced  to  force  a  passage  to' 
the  northward,  between  the  western  shore  of  that 
land  and  the  enormous  fields  of  ice  which  pressed 
upon  it.  The  cliffs  rose  up  like  walls  on  one  side,< 
while  on  the  other  the  stupendous  palaeoerzostic  sea] 
arose  from  the  water  to  a  level  with  the  yards  of  the 
Investigator.  After  many  hair-breadth  escapes,  Mc- 
Clure took  refuge  in  a  bay  on  the  northern  shore  of 
Banksland,  which  he  named  the  Bay  of  God's  Mercy. 
Here  the  Investigator  remained,  never  to  move 
again. 

In  the  summer  of  1852  Commander  McClure,  with 
a  part  of  his  crew,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Calder, 
made  a  journey  across  the  ice  to  the  Melville  Island 
and  there  deposited  some  papers  which  were  after- 
ward found  by  the  commanders  of  the  "Resolute" 
and  "  Intrepid,"  giving  them  a  clew  to  McClure 's 
company.  The  supply  of  food,  however,  ran  short 
the  third  winter,  and  all  hands  were  compelled  to  go 
on  extremely  short  rations.  The  cold  was  intense, 
often  ranging  from  60  to  66  degrees  below  zero.  Wa- 
ter was  scarce,  in  fact  their  only  supply  was  ob- 
tained by  melting  snow,  and  during  the  extreme 
cold  weather  the  snow  fall  was  very  light.  Water 
and  food  were  husbanded  with  the  greatest  care,  and 
every  precaution  taken  to  withstand  the  terrible  suf- 
fering and  starvation  as  long  as  possible.  In  the 
Spring  of  1853  McClure  was  preparing  to  abandon 


57* 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


the  vessel  and  with  the  crew  attempt  to  reach  the 
American  coast,  the  same  as  Sir  John  Franklin  did. 
In  the  meantime,  however,  the  government  of  Eng- 
land was  fitting  out  the  Resolute  and  Intrepid  to 
rescue  McClure  and  his  men.  The  latter  vessel,  for- 
tunately, found  McClure  and  his  crew  just  as  all  ar- 
rangements had  been  perfected,  and  they  were  ready 
to  make  the  start  for  the  trip  across  the  ice  to  the 
coast  of  America. 

After  suitable  arrangements  could  be  made  they 
finally  deserted  the  "Investigator,"  June  4,  J853, 
traveling  across  the  ice  to  the  east  side  of  Melville 
Island,  where  the  "Resolute"  and  "Intrepid"  were 
stationed.  During  their  short  sojourn  on  this  Island 
they  killed  several  musk  o-x.  From  there,  on  board 
the  "Resolute,"  they  sailed  out  into  Melville  Sound, 
making  a  journey  of  about  sixty  (60)  miles,  when 
they  were  bound  in  by  ice  and  obliged  to  remain 
there  during  that  winter.  On  April  14,  1854,  they 
abandoned  the  "Resolute"  and  "Intrepid,"  making 

p  their  way  down  to  "Beechey  Island,"  where  they  found 
the  "North  Star"  awaiting  them.  Lying  there  until 
September,  they  started  for  England.  They  finally 

>  reached  England,  having  been  gone  four  years,  nine 
months  and  fifteen  days,  and  thus  closed  one  of  the 
most  noted  Arctic  expeditions  known  in  all  the  his- 
tory of  explorations  to  that  far-off  region.  Mr. 
Calder  had  spent  five  winters  in  the  Polar  seas.  The 
many  incidents,  narrow  escapes,  the  intense  suffer- 
ing and  heroic  conduct  of  officers  and  crew  if  told 
would  fill  a  large  volume.  A  grateful  government 
recognized  their  eminent  and  heroic  services,  and 
presented  the  crew  with  medals  appropriately  de- 
signed, and  in  addition  Parliament  voted  them 
^10,000.  Mr.  Calder  was  presented  individually 
with  a  medal  for  "meritorious  conduct,"  in  addition 
to  that  received  as  one  of  the  crew.  With  a  just 
pride  he  regards  them  as  his  most  valuable  treasures. 
There  is  not  a  man  in  Warren  County,  and  but  few 
to  be  found  anywhere  in  America  who  have  traveled 
so  extensively,  visited  so  many  foreign  ports,  or 
passed  so  many  months  in  the  distant  Polar  sea. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Calder  came  to  America  and  settled 
at  Chicago,  where  he  was  engaged  in  butchering, 
feeding  cattle  and  speculating,  until  1863,  when  on 
account  of  failing  health  he  was  compelled  to  leave 
the  city.  He  came  to  Warren  County  and  purchased 
some  land  on  section  8,  Kelly  Township,  where  he 


embarked  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  Here  he 
has  since  continued  to  reside,  and  in  the  quiet  and 
peaceful  calling  he  has  chosen,  so  radically  different 
from  his  former  experiences,  he  has  been  quite  suc- 
cessful. He  has  an  elegant  home,  a  view  of  which 
we  present  in  connection  with  this  sketch,  and  seem- 
ingly enjoys  life  fully  as  well  as  when  his  vessel  was 
plowing  the  chilly  waters  of  the  North,  or  sailing  in 
distant  seas. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1855,  before  leaving 
England  for  America,  Mr.  Calder  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Fanny,  daughter  of  William  and 
Esther  (Tilly)  Cattle.  She  was  born  in  Somerset- 
shire, England,  June  22,  1829.  There  has  been  born 
to  them  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living, 
the  others  dying  in  infancy.  Those  living  are  in  the 
order  of  their  birth  :  John,  born  Oct.  9,  1858  ;  Ka- 
tie, May  6,  1864;  Elizabeth  E.,  July  4,  1866;  and 
Frederick,  Jan.  28,  1870. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calder  were  reared  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  politically  Mr.  C.  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 


tavid  C.  Brent,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  residing  on  section  18,  Ellison 
Township,  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Va. 
Oct.  12,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Kenner  Brent 
(see  sketch  of  Paul  Brent).  Our  subject,  David 
C.,  is  the  eldest  of  the  living  children,  and  was 
14  years  old  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  lived  on 
the  farm  with  his  father  until  his  marriage,  in  the 
meantime  acquiring  a  fair  English  education  His 
marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  yth  of  March,  1850, 
in  Ellison  Township,  the  lady  chosen  to  become  his 
wife  being  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  William  Brown, 
from  Lancaster  Co.,  Va.,  who  was  by  occupation  a 
farmer  and  carpenter,  his  demise  occurring  in  July, 
1883,  in  this  township.  Mrs.  Brent  was  the  eldest 
child  of  her  father's  family  of  seven  children,  and 
was  born  Jan.  i.  1830.  She  was  only  a  small  child 
when  her  parents  came  to  this  township,  where  she 
remained  with  them  until  her  marriage. 

The  home  circle  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brent  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  12  children,  three  of  whom 
are  deceased.  The  living  are  six  sons  and  three 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


573 


daughters,  as  follows  :  Elizabeth  C..  born  April  25, 
1854;  Augusta,  Feb.  22,  1856;  William  K.,  Dec.  14, 
1857  ;  Melvin  D.,  Jan.  8,  1860;  Thomas,  Feb.  14, 
1862;  Manic,  June  17,  1864;  Edmund,  July  26, 
1868;  Frank,  Oct.  15,  1870;  Joseph  A.,  Nov.  27, 
1872. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Brent  settled  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives  and  is  the  possessor  of  304  acres 
of  excellent  land,  nearly  all  of  which  is  improved. 

Mrs.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Mr.  Brent  has  held  the  office  of  Road 
Commissioner,  and,  politically,  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  being  a  staunch  advocate  of  its 
principles. 


ealy  A.  Chapin,  banker  and  merchant  at 
Kirkwood,  is  not  only  one  of  the  best 
known  men  in  the  county,  but  is  classed 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  part  of  the 
State.  His  parents,  Ebenezer  and  Catherine 
(Daggett)  Chapin,  were  natives  of  New  York 
and  Vermont  respectively.  They  came  west  to 
Indiana  in  1832,  and  were  living  in  Crawford  County, 
that  State,  when  Nealy  A.  was  born,  Jan.  28,  1828. 
His  parents  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Indi- 
ana and  after  a  few  years'  residence  there  pushed  on 
westward  and  found  a  desirable  location  in  Knox 
Co.,  111.,  where  they  arrived  in  1836.  At  that  early 
day  there  were  but  few  settlers  in  that  section  and 
but  little  land  ever  turned  by  the  plow.  They  re- 
mained there  three  years,  when  they  moved  into 
Oquawka  village  (then  in  Warren  County,  but  after- 
wards in  Henderson  County),  where  the  father  died, 
in  1877.  He  was  formerly  a  merchant,  was  an  en- 
terprising, influential  and  valuable  pioneer,  and  a 
man  highly  respected  by  the  community  in  which  he 
lived. 

Nealy  A.  received  a  liberal  education.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  in  his  store  and  finally  learned  the 
trade  of  harness-maker,  which  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed until  the  spring  of  1840.  After  leaving  home, 
which  he  did  in  the  year  of  1840,  he  was  employed 
as  a  clerk  for  three  years.  He  then  embarked  in  the 
lumber  and  mercantile  business  as  a  member  of  the 


firm  of  Knowles,  Ray  &  Chapin,  at  Oquawka.  Here 
they  remained  until  1858,  when  they  removed  their 
business  to  Kirkwood,  where  the  old  firm  conducted 
the  business  for  one  year.  The  firm  was  then  re- 
organized under  the  name  of  Chapin,  Creswell  & 
Houlton,  who  were  the  leading  merchants  of  the 
place  until  1865,  when  the  company  was  again  re- 
organized and  their  business  enlarged.  The  firm 
was  then  known  as  Chapin,  Houlton  &  Davis,  mer- 
chants and  bankers.  No  other  change  was  made 
until  1882,  since  which  time  the  firm  name  has  been 
Chapin,  Houlton  &  Co. 

Mr.  Chapin  has  been  an  active,  enterprising  busi- 
ness man,  and  has  done  a  great  deal  for  Kirkwood. 
He  had  a  great  faith  in  the  future  prosperity  of 
the  village,  and  while  the  wild  prairie  grass  was 
growing  on  the  site  of  the  village  plat,  he  erected  a 
fine  residence  there.  The  company  put  up  a  fine 
brick  business  block,  56x64  feet,  in  1868.  Mr. 
Chapin  has  also  large  landed  interests  in  Henderson 
County,  but  his  time  is  entirely  given  to  his  banking 
and  mercantile  business,  and  he  is  justly  recognized 
as  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Warren 
County. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Chapin  and  Miss  Cordelia 
Perry  occurred  Jan.  28,  1854.  Mrs.  C.  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  Perry,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Warren 
County.  They  have  a  family  of  seven  children  (one 
deceased)  namely :  Willis  A.,  born  Oct.  31,  1852, 
died  Sept.  4,  1868;  Eben  H  ,  born  Nov.  21,  1854; 
Florence,  Dec.  9,  1856;  Katie  B.,  Sept.  29,  1859; 
Fred  L.,  June  16,  1863;  Jennie  M.,  Dec.  u,  1865; 
Laura  A.,  April  9,  1869;  William  R.,  March  24, 
1875.  Eben  married  Miss  Kate  Malhews,  of  Merid- 
ian, Conn.,  Oct.  18,  1882,  and  is  at  present  the 
Pastor  of  the  First  Universalist  Church  at  Lincoln, 
Neb. ;  they  have  one  child  named  Charles.  Flor- 
ence married  George  C.  Ellis,  an  attorney  at  Med- 
icine Lodge,  Kan.  Katie  B.  married  James  F. 
Morgan,  superintendent  of  telegraphy  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  June  14,  1879,  and 
they  are  now  living  in  Chicago;  two  children  have 
been  born  to  them — Bessie  and  Olive.  Florence 
married  George  C.  Ellis,  an  attorney,  now  of  Medi- 
cine Lodge,  Kan.,  Feb.  i,  1882  ;  one  child  has  been 
born  to  them,  named  Nealy,  after  his  grandfather, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Politically,  Mr.  Chapin  is  a  Republican,  and,  with 
his  wife  attends  the  Universalist  Church. 


574 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


S.  Hayden,  gunsmith  and  dealer  in 
sporting  goods,  at  Monmouth,  was  born  in 
Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  13,  1830.  His 
father,  John  Hayden,  was  a  farmer  and  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  and  was  the  only  son  of  John 
Hayden,  Sr.,  who  came  from  Dublin,  Ireland, 
where  he  had  been  bound  out  as  a!  coverlet  weaver 
at  the  age  of  12  years,  and  who,  after  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  about  two  years,  became  dissatisfied, 
and  stole  on  board  a  vessel  setting  sail  to  the  United 
States,  and  secured  passage  to  this  country.  In  Bal- 
timore, Md ,  he  accepted  a  position  as  a  coverlet 
weaver,  where  he  remained  until  his  enlistment  in 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  there  served  for  seven 
years.  He  was  wounded  with  a  spent  ball,  this  being 
,  the  only  injury  received  during  his  seven  years'  en- 
listment. At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  he 
again  engaged  with  his  former  employer,  at  Balti- 
more, Md.,  where  he  served  out  his  apprenticeship. 
He  died  in  the  latter  State,  at  an  advanced  age. 

John  Hayden,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
an  only  child,  and  determined  at  the  age  of  14  years 
to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  In  the  year 
1817  he  came  to  Ohio,  having  been  previously  mar- 
ried to  Nancy  Ellis,  in  Maryland,  in  1814,  and  of 
their  union  have  been  born  n  children,  of  whom  our 
subject,  David  S.,  was  the  youngest  but  two.  His 
parents  lived  in  Monroe  Co.,  Ohio,  until  their  deaths, 
the  father  at  the  advanced  age  of  95  years  and  the 
mother  at  75. 

David  S.,  whose  name  heads  this  personal  narra- 
tive, resided  with  his  parents  until  he  attained  his 
2ist  year,  then  setting  out  to  learn  his  present  trade. 
He  served  his  apprenticeship  under  his  older  broth- 
er, Joseph,  who  was  residing  in  Oxford,  Ohio,,  from 
1851  to  1858.  At  the  latter  date  he  left  Oxford  for 
Monmouth,  arriving  here  March  12,  1858,  and  com- 
menced business  on  his  own  account.  He  was  the 
only  man  of  his  calling  in  the  county  at  that  time, 
and  has  been  the  pioneer  of  his  trade  and  followed 
it  from  the  time  he  came  here,  being  at  present  the 
only  gunsmith  in  the  city.  He  is  the  proprietor  of 
25  acres  of  land  and  two  houses  near  the  city  limits, 
the  land  being  well  improved  and  valuable. 


Mr.  Hayden  was  married  in  Henderson  County, 
this  State,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents,  the 
event  being  celebrated  on  ihe  igth  of  February,  1860, 
to  Miss  Martha  A.  Michaels,  daughter  ot  Frederick 
Michaels,  farmer  from  Tennessee,'  and  it  was  in  that 
State  that  the  daughter  was  born,  March  20,  1840. 
She  came  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  her  mother  hav- 
ing died  when  she  was  nine  years  of  age.  They  af- 
terwards resided  in  Henderson  County,  where  the 
father  still  lives,  at  the  advanced  age  of  89  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayden  are  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren— Frederick,  married;  Thomas  F.,  and  Ira  B., 
deceased;  Fannie  M.,  Lotta  A.,  Ralph  D.,  Ruth  G. 
and  Ran.  W.,  all  of  whom,  except  the  eldest,  reside 
at  home.  Mrs.  Hayden  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Republican. 


ames  W.  Morgan,  a  successful  dealer  in 
real  estate,  residing  in  a  comfortable  and 
beautiful  home  near  the  city  limits  of  Mon- 
mouth, is  the  second  son  and  third  child  of  Jas. 
C.  and  Penelope  (Green)  Morgan,  and  was  born 
Dec.  17,  1828,  in  Erie  Co.,  New  York.  The 
father  of  James  was  the  fourth  child  and  third  son  of 
Benui  Morgan,  who  married  Mary  Clark,  and  by  her 
had  six  children.  He  was  a  member  of  a  cavalry 
company  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  died  in 
Connecticut,  aged  69  years.  He  was  the  fourth  son 
and  child  of  James  Morgan,  who  became  the  father 
of  seven  children  by  Grace  Smith,  and  who  died  at 
Griswold,  Conn.,  Oct.  15,  1801,  aged  7  2  years.  James 
Morgan,  the  grandfather  of  James  W.  Morgan,  sub- 
ject of  this  notice,  was  the  elder  son  in  order  of  birth 
of  a  family  of  n  children,  his  father  being  Samuel 
Morgan,  who  was  born  Dec.  16, 1705,  and  died  while 
in  office  at  Preston,  Conn..  Dec.  29,  1769,  aged  65 
years. 

Samuel  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Forsyth,  and  was 
the  oldest  son  and  child  of  James  Morgan,  who  was 
born  about  1680,  and  died  at  Preston,  Conn.,  Nov.  7, 
1721,  and  who  became  the  father  of  five  children. 
He,  James,  was  the  seventh  and  youngest  child  of 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


575 


his  father,  Capt.  John  Morgan,  and  of  the  first  mar- 
riage of  his  father,  seven  children  having  been  born 
by  his  first,  and  eight  children  by  his  second  mar- 
riage. He,  Capt.  John  Morgan,  was  the  second  son 
and  third  child  of  James  Morgan,  and  was  a  prom- 
inent, public  man,  being  Indian  Commissioner  and 
Deputy  of  the  General  Court  in  1690,  and  was  born 
March  30,  1645,  and  died  in  1712,  aged  67  years, 
his  father,  James  Morgan,  having  been  born  in  Wales 
in  1670.  James,  the  latter,  was  quite  a  young  man 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  married 
Margery  Hill,  of  Roxbury,  Mass.,  and  died  in  Au- 
gust, 1685.  aged  78  years.  His  family  consisted  of 
seven  children,  and  he  was  a  pioirinent  public  man 
of  his  day,  and  is  the  progenitor  of  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  successful  families  of  the  States. 
He  was  the  son  of  a  prominent  family  in  Wales.who 
had  figured  conspicuously  in  that  country  in  both 
general  and  public  life.  We  find  among  the  family 
in  this  country,  merchants,  farmers,  speculators,  of- 

I facials,  one  of  the  most   prominent   being  Edwin  D. 
Morgan,  ex-Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York.  He 
was  first  elected  Governor  of  the  State  in  1860,  and 
s*  re-elected  in  1861,   his   administration  being  a  suc- 
|  cessful  and  popular  one.     He  afterward  received  the 
appointment  from  President   Lincoln  as  Major  Gen- 
l  eral  of  Volunteers.     He  was  also  connected  with  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Company,  many  Railroad 
corporations,  and  was   proprietor  with  Mr.   Jones,  of 
the  New  York  Times. 

James  C.  Morgan,  father  of  James  W.,  of  this 
notice,  was  first  married  to  Penelope  Green,  Jan.  i, 
1823.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Dyer  Green,  of 
Columbia,  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  wife  and  moth- 
er died  July  9,  1846,  after  having  borne  seven  chil- 
dren, and  Mr.  Morgan,  on  Dec.  2,  1846,  was  again 
married  to  Nancy  Gette,  a  daughter  of  James  Gette, 
of  Hamburg,  N.  Y.  She  bore  Mr.  Morgan  one 
child — Henrietta,  born  Jan.  2,  1848,  and  died  March 
4,  1849. 

James  C.  Morgan,  at  the  age  of  19  years,  moved 
from  Preston,  Conn.,  to  Columbia,  Herkimer  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  for  five  years  had  charge  of  his  uncle's  busi- 
ness'there,  which  was  paper  making.'  In  March, 
1823,  he  removed  with  his  young  wife  to  Hamburg, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
until  November,  1843,  when  he  came  to  Monmouth, 
111.  He  lived  at  the  latter  place,  owning  40  acres  of 
land  inside  the  city  limits,  and  known  as  the  Morgan 


Addition  to  the  city  of  Monmouth,  and  continued  to 
reside  there,  the  sunset  of  his  life  being  passed  in 
retirement  from  active  labor,  until  old  age  called  him 
to  the  better  land,  at  the  age  of  74  years.  His  death 
occurred  Jan.  31,  1872.  He  was  a  good  business 
man,  possessing  sterling  qualities,  and  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  temperance. 

The  children  of  his  first  wife  are  recorded  as  fol- 
lows: Emeline,  born  Jan.  10,  1824.  became  the  wife 
of  J.  W.  Robertson;  George  W.,born  May  31,  1826, 
died  while  in  the  Mexican  War,  Sept.  13,  1847,  and 
James  W.,  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

James  W.  was  married  Dec.  2,  1857,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  the  bride's  parents,  in  Henderson  Co.,  111., 
to  Miss  Anna  Maria  Vantuyl,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Williams)  Vantuyl,  na- 
tives of  New  Jersey  and  Ohio  respectively,  and  of 
German  descent.  Her  parents  were  married  in  Ohio 
and  resided  on  a  farm  near  Dayton,  that  State,  where 
Mrs.  Morgan  was  born  April  21,  1833.  Her  father's 
family  came  in  1854  to  this  State,  and  located  on  a 
farm  in  Henderson  County.  Her  father  lost  his 
first  wife  in  Ohio,  and  was  again  married  in  the  same 
State.  He  afterward  came  to  this  county  and  located 
near  Kirkwood,  where  he  died  Oct.  n,  1880.  He 
was  a  leading  citizen  in  the  community  in  which  he 
resided,  and  met  with  success  in  the  vocation  of  his 
life.  Mrs.  James  W.  Morgan,  after  receiving  a  rudi- 
mentary education  in  the  common  or  district  schools 
attended  college  at  Monmouth,  111.,  in  the  basement 
of  the  old  Presbyterian  Church,  now  known  as  Unity 
Church,  and  of  her  union  with  Mr.  Morgan  two 
children  were  born — Flora,  Jan.  17,  1859,  and  Lewis 
Howard,  June  i,  1867. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  with  his  father 
in  1843  from  Hamburg,  N.  Y.,  to  Monmouth,  this 
county.  In  1850,  with  an  ox  team  and  a  party  of 
men,  he  crossed  the  plains  to  the  land  of  gold,  which 
required  a  trip  of  six  months.  He  remained  in  Cali- 
fornia until  1853,  in  search  of  gold,  spending  two 
winters  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  in  a  small 
cabin,  the  snow  14  or  15  feet  deep,  and  no  commu- 
nication with  the  outer  world,  from  October  until  the 
following  May  of  each  year.  His  experience  was 
similar  to  those  of  many  who  sought  their  fortune  in 
that  distant  clime.  One  of  his  best  friends  and 
neighbors,  Amos  Harding,  late  of  Monmouth,  died 
there  of  the  cholera. 

Mr.  Morgan  returned  to  Warren  County  in  1853, 


576 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


remaining  there  until  August  6th,  1862,  when,  in  an- 
swer to  the  second  call  for  men  to  fight  in  the  war 
for  the  Union,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
He  was  elected  Second  Lieutenant,  subsequently  pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  and  served  under  Gener- 
als Rosecrans  and  Sherman,  participating  in  all  of 
the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged,  until 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge  June  26,  1865,31 
the  close  of  the  war.  Among  the  most  prominent 
battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged,  was  that 
of  Fort  Donelson,  in  February,  1863,  when  the  odds 
in  favor  of  the  Confederate  army  were  in  the  pro- 
portion of  10  to  i,  and  where  the  Union  forces  suc- 
ceeded in  holding  the  fort. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Morgan  returned 
to  Monmouth,  where  he  has  since,  mostly,  resided, 
until  the  present  time.  He  and  his  brother  became 
owners  of  their  father's  40  acres  of  real  estate  within 
the  city  limits,  which  constitutes  Morgan's  Addition 
to  the  city  of  Monmouth.  James  W.  managed  the 
sale  of  the  lots  for  a  time,  and  then  bought  out  his 
brother's  interests.  He  also  owns  24  acres  where 
his  residence  is  located.  He  and  "Deacon  Brown," 
of  Monmouth,  are  also  the  owners  of  an  entire  sec- 
rion  of  land  in  SewardCo.,  Neb.,  and  Mr.  Morgan  is 
the  proprietor  of  320  acres  in  Thayer  County,  that 
State. 

Mr.  Morgan  has  been  one  of  the  Directors  of  the 
Monmouth  National  Bank  for  some  years,  and  is  at 
present  a  stockholder  in  the  same.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Unity  Society,  of  which  Mr.  M. 
is  Trustee. 

Politically,  Mr.  Morgan  votes  with  the  Republican 
party. 

The  remaining  members  of  the  family  of  James 
C.  Morgan,  are  John  Titus,  born  Nov.  25,  1831, 
married  Maria  Harroun,  Nov.  8, 1858;  Decatur, born 
July  23,  1834,  Married  Elizabeth  A.  Richardson, 
lives  at  Watseka,  111.,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years 
Deputy  Internal  Revenue  Collector;  Angeline,  born 
June  25,  1837,  married  David  B.  Stevens,  and  was  a 
graduate  of  Monmouth  College  ;  Henry,  born  March 
20,  1840,  and  died  Feb.  20,  1841. 

John  Titus  was  educated  at  Lombard  University, 
and  graduated  at  the  law  school,  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
Y.,  after  which  he  began  practice  at  Monmouth,  en- 
tered the  army  during  the  rebellion  as  Captain  of 


Co.  F,  83d  111.  Vol.  Inf. ;  look  part  in  the  battles  in 
which  the  regiment  was  engaged.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  resumed  his  law  practice ;  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Lower  House  and  afterwards  to  the 
Senate.  He  acquitted  himself  honorably  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature.  He  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Hayes  Chief  Justice  of  Idaho  Territory,  and  re- 
appointed  by  President  Arthur.  He  has  now  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  law  in  that  Territory,  and 
resides  at  Oxford. 


eorge'W.  Bellinger  is  a  general  farmer 
on  section  9,  in  Kelly  Township.  He  has 
been  Justice  of  the  Peace  since  1878.  He 
was  born  in  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  6,  1844. 
His  father  and  mother,  Charles  and  Sophia 
(Pine)  Bellinger,  were  natives  of  the  shire  of 
Somerset,  England,  and  came  to  America,  where 
they  located  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Bellinger  was  two  years 
old  when  they  removed  to  Warren  County.  They  set- 
tled in  the  township  where  he  is  still  living  and 
where  he  was  brought  up  and  educated,  so  far  as 
the  common  schools  were  concerned.  He  attended 
Knox  College  three  terms,  which  were  passed  in  the 
preparatory  department.  He  lived  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  he  was  20.  He  had  become  the  pos- 
sessor of  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives  and  previ- 
ous to  that  time  he  had  made  some  improvements 
on  it. 

His  marriage  with  Lucinda  Holcomb  took  place 
March  12,  1869.  She  was  born  in  Kelly  Township, 
Nov.  15,  1848,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  B.  and 
Phebe  (Ingersoll)  Holcomb,  who  were  pioneers  of 
Kelly  Township.  A  log  house  had  been  built  on  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Bellinger,  and  when  he  was  married  he 
took  possession  of  the  humble  abode  with  his  wife. 
They  have  now  a  good  farm  house  and  other  struc- 
tures suited  to  the  purpose  to  which  the  farm  is  de- 
voted. The  value  and  general  appearance  of  the 
place  is  much  increased  by  the  addition  of  fruit  and 
shade  trees  in  great  numbers. 

The  politics  of  Mr.  Bellinger  are  in  unison  with 
the  creed  of  the  Democrats.  He  has  been  promi- 
nent in  his  interest  in  general  educational  matters, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


577 


and  has  served  many  years  as  School  Director  in  his 
district. 

The  children  of  the  household  of  Mr.  Bellinger  are 
as  follows :  Ben.  was  born  Aug.  10,  1879;  Judd, 
April  8,  1878;  Jessie,  Jan.  i,  1880;  Maggie,  July  8, 
1882  ;  Ethel,  July  29,  1885.  Their  first  child  was 
born  Sept.  4,  1870,  and  died  Jan.  17,  1885.  John, 
the  second  child,  was  born  Nov.  30,  1873,  and  died 
Aug.  31,  1876.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Bellinger  was 
born  in  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  her  mother  was  a  na- 
tive of  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  former  is  still  living, 
in  LaBette  Co.,  Kas. 


;  ealy  Gordon,  Postmaster  at  Kirkwood  vil- 
lage, is  a  native  of  Georgia,  having  been 
born  in  Covington,  Newton  County,  that 
State,  March  31,  1836.  The  parents  of  Mr. 
Gordon,  Cornelius  and  Agnes  (McKenzie)  Gor- 
don, were  natives  of  North  Carolina.  They  em- 
igrated to  this  state  in  1855,  locating  in  Henderson 
County,  where  they  resided  until  1862,  and  where 
the  father  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  Dur- 
ing the  year  named,  they  came  to  this  county,  and 
settled  in  Kirkwood  village,  where  they  lived  until 
their  deaths,  which  took  place  in  January,  1869,  and 
in  April,  1870,  respectively. 

Mr.  Gordon,  whose  name  we  place  at  the  head  of 
this  biographical  notice,  lived  with  his  parents  until 
their  death.  He  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  and  after  he  attained  his  majority  rented 
a  farm  and  was  engaged  as  an  agriculturist  until 
1862.  At  this  period  the  nation  became  imperiled 
by  the  Southern  States  seceding,  and  the  call  having 
gone  forth  for  brave  hearts  and  strong  hands  to  bat- 
tle for  its  perpetuity.  Mr.  Gordon  enlisted  in  Co.  K, 
8-tth  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Stone  River,  Chicamauga,  Atlanta,  Franklin  and 
Nashville,  and  many  smaller  battles  and  skirmishes, 
receiving  an  honorable  discharge  in  June,  1865. 

Returning  from  the  war,  Mr.  Gordon  engaged  in 
the  nursery  business  at  Kirkwood  and  was  thus  oc- 
cupied until  he  received  his  commission  as  Postmas- 
ter at  that  place,  and  has  held  the  office  until  the 
present  time.  April  21,  1874,  Miss  Mary  Wood,  a 


native  of  Henderson  County,  this  State,  became  the 
wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and  to  him  she  has 
borne  two  children  —  Frank  W.  and  Fred  C.  So- 
cially, Mr.  Gordon  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  be-' 
longing  to  Post  No.  81,  at  Kirkwood.  Religiously, 
he  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church. 


<avid  E.  Morse,  a  well-to-do  and  highly 
respected  farmer,  located  on  180  acres  of 
good  land,  on  section  35,  Berwick  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Sangainon  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  2, 
1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  G.  Morse,  a  na- 
tive of  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  where  he  was 
born,  in  April,  1786.  The  father  came  to  Illinois  in 
i8ri,and  located  in  Vandalia,  where  he  remained 
some  years,  then  moved  to  Bond  County.  While  a 
resident  of  the  latter  county  he  was  elected  to  the 
Constitutional  Convention  in  1 8 1 8,  that  met  at  Spring- 
field. He  was  also  Sheriff  of  Bond  County,  and  a 
nran  of  considerable  political  influence  at  the  time  in 
the  county  in  which  he  resided.  He  married 
Miss  Jane  M.  Kirkpatrick,  about  1820.  She  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  in  1801,  and  survives  her  hus- 
band, who  died  in  1863,  in  Greenbush  Township. 
He  came  to  this  country  in  1835  and  located  at  Ber- 
wick. Of  their  union  10  children  were  born,  five 
daughters  and  five  sons,  namely  :  Adeline,  Harriet, 
Roswell,  Margaret  A.,  John,  William,  Samuel,  Da- 
vid, Mary  J.,  Asenath  and  Emeline,  all  of  whom  are 
living  except  Harriet  and  Samuel.  The  mother  is 
rending  in  Anderson  Co.,  Kas. 

David  E.  Morse,  of  whom  we  write,  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  Davis,  May  5,  1857. 
She  was  born  in  Henderson  Co.,  111.,  July,  1840,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  William  F.  Davis,  who  was  born 
in  Ohio,  in  1815,  and  at  present  resides  in  Mills 
Co.,  Iowa.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Jam- 
ison, in  1839.  She  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1809, 
and  is  still  living.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  the  birth  of  five  children — Margaret  Ann,  James, 
Minerva,  Thomas  and  Alexander.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Morse  by  their  union  have  become  the  parents  of 
three  children — Ann,  born  May  26,  1860;  Samuel, 


578 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Sept.  26,  1862  ;  and  Mary,  March  19,  1872.  They 
also  have  three  grandchildren — Edwin  McQueen, 
born  in  November,  1882  ;  and  David  and  Lotta  Mc- 
Queen, twins,  born  Dec.  25,  1884. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morse  are  pleasantly  situated  on 
their  fine  farm  of  180  acres,  on  section  35,  Berwick 
Township,  all  of  which  is  under  an  advanced  state 
of  cultivation.  On  the  place  there  is  a  good  resi- 
dence and  barn  28  x  34  feet  in  dimensions,  and  the 
place  presents  an  appearance  to  the  passer-by  indic- 
ative of  that  push  and  perseverance  characteristic  of 
its  proprietor.  In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
land,  he  is  engaged  in  raising  fine  horses.  In  poli- 
tics, Mr.  Morse  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party. 


"acob  Jewell,  retired  farmer,  residing  at 
Monmoulh,  was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Nov.  9,  18 14,  and  was  the  second  son  of 
Lemuel  and  Jane  (Cole)  Jewell,  of  Connecti- 
cut and  New  York  respectively,  and  of  English 
and  German  extraction  respectively.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  six  brothers  and 
one  sister,  viz. :  Abel,  Jacob,  Ira,  Halsey,  Harriet, 
Henry  and  John.  Three  are  now  deceased.  Jacob 
left  home  when  ten  years  of  age  and  began  to  labor 
for  his  living.  The  district  schools,  with  a  few 
months  at  an  academy,  afforded  him  such  education 
as  allowed  him  to  teach  school  a  few  years  while  yet 
a  young  man.  He  came  to  Will  County,  this  State, 
in  1837,  removed  thence  to  DuPage  County,  in  1838, 
and  to  Berwick,  in  Warren  County,  in  1839.  From 
the  time  he  arrived  in  Warren  County,  he  advanced 
steadily  in  the  accumulation  of  property  up  to  the 
time  of  his  retirement.  He  moved  into  Lenox  Town- 
ship, in  1843,  and  from  there  to  Monmouth,  in  1867. 
Of  his  immense  farm  property  he  gave  to  his  children 
until  he  now  has  only  about  270  acres.  Strictly 
speaking,  he  did  not  retire  from  active  business  until 
1882,  when  he  turned  matters  over  to  his  sons. 

Mr.  Jewell  was  married  in  Roseville  Township, 
April  10,  1843,  to  Mrs.  Julia  Harrison,  nee  Brooks, 
native  of  Richmond,  Ky.,  and  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  (Lee)  Brooks.  Mr.  Brooks  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army  and  served  until  he  was  honorably 
discharged.  While  in  the  service  he  received  inju- 


ries,  for  which  he  now  draws  a  pension.  The  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  Jewell  are  mentioned  as  follows :  Wil- 
liam, a  farmer  in  Nebraska,  born  April  12,  1844; 
Charles  B.,  born  Dec.  17,  1844,  and  accidentally 
shot  and  killed  April  i,  1882,  leaving  a  wife  and  five 
children;  this  son,  Charles  Jewell,  was  the  inventor 
of  the  famous  twine  binder,  which  he  sold  to  the  Mc- 
Cormick  Reaper  Company  for  $1.500  ;  Henry,  farmer, 
born  May  ig,  1847  ;  Olive  (Mrs.  Chas.  Blackburn  of 
Monmouth),  was  born  April  29,  1849;  Dudley,  farm- 
er in  Kansas,  born  Sept.  7,  1850;  Decatur,  born 
March  25,  1852,  died  aged  six  months;  and  Emily 
(Mrs.  Dr.  W.  S.  Holliday),  born  July  9,  ^53.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Jewell  were  natives  of  Kentucky, 
and  her  grandparents  of  Virginia.  On  her  mother's 
side  she  is  related  to  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee.  Mr.  J. 
had  two  brothers  and  three  sisters.  The  brothers 
are  now  deceased.  Two  of  the  sisters  live  in  War- 
ren County  and  one  in  Decatur  Co.,  Kas. 

Mr.  Jewell  began  life  a  poor  boy,  but  by  untiring 
perseverance  and  labor  he  amassed  a  handsome  for-1 
tune  and  has  the  good  sense  in  his  ripe  old  age  to 
enjoy  it.  He  has  never  been  a  speculator  and  has 
not  grown  rich  at  the  expense  of  his  neighbors,  but 
his  accumulation  of  wealth  is  stridtly  the  product  of 
honest  toil. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jewell  are  consistent  members  ofj 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr.  J.  is  an  adherent  of  the 
Republican  party. 


-S- 


.ugene  J.  Clarke,  City  Clerk  of  Monmoulh, 
is  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Thaddeus 
S.  and  Octavia  (Shaw)  Clarke,  and  was 
born  at  Macomb,  III,  June  22,  1855.  Here  he 
was  reared  and  educated,  and  under  the  eye 
of  his  father  brought  up  and  trained  in  the 
printer's  art,  in  which,  even  when  a  very  small  lad, 
he  became  proficient.  He  has  held  all  the  various 
positions  on  a  newspaper,  or  in  the  office,  with  the 
exception  of  the  editor-in-chief  He  came  to  Mon- 
mouth with  his  parents  in  1868,  where  he  assisted 
his  father  in  his  newspaper  enterprise,  as  well  as 
worked  in  the  offices  of  the  other  leading  papers. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1879,  Mr.  Clarke  wa?  married 
in  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Killian.  They 
subsequently  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  they  re- 


•" 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


58' 


mained  for  three  years,  when  they[returned  to  Mon- 
mouth.  While  living  in  Cincinnati,  their  only  living 
child,  Elizabeth  June,  was  born  to  them.  A  son, 
Clarence  Dave,  born  Sept.  3,  1884,  died  March  26, 
1885,  being  a  sufferer  the  few  moftths  'of  his  life 
After  lingering  and  suffering  for  many  months  from 
that  insidious,  though  fatal  disease,  the  consumption, 
Mrs.  Clarke  was  relieved  by  death  from  further  pain, 
on  Sept.  4,  1885. 

Upon  Mr.  Clarke's  return  to  Monmouth,  he  was 
city  editor  from  the  starting  of  the  Evening  Gazette, 
until  the  fall  of  1884.  In  April,  1885,  while  a  re- 
porter on  the  Daily  Atlas,  he  was  elected  City  Clerk 
of  Monmouth,  which  office  he  now  holds.  He  is  Vice 
Grand  of  Warren  Lodge  No.  160  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
Captain  of  Philo  E.  Reed  Camp,  No.  31,  Sons  of 
Veterans.  Politically,  he^is'a  Republican. 


ichard  Haney,  D.  D.  Prominent  among 
those  who  have  contributed  to  the  spread 
of  the  gospel  in  this  portion  of  Illinois, 
stands  the  name  of  Richard  Haney,  whose 
tf  unceasing  labors  for  many  long  years  past  in 
the  Master's  vineyard,  and  whose  humble 
piety  and  Christian  walk  in  life  have  endeared  him 
to  the  thousands  who  have  from  time  to  time  listened 
to  his  eloquent  discourses  and  fervent  prayers,  as  he 
told  the  story  of  the  Cross  and  po.inted  their  wayward 
feet  to  the  realm  of  eternal  bliss.  Mr.  Haney  is  a 
native  of  Cross  Creek,  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  born 
April  15,  1812.  He  is  the  ninth  child  and  sixth  son 
of  Rev.  James  and  Hannah  (Freeborn)  Haney,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  County  Donegal,  Ireland. 
They  emigrated  with  their  parents  to  this  county  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  the  year 
r792.  They  first  settled  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,where 
they  were  married,  and  three  of  their  children  were 
born  in  that  county.  They  were  both  of  Scotch-Irish 
parentage.  James  Haney  was  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  over  60  years. 

From  Lancaster  the  family  removed  to  Washington 
County,  where  Mr.  Haney  was  for  many  years  in- 
structor in  an  academy.  He  was  a  fine  scholar  and 
was  recognized  as  an  able  educator.  He  served  his 
adopted  country  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  un- 
der the  command  of  General  Thomas  Patterson,  of 
Washington  County,  who  figured  conspicuously  and 


did  signal  service  on  the  frontier  in  that  memorable 
struggle,  driving  the  combined  forces  of  English  and 
Indians  back  across  the  border  into  Canada.  After 
the  surrender  of  Detroit,  peace  being  declared,  he 
returned  to  the  bosom  of  his  family,  and  shortly 
thereafter  removed  to  Richland  County,  Ohio.  His 
wife,  the  mother  of  Richard  Haney, our  subject,  died 
there  in  the  year  r82i,  at  the  birth  of  her  i2th  child. 
Rev.  Haney  subsequently  married  Miss  Mary  Bev- 
ans,  who  was  a  native  of  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons — the  Rev.  Milton  L.  and  Henry. 
The  latter  died  Jan.  26,  1848.  Four  of  the  sons  of 
Rev.  Haney  became  Methodist  ministers ;  two  are 
dead  and  two  survive. 

Hr.  Haney  was  a  remarkable  man  in  many  re- 
spects, a  mathematician  of  ability  and  a  powerful,  el- 
oquent and  graceful  speaker.  He  ranked  for  the 
period  in  which  he  lived  among  the  able  pulpit  ora- 
tors of  the  country.  [n  the  year  1834  he  removed 
from  Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  died,  on  the  5th  day  of  June,  1855. 

Rev.  Richard  Haney  received  his  rudimentary  ed- 
ucation at  the  district  schools  and  under  the  private 
instruction  of  his  father.  He  subsequently  became  a 
student  at  Norwalk  (Ohio)  Seminary ;  and  here  it 
may  be  interesting  to  state,  Mr.  Haney  was  enrolled 
as  the  first  student  of  that  school,  which  was  the  first 
institution  of  learning  west  of  the  Ohio  River  owned 
by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  prosecuted 
his  studies  there  about  two  years ;  a  part  of  the  time 
he  served  as  tutor.  He  left  the  seminary  when 
about  the  age  of  21  years  and  joined  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference. He  was  transferred  the  same  year  (1834) 
to  the  Illinois  Conference,  and  stationed  at  Rush- 
ville,  Schuyler  County.  The  county  being  new  and 
sparsely  settled,  the  young  preacher  had  to  endure 
many  of  the  privations  and  hardships  which  were  in- 
cident to  those  early  times.  Preaching  was  fre- 
quently held  in  the  log  house  of  the  settler,  and 
oftimes  the  congregations  would  gather  in  the  groves 
to  worship  together  and  listen  to  the  fervid  eloquence 
of  the  young  pastor,  who,  even  at  that  early  day,  was 
regarded  as  a  strong  and  earnest  worker  in  the  cause 
of  Zion.  His  first  presiding  elder  was  the  celebrated 
Peter  Cartwright,  who  was  the  most  noted  of  the 
early  Methodist  preachers  of  the  West  and  a  man 
who  is  still  revered  for  his  piety  and  great  force  of 
character.  To  him  probably  more  than  to  any  other 
man  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Missis- 


582 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


sippi  Valley  owes  its  present  prominence  and  great 
influence  in  the  West.  During  the  long  period  of 
his  ministry,  Mr.  Haney  has  held  the  office  of  pre- 
siding elder  for  25  years.  This  of  itself  will  attest 
more  than  anything  we  can  say  the  strong  apprecia- 
tion in  which  he  has  been  held  by  his  coadjutors  in 
the  cause  of  Christ.  In  all  positions  to  which  he 
has  been  called  by  the  church,  his  piety,  unremit- 
ting labor  and  pronounced  individuality  of  character 
have  been  the  means  of  drawing  multitudes  of  sin- 
ners from  the  error  of  their  way.  It  was  the  pleas- 
ure of  the  writer  of  this  brief  sketch  to  have  listened 
to  the  recital,  by  a  gentleman  well  known  to  the  peo- 
ple of  Warren  County,  of  how  he,  while  listening  to 
Brother  Haney  "s  eloquent  and  masterly  presentation 
of  the  plan  of  salvation,  as  laid  down  by  Holy  Writ, 
was  enabled  to  see  cle_rly  the  road  which  led  from 
sin's  dark  chaos  into  the  effulgent  light  of  Christian 
peace  and  happiness. 

The  last  district  in  which  Mr.   Haney  officiated  as 

'presiding  elder  was  at  Winona,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Illinois  River.  He  has  been  continuously  in  the 
ministry  for  over  5  i  years,  having  traveled  four  cir- 
cuits, and  the  balance  of  the  time  filling  stations, 
prominent  among  which  were  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  on  Clark  Street,  Chicago ;  at  Quincy, 
Bloomington,  Rock  Island  and  Peoria.  During  his 
pastorate  at  the  Clark  Street  Church,  Chicago,  from 
1848  to  1850,  he  called  the  meeting  which  projected 
and  brought  about  the  establishment  of  the  North- 
western University,  at  Evanston,  111.  His  name 
stands  first  as  one  of  the  incorporators,  and  he  has 
been  identified  as  one  of  the  trustees  ever  since.  By 
his  wise  counsel,  he  has  contributed  largely  to  the 
growth  and  development  of  that  noted  institution  of 
learning,  which,  by  the  liberality  of  its  many  friends, 
has  been  handsomely  endowed  to  the  extent  of  about 
$2,000,000.  It  is  the  leading  institution  in  the  West, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and,  as  one  of  its  founders,  Mr.  Haney  will 
ever  be  remembered. 

During  the  dark  days  of  the  late  slaveholders'  re- 
bellion, when  our  nation's  life  seemed  in  danger,  Mr. 
Haney  came  forward  early,  and  laid  his  services  and 
life,  if  need  be,  upon  the  altar  of  his  beloved  country. 
He  enlisted  May  24,  1861,  and  was  made  Chaplain  of 
the  1 6th  III.  Vol.  Inf.,  commanded  by  Col.  R.  F. 
Smith.  Their  first  service  was  in  Missouri.  From 
thence  they  moved  to  Kentucky,  and  participated  in 


the  breaking  of  the  blockade  of  Island  No.  10.  Mr. 
Haney  remained  with  the  regiment  until  the  last  of 
June,  1862,  when  he  resigned,  his  health  having 
failed,  and  which  he  has  never  fully  recovered. 
Shortly  after  his  return  home,  he  resumed  active  ser- 
vice in  the  ministry,  being  stationed  at  Bushnell. 

In  the  years  1879-80,  at  the  request  of  Gov.  Cul- 
lom,  of  Illinois,  and  Gov.  St.  John,  of  Kansas,  Mr. 
Haney  traveled  extensively  over  several  Western 
States,  collecting  supplies  and  funds  for  the  relief  of 
the  negro  refugees  from  the  South  to  the  State  of 
Kansas.  He  sent  to  them  large  quantities  of  lum- 
ber, agricultural  implements,  breadstuffs,  clothing 
and  household  utensils,  besides 'considerable  money. 
The  managers  of  railroads  exhibited  commendable 
liberality  in  .furnishing  free  transportation  of  the 
goods  to  the  destitute  colored  people.  The  efforts  of 
Mr.  Haney  were  crowned  with  success.  The  good 
people  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  came  forward  with 
their  accustomed  generosity  and  aided  the  worthy 
cause  which  he  represented.  It  may  here  be  men- 
tioned that  the  extensive  establishment  of  John 
Deere,  at  Moline,  gave  14  plows,  and  the  Moline 
Plow  Co.,  through  its  president,  gave  an  equal  num- 
ber. 

At  the  session  of  the  Central  Illinois  Conference, 
held  at  Galesburg,  in  1862,  Mr.  Haney,  as  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  the  state  of  the  country,  drafted 
the  resolutions  praying  President  Lincoln  to  proclaim 
the  freedom  of  every  slave  in  the  United  States. 
The  resolution  received  wide  circulation  in  the  press 
and  was  forwarded  to  the  President  by  Bishop  Ba- 
ker and  the  secretary  of  the  Conference.  This  was 
the  first  ecclesiastical  body  that  ever  passed  such  a 
resolution.  The  patriotic  efforts  of  the  ministry  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  did  much  to  inspire 
confidence  in  the  great  President  and  the  soldiers  in 
the  field. 

In  1834  Mr.  Haney  became  acquainted  with  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  and  voted  for  him  both  times  that  he 
was  a  candidate  for  the  presidency.  For  many  years 
before  he  became  prominent,  Mr.  Haney  had  learned 
to  admire  the  sterling  qualities  and  marked  ability  of 
him,  who,  in  after  years,  was  the  most  illustrious  of 
our  Presidents. 

On  the  17 th  of  July,  1838,  Mr.  Haney  was  mar- 
ried, near  Quincy,  Adams  Co.,  Ill  ,  to  Adaline  Mur- 
phy. She  was  a  native  of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jer- 
sey She  came  to  Adams  County  with  her  parents 


± 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


583 


in  1835.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland  ;  her 
mother,  Mary  (Allen)  Murphy,  was  descended  from 
the  French  Hugenots,  who  had  been  Protestants  a 
hundred  years  before  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Nance. 

Mr.  Haney  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  three  sons  and  seven  daughters,  three  of 
whom  are  deceased.  Their  eldest  son,  Rev.  James 
W.  Haney,  is  a  member  of  the  Central  Illinois  Con- 
ference, now  stationed  in  Blandinsville;  Adaline  is 
the  wife  of  Rev.  George  Palmer,  D.  D.,  of  the  Cen- 
tral Illinois  Conference;  Emily  the  wife  of  George 
Baker,  a  merchant  in  Dwight,  111.  ;  Luella,  wife  of 
Prof.  Robbins,  who  has  charge  of  the  high  school  at 
Joliet ;  Mary  and  Elizabeth  are  unmarried  ;  Charles  is 
married  and  a  resident  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.  Mrs. 
Haney  died  on  the  151!}  of  January,  1865,  in  the  city 
of  Peoria,  where  they  were  residing. 

Mr.  Haney's  second  marriage  occurred  May  i, 
1877,  when  he  wedded  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Quinby.  widow 
of  the  late  Judge  Ivory  Quinby  (see  sketch  of  Judge 
Quinby).  They  now  reside  at  their  elegant  home  in 
Monmouth.  Mrs.  Haney  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  has  been  for  nearly 
half  a  century. 

In  politics,  Mr.  H.  was  first  a  Whig,  then  a  Re- 
publican, and  was  an  active  supporter  of  that  party 
until  the  question  of  prohibition  became  prominent, 
when  he  became  a  promoter  and  advocate  of  that 
movement.  While  absent  attending  Conference  he 
was  nominated  for  Congress  as  the  candidate  of  that 
party  in  this  district,  and  received  a  flattering  vote, 
many  of  them  being  cast  by  his  old  time  friends  of 
both  parties.  An  excellent  portrait  of  Mr.  Haney  is 
shown  on  page  580 


i  illiam  E.  Hall,  of  the  firm  of  MundorrT  & 
Hall,  hardware  merchants  at  Kirkwood, 
„  this  county,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
>j>  York,  Lewis  County,  in  1846.  The  parents 
of  Mr.  Hall,  of  this  sketch,  Gaylord  N.  and 
Hannah  M.  (Slocum)  Hall,  were  also  natives 
of  York  State.  They  came  to  this  State  in  1865  and 
located  on  section  32,  Tompkins  Township,  where 
his  father  purchased  no  acres  of  land  and  followed 
the  occupation  of  an  agriculturist  until  1878. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 


this  notice  remained  with  his  parents,  receiving  at 
the  common  schools  a  good  education  and  assisting 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  became  of  age.  On 
becoming  his  own  man,  he  worked  out  by  the  month 
until  he  accumulated  some  means,  when  he  rented  a 
farm  and  cultivated  the  same  for  a  few  years.  In 
r875,  his  accumulations  and  savings  increasing,  he 
purchased  79  a  .res  on  section  16,  Tompkins  Town- 
ship, and  remained  on  the  same  for  eight  years,  en- 
gaged in  energetic  and  continuous  labor  as  an  agricul- 
turist. He  then  sold  his  land  and  came  to  Kirk- 
wood  and,  in  company  with  Mr.  Mundorff,  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business,  which  he  has  continued  to 
the  present  time.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  residence  and 
lot  in  the  village,  and  his  firm,  by  strict  attention  to 
business  and  fair  and  honest  dealings  with  their  cus- 
tomers, have  established  a  good  and  paying  trade. 

In  1869  Mr.  Hall  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Miss  Delilah  Mundorff,  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  of  their  union  have  been  born  two  children 
— Myra  E.  and  Leo  M.  In  politics,  Mr.  H.  votes 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  in  religion,  he  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
As  a  business  man,  Mr.  Hall  stands  prominent  among 
the  foremost  of  Kirkwood  village. 


illiam  Cowan,  blacksmith  and  an  early 
settler  of  Monmouth,  was  born  in  Chester 
Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  10,  1815,  and  was  the  sec- 
ond son  of  David  and  Margaret  (Keyl) 
Cowan,  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  The 
senior  Mr.  Cowan  was  a  tanner  and  currier  in 
Chester  County,  where  he  spent  the  last  years  of  his 
life.  His  widow  survived  him  a  few  years  and  died 
in  Washington  County,  that  State. 

William  Cowan  was  fairly  taught  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  neighborhood  when  a  boy,  and  at  the 
age  of  17  years  began  an  apprenticeship  with  a 
blacksmith,  named  Hamilton  Roney.  After  complet- 
ing his  trade,  he  "  joured  "over  the  country,  working 
at  various  places,  finally  returning  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  at  Lancaster  worked  some  months  for  Hiram 
Baldwin,  now  and  for  the  past  40  years  proprietor  of 
the  Baldwin  House.  He  afterward  worked  in  Phil- 
adelphia, for  the  Gas  Company  and  locomotive 
shops,  and  from  there  jumped  into  the  then  Western 


5  »4 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


State  of  Missouri.  From  Palmyra,  that  State,  he 
made  a  short  sojourn  at  Quincy,  111.,  then  back  to 
Missouri  and  enlisted  in  the  only  Missouri  regiment 
in  the  Seminole  War.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Okee- 
chobe  and  served  throughout  that  Indian  war  under 
Gen.  Taylor.  He  returned  to  Palmyra,  and  in  the 
year  1839  landed  at  Monmouth.  In  1839  he  settled 
down  to  blacksmithing  in  this  place,  and  has  since 
stuck  to  it.  His  shop  is  now  (October,  1885)  in  the 
building  erected  as  the  first  hotel  in  Monmonth.  It 
is  an  old  log  structure,  originally  one  and  one-half 
stories  high,  now  so  decayed  away  at  the  bottom,  a  log 
at  a  time,  that  it  is  scarcely  one  story  from  the  ground 
to  the  roof. 

Mr.  Cowan  served  the  people  of  Monmouth  five 
years  as  Alderman  from  his  ward,  two  terms  as 
Mayor  and  one  term  as  Marshall.  He  used  to  be 
an  old  time  Whig,  but  drifted  into  the  Republican 
party,  and  finally,  as  he  is  growing  wiser,  he  is  strictly 
independent.  He  is  a  member  of  no  secret  order, 
nor  is  he  connected  with  any  Church. 

He  was  married  in  Marion  County,  Mo.,  Oct.  £3, 
1840,  to  Miss  Nancy  C.  S.  Parrish. 


i.eth  P.  Stem,  is  a  farmer, presiding  in  Rose- 
ville,  and  a  gentleman  of  more  than  or- 
dinary business  ability,  with  an  abundance 
of  practical  knowledge  obtained  by  actual  ex- 
perience. He  is  a  native  of  Mercer  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  was  born  July  29,  1833,  of  parents 
by  name  Frederick  and  Sarah  (Harris)  Stem,  natives 
of  Westmoreland  and  Fayette  Co.s,  Pa.,  respectively. 
His  parents  came  to  this  state  in  1850  and  located 
one  and  a-half  miles  east  of  Roseville  on  Section 
28,  of  that  township.  His  father  was  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  followed  that  vocation 
in  this  county  until  his  death,  which  took  place  June 
8,  1875,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  other 
world  in  January,  1868. 

Seth  P.,  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  the 
head  of  this  sketch,  remained  with  his  parents  until 
he  was  33  years  old.  He  then  rented  land  from  his 
father,  on  shares,  which  he  engaged  in  cultivating. 
Having  received  a  good  English  education  he  taught 
school  for  several  years,  also  buying  and  selling  land, 


in  which  he  was  rather  fortunate,  and  was  enabled  to 
make  a  little  money  thereby. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Seth  P.  Stem  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Stem,  nee  McDermot,  occurred  Oct.  9,  1866.  Mrs. 
Stem  was  a  native  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  of  this 
union  have  been  born  two  children,  Elsie  L.,  and 
Nellie  B.  After  marriage  Mr.  Stem  went  to  farming 
on  a  i6o-acre  tract  of  good  land,  on  Section  17,  add- 
ing 61  acres  more  by  subsequent  purchases,  and 
where  he  farmed  for  about  eight  years,  when  he  came 
to  Roseville  and  purchased  the  property  upon  which 
he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Stem  was  a  stockholder 
of  the  Roseville  Union  Bank  for  five  years  and  one 
of  its  originators,.  Having  sold  out  his  interest  in 
the  Bank  he  now  lives  a  retired  life,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  overseeing  his  farm  and  stock.  He  resided 
in  Dakota  one  year,  where  he  has  320  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Stem  enlisted  in  Company  H,  2d  111.  Cavalry, 
on  the  6th  of  August,  1862,  and  served  his  country 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  having  participated  in  the 
battle  at  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  and  in  all  the  battles  fought 
by  Gen.  Grant  up  to  the  fall  of  Vicksburg.  He  then 
went  to  the  Gulf  under  Gen.  Banks,  whose  army 
was  several  times  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  and  had 
to  cut  its  way  out.  At  Holly  Springs  the  2d  111. 
Cavalry  was  surrounded  by  the  Rebel  forces  of  Gen. 
Van  Dorn,  and  all  the  Infantry  captured,  but  the  Cav- 
alry succeeded  in  escaping.  Companies  G,  H,  I, 
and  K,  of  the  2d  111.  Regt.  of  Cavalry,  were  separa- 
ted during  the  early  part  of  the  war,  and  were  not 
again  together  during  the  term  of  enlistment  of  Mr. 
Stem.  His  regiment  first  went  to  LaGrange,  then 
Holly  Springs  and  then  Coffeeville,  af'.er  which  it  fell 
back  to  Memphis.;  went  down  the  river  to  Young's 
Point  and  was  in  several  engagements  between  there 
and  Grand  Gulf,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Champion  Hills.  It  struck  camp  at  Black  River, 
destroying  railroads  and  lying  in  wait  for  Johnson  and 
foraging  for  supplies  for  the  army.  After  the  surren- 
der of  Vicksburg  his  regiment  followed  Johnson,  and 
after  its  return  went  to  Natchez,  where  it  raided  the 
country.  It  then  went  to  Carlton  and  bivouacked 
for  a  time.  The  next  move  of  the  regiment  was  to 
Morganza,  where  the  command  was  under  fire  every 
day  for  some  time.  Gen.  Green  commanded  the 
Rebel  forces,  and  Maj.  Montgomery  the  6th  Missou- 
ri Cavalry,  and  at  that  place  Gen.  Green  captured  the 
Infantry.  After  this  Mr.  Stem  was  at  New  Orleans, 
where  he  spent  the  winter,  and  then  accompanied  an 


-§• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


585 


expedition  up  the  Red  River.  Returning  from  the 
latter  expedition  to  New  Orleans,  he  participated  in 
the  Mobile  campaign,  after  which  he  went  by  way  of 
the  Gulf  to  Pensacola,  from  there  back  to  Vicksburg, 
and  was  finally  mustered  out  at  Springfield,  111.,  June 
i,  1865. 

Mr.  Stem,  with  his  wife,  is  a  member  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  Church,  and  he  belongs  to  the  G.  A. 
R.  In  politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  par- 
ty. Mr.  Stem  is  regarded  as  a  solid  and  substantial 
citizen  as  well  as  a  representative  man,  of  Warren 
County. 


in 


prdelia  A.    Tinkham,  residing   at   Kirk- 
wood,  is  the  widow  of  Ransom   Tinkham, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  he  having  been  born 
the  Green  Mountain  State,   July  23,  1815, 

and  his  demise  occurring  in  this  county,  Mar. 

21, 1878.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Tinkham,  Ben- 
jamin  and  Anna  (Gray)  Tinkham,  were  natives  of 
Vermont  and  the  Pine  Tree  State  respectively.  Ran- 
som Tinkham,  husband  of  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical  notice,  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  21  years,  receiving  at  their  hands 
a  good  common-school  education.  In  1836  he  came 
to  Illinois  and  located  at  Monmoulh,  and  while  re- 
siding there  was  elected  Constable,  which  position  he 
filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  his  constituents.  He 
afterward  moved  to  Tompkins  Township  and  located 
on  section  19,  where  he  purchased  80  acres  of  land, 
which  he  at  once  began  to  cultivate  and  improve. 
Subsequently  he  added  another  8o-acre  tract,  mak- 
ing his  landed  interests  160  acres,  and  continued  to 
reside  there  until  1876.  During  that  year  he  moved 
to  Kirkwood  and  purchased  a  residence  and  lot  on 
the  corner  of  Kellogg  and  Plum  Streets,  where  he 
lived  in  retirement  from  the  active  labors  of  life,  en- 
joying the  peace,  comfort  and  quiet  which  his  accu- 
mulations permitted,  until  his  death.  In  politics,  he 
was  a  staunch  Democrat,  and  his  life  pursuit  was  that 
of  an  agriculturist,  in  which  he  met  with  financial 
success.  He  also  gave  considerable  attention  to 
music,  and  was  leader  of  the  first  brass  band  organ- 
ized in  Warren  County. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Tinkham  to  Miss  Cordelia 


A.  Forwood  took  place  April  23,  1842.  She  was  a 
native  of  Maryland  and  bore  her  husband  six  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  survive,  namely:  Sarah  A.  A., 
Ophelia  C.  H.,  Ransom  O.  B ,  Cordelia  C.  A.  and 
George  W.  P.  Erastus  W.  D.,  the  second  child  in 
order  of  birth,  was  born  Dec.  17,  1845,  and  died 
Sept.  5,  1846.  Mrs.  Tinkham  is  residing  in  Kirk- 
wood  with  her  two  daughters  and  »wo  granddaugh- 
ters. Sarah  A.  A.  became  the  wife  of  Charles  R. 
Barnett,  and  to  them  five  children  have  been  born — 
George  W.,  Cora  A.,  Addie  O.,  Charles  E.  and  Flor- 
ence A.  Ophelia  C.  H.  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Peter  Barnett,  and  of  their  union  two  children,  Con- 
stance O.  A.  and  Ina  C.  A.  were  born.  Mr.  Barnett 
died  in  1870.  Ransom  O.  B.  married  Sarah  F.  Ack- 
erman,  and  they  have  four  children — Lester  L.,  Wil- 
fred C.,  Daisy  M.  and  Guy  R.  are  the  names  of 
their  family.  George  W.  P.  chose  for  his  life  part- 
ner Adah  L.  Oaks,  and  they  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  two  children,  who  have  been  named  Forrest 
G.  and  Ralph  D. 


Gilliland,  of  the  firm  of  Foster  &Gilliland, 
druggists,  at  Kirkwood,  was  born  in  Hunt- 
ington  Co.,  Pa.,  July  t,  1830,  his  parents  be- 
ing Mathew  and  Elizabeth  (Rogers)  Gillljland, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  came  to 
.this  state  and  settled  at  Sugar  Tree  Grove, 
Hale  Township,  Warren  County,  in  1850,  and  there 
resided  following  the  peaceful  pursuit  of  an  agricul- 
turist until  the  date  of  his  death,  which  took  place  in 
1851. 

Mr.  Gilliland,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of 
this  biographical  notice,  remained  under  the  care  and 
instruction  of  his  parents,  receiving  a  good  education 
in  the  common  schools  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
majority.  On  becoming  his  own  man  in  life  he  left 
the  parental  homestead  and  went  forth  to  fight  his 
battles  single-handed  and  alone,  and  to  acquire,  if 
possible,  a  competency.  He  first  worked  out  by  the 
month,  and  continued  to  receive  remuneration  for  his 
services  as  a  laborer,  until  1855.  During  that  year 
he  engaged  with  W.  F.  Smith,  at  Monmouth,  as  clerk 
in  a  drug  store,  and  followed  that  occupation  for  three 
years.  In  1859  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California, 
and  on  arrival  in  the  Golden  State  prospected  for 


586 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


gold,  and  was  thus  occupied  for  one  year.  He  then 
went  to  Nevada,  where  he  worked  in  the  silver  mines, 
and  there  remained  until  1865,  when  he  returned  to 
Monmouth.  His  trip  across  the  plains,  in  a  financial 
sense  was  of  but  little  benefit  to  him,  and  on  return- 
ing to  Monmouth  he  again  engaged  as  a  clerk  and 
followed  the  same  for  two  years. 

Leaving  Monmouth  Mr.  Gilliland  came  to  Kirk- 
wood,  and  in  partnership  with  Mr.  S.  C.  Foster, 
engaged  in  the  drug  business,  which  they  have  con- 
tinued until  the  present  time,  meeting  with  that  suc- 
cess which  fair  dealing  and  strict  attention  to 
business  generally  bring.  The. marriage  of  Mr.Gillil- 
and  to  Miss  Margaret  A.  Ebert,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, took  place  in  1869,  and  two  children  have 
been  born  to  the  family  circle,  namely,  William  and 
Lewis. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gilliland  is  a  believer  in  and  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party.  Religiously,  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Socially  Mr.  Gilliland  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Masonry,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  energetic  and 
foremost  business  men  of  Kirkwood. 


}rs.  S.  E.  Wray,  residing  at  Kirkwood,  is 
the  widow  of  John  Wray,  who  died  in 
1874.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1816, 
his  parents  being  Isaac  and  Mary  (Carleton) 
Wray,  natives  of  Ireland.  He  landed  on 
American  shores  in  1835,  and  determined  to 
follow  the  occupation  of  a  fanner.  Following  in  the 
train  whose  watchword  was  "Westward  Ho!"  he 
reached  the  Prairie  State  and  located  one  mile  west 
of  the  present  village  of  Kirkwood,  where  his  father 
and  mother  died. 

John  Wray  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  E. 
Davis,  a  native  of  Virginia,  Aug.  14,  1843,  in  Hen- 
derson County.  She  came  to  Illinois  with  her  par- 
ents in  1833.  They  settled  on  a  farm  of  80  acres, 
and  there  her  father  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing and  the  daughter  continued  to  reside  until  her 
marriage  with  Mr.  Wray.  Of  their  union  ten  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  namely :  William  W..  Mary, 
Frances  M.,  Andrew  E.,  Caroline  C.,  Eliza  J.,  Sam- 
uel D.,  Elizabeth  E.,  John  P.  and  Charles  E. 

Mr.  Wray,  in  his  political  belief,  supported   the 


Republican  party.  He  took  an  interest  in  political 
matters  and  was  an  active  worker  for  the  success  of 
his  party.  In  religion,  he  was  a  believer  in  the  ten- 
ets of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  as  is  likewise 
Mrs.  Wray. 

Mr.  Wray  was  a  hard  working  man,  generous  to  a 
fault,  and  never  knowh  to  refuse  aid  in  any  cause 
that  was  calculated  to  benefit  the  community  in 
which  he  resided.  He  lived  on  his  farm  and  was 
there  engaged  actively  and  energetically  in  its  im- 
provement until  his  death  in  1874.  Three  years 
after  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Wray  moved  to 
the  village  of  Kirkwood  and  there  purchased  a  resi- 
dence and  two  lots,  where  she  is  at  present  living 
with  her  two  sons  and  a  daughter. 


ohn  S.  Spriggs,  M.  D.,  of  the  pioneer  drug 
house  of  Spriggs  &  Brother,  at  Monmouth, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  4, 
1824.  His  parents,  James  S.  and  Elizabeth 
(Leaman)  Spriggs,  natives  respectively  of  the 
States  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  traced 
their  ancestry  back  to  England  and  Germany.  They 
were  married  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  from  whence 
they  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  the  senior  Mr. 
S.  was  for  many  years  a  merchant.  He  died  in  that 
city  in  1838.  His  widow  survived  him  about  26 
years,  and  came  West  with  her  son  John  S.  in  1857, 
and  died  at  Monmouth  in  1864,  in  the  7oth  year 
of  her  life. 

John  S.  Spriggs  graduated  from  New  London  (Pa.) 
Academy,  when  about  18  years  of  age,  and  began 
directly  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  John  Lea- 
man,  an  uncie,  of  Williamstown,  Pa.,  who  was  his 
preceptor.  From  Dr.  Leaman's  office  he  entered 
the  Jefferson  College,  in  1842,  and  graduated  two 
years  later  as  M.  D.  He  began  to  practice  in  Cum- 
berland Co.,  Pa.,  immediately  upon  leaving  college, 
and  was  there  13  years.  He  came  from  Cumber- 
land County  to  Monmouth  in  1857,  and  soon  after 
engaged  in  the  drug  business.  He  began  business  in 
a  building  that  stood  upon  the  site  of  the  present 
Second  National  Bank.  The  building  was  burned 
in  1871,  and  he  next  opened  up  on  the  south  side  of 
the  public  square,  where  the  firm  (for  the  brothers 
have  been  together  all  the  time)  have  since  carried 


4v 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


587 


on  an  extensive  and  lucrative  business.  As  skillful 
druggists  they  undoubtedly  stand  at  the  head  of  the 
trade  in  Monmouth.  Dr.  Spriggs  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Monmouth  Mining  and  Manufac- 
turing Co.,  in  1872,  his  interests  wherein  he  parted 
with  in  1884. 

Dr.  Spriggs  was  married  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
Dec.  1 6,  1852,  to  Miss  Emily  E.  Williamson,  who 
died  at  Castile,  N.  Y.,  whither  she  had  gone  for  her 
health,  leaving  four  children,  having  buried  two. 
The  living  are  John  W.,  of  Monmouth  ;  Margaret  A. 
(Mrs.  W.  W.  Yeates),  of  Chicago;  Florence  E.  (Mrs. 
E.  J.  Robinson),  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa;  and  Laura 
Belle  (Mrs.  W.  R.  Smith),  of  Kansas.  Their  first 
child,  Mary  Elizabeth,  was  born  Sept.  17,  1853,  and 
died  Dec.  23,  1868;  William  Francis,  was  born  Oct. 
24,  1858,  and  died  Dec.  6,  of  the  same  year. 

Ten  years  after  burying  his  first  wife,  the  Doctor 
found  a  second  in  the  person  of  Miss  Rachel  Dy- 
sart,  a  native  of  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio.  They  were 
married  at  Monmouth,  May  6,  1885.  The  Doctor 
and  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican. 


H.  Gilmore,  who  is  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  at  Kirkwood,  this  county,  was 
born  in  Butler  Co.,  Pa.,  June  16,  1846,  his 
parents  being  Hugh  and  Catherine  (Dorothy) 
Gilmore,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father 
moved  with  his  family  to  New  London,  Iowa, 
in  1855,  and  was  there  resident  for  10  years,  coming 
thence  to  Kirkwood,  where  he  is  yet  living. 

J.  H.  Gilmore,  the  gentleman  whose  name  we  place 
as  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  was  an  in- 
mate of  the  parental  household  until  he  attained  his 
23d  year.  His  years  prior  to  majority  were  passed 
in  acquiring  an  education  in  the  common  schools  and 
assisting  in  the  maintenance  of  the  family.  Two 
years  after  becoming  his  own  man,  in  1872,  he  en- 
gaged with  T.  F.  Lowther  in  the  grocery  business  at 
Kirkwood,  where  he  continued  for  seven  years,  afier 
which,  in  1879,  Mr.  Gilmore  purchased  his  partner's 
interest,  and  since  then  has  conducted  the  business 
for  his  own  individual  profit.  By  strict  attention  to 
business,  quick  sales  and  fair  dealing  with  his  cus- 


tomers, he  has  established  a  good  and  constantly  in- 
creasing business. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Gilmore  to  Miss  Louisa 
Brown,  daughter  of  John  Brown  and  a  native  of  this 
State,  took  place  in  1869.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  children,  Carrie  and 
Hugh. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  staunch  Republican. 
He  has  held  the  different  offices  in  his  township  and 
is  one  of  the  foremost  business  men  of  Kirkwood. 


-f 


ortimer  S.  Baldwin,  at  the  head  of  the 
firm  of  Baldwin  &  Putnam,  dealers  in 
flour,  feed,  pumps,  lime,  cement,  etc., 
at  Monmouth,  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary 
L.  (Stewart)  Baldwin,  natives  of  Pensylvania, 
and  of  English  and  Irish  extraction,  respect- 
ively. He  was  born  in  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  27, 
1846.  The  senior  Mr.  Baldwin  was  by  occupation 
a  farmer  during  his  life  and  brought  his  six  sons  up 
to  that  honorable  calling.  His  life  was  ended  in  the 
place  where  it  began,  and  the  hand  of  Time  marked 
for  him  66  years,  A.  D.  1869. 

Mortimer  S.  Baldwin  had  the  benefit  of  a  com- 
mon-school education  in  Pennsylvania,  and  when 
about  20  years  of  age  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a 
general  .merchandise  establishment  at  Cochranville, 
that  State.  He  remained  here  about  three  years 
and  then  in  a  similar  cap-icily  at  Penningtonville  for 
about  one  year.  In  1869,  we  find  him  farming  near 
Virden,  111.,  and  in  1871  he  landed  at  Monmouth, 
where  he  learned  telegraphy.  He  followed  "  brass 
pounding  "  only  a  short  time  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  in  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Hawkins. 
In  1 88 1,  he  sold  out  his  grocery  and  went  to  Black- 
foot,  Idaho  Territory,  and  there  engaged  in  the 
butchering  business,  under  contract  to  furnish  meat 
to  the  United  States  Government.  A  few  months  of 
this  life  satisfied  him,  and  Monmouth  again  became 
his  home.  He  was  connected  with  the  Monmouth 
Merchant  Milline  Company,  as  their  Secretary, 
about  18  months,  and  in  1883  embarked  in  his  pres- 
ent business,  taking  in  a  partner  in  1884. 

Mr.  Baldwin  began  life  subject  to  all  the  difficul- 
ties incident  to  a  young  man  wholly  devoid  of  means, 
and  has  had  his  full  share  of  the  ups  and  downs, 


588 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


and,  in  fact,  he  has  had  occasion  to  feel  that  there 
were  more  downs  than  ups  to  his  allotment,  but  not- 
withstanding it  all,  he  has  made  a  success  of  life  so 
far,  and  has  outstripped  many  who  had  much  the 
advantage  of  him  at  the  beginning.  He  owns  the 
Joel  Clothing-House  Block  at  Monmouth,  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Nebraska,  is  a  stockholder  and  di- 
rector in  the  Monmouth  Merchant  Milling  Company, 
at  Mitchell,  D.  T.,  and  has  a  half  interest  in  the 
celebrated  Portable  Hay  and  Grain  Cover,  the  new- 
est and  most  useful  invention  that  has  been  intro- 
duced to  the  agricultural  people  for  ten  years. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and,  religiously, 
attends  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  B.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows  Order.  Mrs.  Baldwin's 
maiden  name  was  Laura  W.  Williams ;  she  is  a  na- 
tive of  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Baldwin  made 
her  his  wife  Feb.  15,  1872. 


rSWscar  N.  Kellogg,  a  gentleman  who  has  met 
yBA  with  more  than  ordinary  success  in  life,  a 
good  farmer  and  respected  citizen  of  War- 
ren County,  residing  on  section  1 1,  Cold  Brook 
Township,  was  born  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Jan.  4,  1846.  Josiah  Kellogg,  father  of  the 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  biographical  no- 
tice, followed  the  trade  of  a  harness  maker  until 
1851,  when  he  came  West,  and  located  in  Kelly 
Township.  He  continued  to  reside  there,  following 
the  vocation  of  a  farmer,  until  the  call  was  made  by 
President  Lincoln  for  soldiers  to  defend  the  cause  of 
the  union,  when  he  enlisted,  Sept.  2,  1862,  as  First 
Corporal  .in  the  iO2d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Co.  B,  under 
Capt.  Elisha  C.  Atchison.  The  regiment  in  which 
his  company  belonged  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland,  and  Mr.  Kellogg  participated  in  all 
the  battles  in  which  it  was  engaged  until  March  13, 
1863,  when  he  was  promoted  to  Third  Sergeant.  He 
held  that  rank  until  the  battle  of  Resaca,  when  he 
received  a  shot  from  the  enemy  that  caused  his 
death. 

Oscar  N.  Kellogg,  whose  life  history  we  write,  was 
but  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  this 
county  and  located  in  Kelly  Township.  After  the 
death  of  his  father,  he  resided  with  his  mother  on  the 


old  homestead,  where  he  was  engaged  in  its  cultiva- 
tion and  improvement.  Oct.  31,  1871,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Alex,  and  Martha  (Richie)  Armstrong, 
natives  of  the  North  of  Ireland  and  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  Her  parents  were  married  in  their  native 
country  and  resided  in  Fermanagh  County,  where 
eight  children  were  born  to  them.  Mrs.  Kellogg, 
wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  next  to  the 
youngest  in  order  of  birth  of  her  parents'  family  and 
was  bora  in  Fermanagh  County,  Ireland,  July  2, 
1849.  Her  parents  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  Kelly  Township,  this  county,  where 
her  father  died,  in  May,  1876,  aged  70  years.  Her 
mother  survives  and  is  residing  with  her  oldest  son, 
James,  in  Kelly  Township,  aged  73  years. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kellogg,  they 
located  on  the  old  homestead  belonging  to  the  father 
of  Mrs.  K.,  on  section  28,  Kelly  Township.  Mr. 
Kellogg  subsequently  sold  his  possessions  in  Kelly 
Township,  and,  in  February,  1884,  purchased  120  . 
acres  of  good  farm  land  in  Cold  Brook  Township,  the 
same  being  the  farm  on  which  they  at  present  reside. 
It  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation  and  pre- 
sents an  appearance  indicative  of  the  push  and  en- 
ergy of  its  proprietor.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kellogg  are 
both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  . 
of  which  denomination  Mr.  K.  is  Steward  and  also 
Sunday-school  Superintendent.  In  politics,  he  al- 
ways casts  his  vote  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  for  six 
years  and  School  Trustee  for  the  same  length  of 
time.  Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kellogg,  two 
children  have  been  born — Bertha,  Dec.  17,  1873,  and 
Estella,  Jan.  24,  1877. 


ames  W.  Standley,  M.  D.,  a  practicing 
physician  in  Alexis,  established  his  rela- 
tions with  the  citizens  of  that  place  in 
1880.  He  is  a  practitioner  of  the  allopathic 
school  and  is  thoroughly  well  read  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  has  had  a  valuable  experience 
and  is  steadily  growing  in  the  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity where  he  has  thrown  his  glove  of  challenge 
to  fame  and  fortune. 

Dr.  Standley  was  born  in  Putnam  Co.,  Ind.,  March 


4- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


18,  1846.  His  father,  Thomas  Standley,  is  respon- 
sible for  the  letter  "  d  "  which  appears  in  the  family 
name,  as  it  was  inserted  by  him  to  change  its  origi- 
nal name  of  "  Stanley."  The  latter  was  a  native  of 
South  Carolina  and  married  Lydia  Moss,  a  lady  who 
was  born  in  Indiana.  The  senior  Standley  removed 
his  family  to  Wapello  Co.,  Iowa,  when  his  son  was  a 
child  of  nine  years. 

The  days  of  the  youth  of  Dr.  Standley  were  passed 
in  Iowa,  and  he  was  educated  primarily  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  county  whither  his  parents  re- 
moved. He  went  to  Putnam  Co.,  Mo.,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  commencing  his  studies  preparatory  to 
entering  the  medical  profession,  with  his  uncle, 
Thomas  H.  Moss,  who  was  a  physician  of  repute 
and  influence,  and  under  whose  preceptorship  he 
made  satisfactory  progress.  On  leaving  his  office, 
Dr.  Standley  matriculated  at  Rush  Medical  College 
in  the  city  of  Chicago  and  was  graduated  from  that 
institution  with  the  class  of  1872.  In  1869,  he  went 
fto  Plattville,  Taylor  Co.,  Iowa,  to  enter  upon  his 
professional  career,  and  remained  there  six  months. 
He  operated  in  Adair  Co.,  Mo.,  after  that  period  un- 
til 1871,  when  he  abandoned  practice  to  give  his 
entire  attention  to  his  collegiate  course.  After  tak- 
ing his  degree,  he  went  to  Greencastle,  Sullivan  Co., 
Mo.,  and  practiced  as  a  physician  until  he  came  to 
Alexis  in  the  year  named. 

Dr.  Standley  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Emma 
Bartlett  Sept.  9,  1875.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Emeline  Bartlett  and  was  born  in  Newark,  Ken- 
dall Co.,  III.  The  Doctor  and  his  svife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


n.  Delos  Porter  Phelps,  of  Monmouth, 
Asst.  Supt.  of  the  Central  Iowa  Rail- 
way Company,  is  a  son  of  Porter  and  Mary 
Ellen  Phelps,  notices  of  whom  appear  in 
this  work.  He  was  born  about  ten  miles  south 
of  Monmouth,  in  Roseville  Township,  Warren 
Co.,  Nov.  1 6,  1837.  In  the  sketch  of  his  parents,  in 
this  volume,  will  be  found  an  account  of  his  ancestry. 
His  father  moved  from  Knoxville,  111.,  in  the  spring 
of  that  year,  and  there  began  the  improvement  of  a 
small  farm.  He  erected  upon  it  a  rude  log  house, 
covered  with  hand-riven  boards,  kept  in  place  by 


logs  weighting  them  down,  and  beneath  that  roof  the 
subject  of  our  sketch  first  saw  the  light. 

The  whole  country  was  then  substantially  a  wil- 
derness; only  here  and  there  along  the  timber  could 
be  found  the  rude  beginning  of  some  adventurous 
pioneer.  He  lived  there  until  the  spring  of 
1844,  and  many  a  time,  as  he  has  told  the  writer, 
has  he  seen  the  wolves  come  up  to  within  hailing 
distance  of  the  house,  and  the  deer  play  like  sheep 
within  gunshot  of  the  dwelling.  For  several  direc- 
tions, as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  there  was  not 
then  an  improvement,  or  the  smoke  of  a  chimney  in 
view.  He  saw  the  prairie  fires  in  the  autumn  sweep 
across  the  broad  expanse  of  waving  grass  swifter 
than  the  speed  of  the  fastest  horse,  and  with  a  roar 
that  could  be  heard  a  considerable  distance,  leaving 
blackness  and  desolation  behind.  During  one  win- 
ter, while  residing  there,  two  of  his  father's  neigh- 
bors caught  46  wolves  in  one  steel  trap,  and  finally 
a  large  black  wolf  was  caught  that  broke  the  chain 
and  went  off  with  the  trap,  and  was  killed  the  follow- 
ing spring  10  miles  away,  almost  starved  to  death, 
with  the  trap  still  clinging  to  his  foot. 

At  that  time  cooking  stoves  were  substantially  un- 
known, kettles  were  used  in  fire  places  instead,  and 
each  cabin,  though  rude  without  and  within,  had  one 
of  those  great  cheerful  fire-places  with  its  back  log 
and  fore  log,  andirons,  and  great  chimneys,  so  beau- 
tifully described  in  Whittier's  "Snow  Bound."  Mills 
were  scarce  and  distant,  and  not  unfrequently  had  he 
seen  meal  manufactured  by  grating  ears  of  new  corn 
upon  the  bottom  of  a  tin  pan  punched  full  of  holes 
with  an  awl. 

He  was  taught  at  home  a  great  deal  by  his  par- 
ents, as  no  neighborhood  had  school  to  exceed  three 
months  in  the  year.  School  houses  as  described  by 
him  were  made  of  logs  generally  about  1 6  ft.  square, 
and  seats  were  formed  of  hewn  puncheons ;  or,  if  a 
saw  mill  was  near  or  a  whip-saw  available,  seats  were 
made  of  slabs  converted  into  benches  by  having  four 
holes  bored  and  rude  legs  placed  therein.  These 
legs  generally  protruded  through  the  top  far  enough 
for  a  wedge  to  be  driven  into  them  to  prevent  them 
from  falling  out,  and  unfortunate  was  the  unlucky 
urchin  who,  in  that  small  and  usually  crowded  room 
happened  to  be  assigned  his  seat  over  that  uncom- 
fortable spot. 

In  the  spring  of  1844  the  elder  Phelps  sold  his 
farm  for  $300,  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Berwick  and 


592 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


rented  a  farm.  There,  he  said,  he  remembered  well 
with  what  pleasure  and  childish  wonder  he  saw  the 
iron  thumb  latches  with  which  the  doors  were  fur- 
nished. Usually  at  that  time  there  was  used  a  large 
wooden  latch,  to  which  there  was  fastened  a  string 
that  passed  through  a  hole  in  the  door  above  it,  and 
by  pulling  the  string  the  latch  was  raised.  At  that 
time  thieves  were  almost  unknown,  and  this  latch 
string  hung  out  with  a  welcoming  hospitality  to  every 
lost  or  belated  traveler. 

This  year,  1844,  was  known  as  the  rainy  season. 
The  windows  of  heaven  seemed  to  be  opened,  and 
the  storm  king  to  rule  with  unrestrained  power. 
More  than  once  with  his  brothers  and  sisters  he  was 
put  into  the  cellar,  while  his  father  and  mother  stay- 
ed above  to  hold  the  doors  and  windows.  Often, 
too,  with  a  common  dipper,  has  he  seen  them  dip 
water  from  the  well,  so  saturated  was  the  earth.  In 
1845,  his  father  having  bought  the  place  four  miles 
east  of  Monmouth,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
'  moving  upon  it  in  the  spring  of  that  year. 

From  Berwick  there  was  the  wide  prairie  that  lies 
south  and  east  of  Monmouth.  It  was  then  supposed 
to  be  too  wet  to  ever  be  valuable,  and  rash  indeed 
was  considered  the  man  who  would  leave  a  point  of 
timber  and  venture  to  make  his  home  thereon. 

The  course  thence  to  Monmouth  was  a  straight 
line,  and,  in  fact,  to  almost  any  other  point,  if  one 
could  cross  the  sloughs  and  streams  which  were  gen- 
erally unbridged.  The  prairie  spoken  of  was  cov- 
ered with  an  immense  growth  of  rank  weeds,  but  a 
few  feet  apart,  that  grew  to  a  height  of  from  10  to  15 
feet,  and  were  covered  on  top  and  sides  with  yellow 
flowers.  Many  a  time  after  he  was  large  enough  to 
hunt  the  cows,  he  had  to  stand  up  on  his  horse's 
back  to  see  over  the  tops  of  these  weeds,  and  would 
find  them  lying  down  not  100  steps  away,  when  he 
could  not  see  them  while  sitting  on  the  horse.  A  great 
bunch  of  resinous  leaves  several  feet  in  diameter 
grew  at  the  foot  of  these  tall  weeds,  and  after  frost 
were  as  inflammable  as  tinder.  In  the  event  of  a 
prairie  fire  the  wind  would  sweep  them  in  a  fiery 
cloud  away  in  front  of  the  bursting  flames,  and  kin- 
dle the  fire  far  in  advance,  which  greatly  accelerated 
the  speed  of  the  conflagration.  Upon  this  prairie, 
when  he  was  large  enough  to  ride  on  horseback  with 
safely,  he  attended  two  grand  circular  wolf  hunts  with 
his  father  and  two  older  brothers,  where  the  lines 
had  been  formed  upon  the  borders  of  the  county, 


and  the  deer  and  wolves  driven  before  until  late  in 
the  day  they  were  found  in  the  circle  or  square  that 
the  encroaching  horses  formed  around  the  prairie. 

The  first  year  of  residence  upon  this  place,  there 
was  killed  thereon  almost  100  rattlesnakes,  and  over 
400  other  snakes.  Often,  in  riding  across  that  prai- 
rie several  years  later,  he  has  encountered  a  wolf  or 
deer,  or  heard  therattle  of  the  disturbed  rattlesnake, 
which  horses  seemed  to  avoid  with  instinctive  fear. 
Here  young  Delos  also  attended  school  for  a  few 
months  in  the  year  in  the  primitive  log  school  house. 
The  privileges  of  school  were  valued,  because  scarce 
in  those  days.  There  he  first  studied  Latin  under 
the  tuition  of  his  sister  Ellen,  and  also  under  that 
of  Rev.  J.  W.  Butler,  who  afterward  became  Presi- 
dent of  Abingdon  College.  President  Butler  was  at 
that  time  a  student  at  either  Knox  College,  111.,  or 
Bethany  College  in  Virginia.  His  father,  Major  Pe- 
ter Butler,  was  almost,  if  not  quite,  the  first  County 
Surveyor  of  Warren  County,  and  lived  about  four 
miles  east  of  Monmouth.  A  block  house  stood  up- 
on his  farm  that  had  been  built  there  for  protection 
against  the  Indians.  But  Mr.  Phelps  was  indebted 
to  home  instruction  for  much  of  his  learning,  espe- 
cially for  his  love  of  poetry  and  eloquence.  Extracts 
from  Scott  and  other  standard  authors  were  taught 
him  by  his  mother,  who  brought  them  stored  in  her 
memory  from  New  York,  and  taught  them  to  him 
years  before  he  ever  saw  them  in  a  book.  She  taught 
him  so  early  that  he  has  no  recollection  of  learning 
to  read.  He  always  had  a  desire  to  go  through  Col- 
lege, and  in  1856  the  establishment  of  Monmouth 
College  gave  him  an  opportunity,  and  he  told  his 
father  that  if  he  would  let  htm  go  he  would  relin- 
quish all  interest  in  his  estate,  and  in  September, 
1857,  he  started.  The  father  did  not  intend  that 
such  should  be  the  price  of  his  son's  education,  but 
justly  considered  that  those  things  desired  and  ob- 
tained with  difficulty,  were  the  most  prized.  The 
young  student  pursued  his  studies  at  home  and  rode 
on  horseback  to  Monmouth  to  recite,  staying  out  oc- 
casionally to  teach  a  term  in  order  to  get  money  to 
aid  in  the  expenses;  and  thus  he  really  earned  more 
money  than  he  spent  while  attending  College. 

Mr.  Phelps  graduated  in  the  classical  department 
in  1862,  having  been  in  college  five  years.  His  was 
the  last  class  that  graduated  from  the  old  college 
building.  He  studied  French  under  the  instruction 
of  his  cousin,  Miss  Annie  Stevens,  afterwards  the 


± 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


593 


wife  of  A.  G.  Kirkpatrick,  as  an  extra  study.  He 
also  studied  law  during  vacations,  and  at  all  spare 
moments,  getting  the  books  from  A.  G.  Kirkpatrick, 
then  a  leading  lawyer  of  Monmouth. 

In  February,  1862,  however,  four  months  before  he 
graduated,  he  was  attacked  with  acute  opthalmia. 
For  weeks  he  was  confined  to  a  darkened  room.  At 
one  time  the  sight  of  one  eye  was  pronounced  by  his 
physician  as  lost,  but  fortunately  he  was  mistaken. 
Mr.  Phelps  was  determined  to  graduate  with  his 
class,  however,  and  his  sister  Annie  read  his  lessons 
to  him,  and  when  he  got  able  to  endure  the  light, 
with  a  heavy  shade  over  his  eyes,  he  rode  to  the  col- 
lege and  recited  them.  He  dictated  his  commence- 
ment oration  to  the  same  sister,  who  wrote  it  down 
and  read  it  to  him  until  he  had  learned  it.  He  was 
chosen  by  his  class  to  deliver  the  valedictory  ad- 
dress, and  delivered  that  and  his  oration  while  so 
nearly  blind  he  could  not  recognize  his  friends  half 
way  across  the  Church,  where  the  commencement 
exercises  were  held. 

He  always  had  a  great  love  for  oratory,  and  many 
eloquent  passages  of  great  orators  and  statesmen 
were  familiar  and  delightful  to  him,  and  while  in 
college  he  rarely  missed  the  Friday  night  meeting  of 
the  Philadelphia  Literary  Society,  of  which  he  was 
a  member.  Their  debates,  orations  and  essays 
were  continued,  often,  to  the  "wee  sma'  hours,"  and 
were  to  him  a  source  of  great  pleasure  and  improve- 
ment. For  three  successive  years,  during  his  college 
course,  he  was  chosen  by  his  society  to  represent  it 
in  its  annual  literary  contest  with  the  Eccrittean 
Society,  its  rival  in  college.  The  writer  of  this  has 
heard  him  say  that  to  the  discipline  there  received  in 
that  society,  he  attributed  much  of  whatever  suc- 
cess he  may  have  attained  afterwards  at  the  bar. 
For  two  years  after  he  graduated  he  vainly  tried,  by 
the  help  of  divers  physicians,  to  recover  his  sight, 
so  as  to  go  on  with  the  study  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion, until  almost  in  despair;  and  though  usually 
cheerful  under  the  disappointment  thus  suffered,  he 
was  wont  to  attribute  to  it  whatever  of  a  sombre 
hue  there  might  be  in  his  character. 

In  the  spring  of  1864,  Mr.  Phelps,  despairing  of 
being  able  to  go  on  with  his  studies,  being  still  un- 
able to  read  for  ten  consecutive  minutes,  or  even 
look  upward,  and  hoping  to  make  a  little  money  to 
aid  him  in  his  studies  when  able  to  prosecute  them, 
went  across  the  plains  to  Idaho  Territory,  where  he 


.began  digging  gold,  with,  however,  indifferent  suc- 
cess, except  as  to  health.  The  change  of  climate, 
exercise  and  being  in  the  open  air  invigorated  his 
health,  and  did  much  to  strengthen  his  sight,  and 
having  lost,  in  purchasing  a  mine,  what  money  he 
had,  he  concluded  to  go  to  Idaho  City  and  teach 
school.  At  that  place  in  the  winter  of  1864-5  ne 
rented  a  small  house,  bought  some  lumber,  bor- 
rowed tools,  made  seats  and  desks  and  opened  a 
school,  at  one  dollar  per  week  per  scholar.  His 
school  swelled  to  55  in  number,  and  finding  his 
quarters  too  small,  he  raised,  by  subscription,  nearly 
$1,000,  and  built  the  first  school-house  erected  in 
that  Territory  outside  of  Lewiston,  and  possibly  in 
advance  of  any  built  there.  This  school-house  he 
afterward  gave  to  the  school  authorities  there,  and  it 
was  one  of  the  few  buildings  that  escaped  the  fire 
which  destroyed  the  city. 

While  teaching,  Mr.  Phelps  spent  his  spare  hours 
in  the  law  office  of  Hon.  Chas.  B.  Waite,  of  Chicago, 
before  then  Chief  Justice  of  Utah  Territory,  and  he 
and  other  legal  friends  examined  him  in  the  law 
and  wrote  a  letter  in  his  favor,  which  he  sent  to 
Lewiston,  with  the  accustomed  fee  therefor,  and  a 
license  was  issued  him  to  practice  law.  On  May 
18,  1865,  Idaho  City  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  his 
law  license  and  almost  everything  else  he  possessed 
was  burned.  That  fall  he  returned  East  on  horse- 
back across  the  plains.  His  sight  was  then  restored 
so  that  he  could  read  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
time  by  daylight,  and  he  continued  to  study  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
this  State  in  the  Spring  of  1866,  at  Ottawa,  upon  ex- 
amination in  open  court,  not  being  able  to  produce 
the  license  granted  him  in  Idaho  Territory.  Thus, 
aside  from  the  improvement  of  his  general  health, 
he  had  lost  about  four  years  of  his  life,  and  very  im- 
portant ones,  too,  coining  as  they  did  just  at  the 
close  of  his  college  life. 

On  the  8th  day  of  May,  1866,  Mr.  Phelps  came 
to  Monmouth  and  began  the  practice  of  law,  his 
earthly  possessions  at  that  time  consisting  of  a  horse, 
blind  in  one  eye,  wcrth  about  $125.  He  formed  a 
law  partnership  with  Hon.  C.  M.  Harris,  of  Oquawka, 
which  was  nominal,  rather  than  otherwise,  as  he 
continued  to  reside  in  Oquawka.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  J.  H. 
Stewart,  which  continued  until  he  retired  fiom  prac- 
tice, in  1880. 


•  : 


594 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


In  1868,  Mr.  Phelps  was  nominated  by  the  State 
Democratic  Convention  for  Presidential  Elector,  and 
challenged  Hon.  Henry  W.  Draper,  of  Carthage,  111., 
Republican  Elector,  to  a  joint  discussion  of  the 
questions  at  issue,  at  three  points  in  each  county  in 
the  District,  which  then  extended  from  Quincy  to 
Rock  Island.  Mr.  Draper  accepted  for  two  points 
in  each  county,  and  the  debates  were  held,  usually 
before  large  audiences.  While  at  Rock  Island,  hold- 
ing one  of  these  joint  discussions,  he  was  nominated 
also  for  District  Attorney.  Both  Districts  were 
largely  Republican  and  he  was  defeated ;  but  these 
debates  established  his  reputation  as  a  brilliant  and 
able  speaker,  and  his  name  was  frequently  mentioned 
thereafter  as  a  candidate  for  Congress,  and  in  1876 
he  came  within  two  or  three  votes  of  being  nomi- 
nated. In  1878  he  was  nominated  by  acclamation. 
Col.  Frank  B.  Marsh,  of  Warsaw,  Hancock  County, 
was  the  Republican  candidate,  while  Hon.  A.  B. 
Streeter,  of  Mercer  County,  formerly  a  Democrat, 
ran  on  the  Greenback  ticket.  His  candidacy  di- 
vided the  Democratic  vote  and  defeated  Mr.  Phelps. 
In  Mercer  County  Mr.  Streeter  succeeded  in  convinc- 
ing his  old  neighbors  that  there  was  no  chance  for 
Mr.  Phelps'  election,  but  that  there  was  for  his  own 
on  the  then  Greenback  tidal  wave,  and  he  secured 
in  that  county  868  votes,  while  Mr.  Phelps  secured 
898.  The  Democratic  vote  of  that  county  two  years 
before  had  been  nearly  equal  to  both  these  numbers. 
Col.  Marsli  retained  his  party  strength  and  Mr. 
Phelps  was  defeated  by  576  votes.  In  Warren 
County  he  was  beaten  by  but  298  votes,  while  the 
usual  Republican  majority  was  from  700  to  800.  In 
this  campaign  he  had  to  contend  against  two  other 
candidates.  Had  Mr.  Streeter  not  been  in  the  field 
Mr.  Phelps  would  have  been  elected  easily  by  1,500 
majority.  In  that  campaign  he  probably  delivered 
more  public  addresses  than  were  ever  made  by  any 
candidate  in  Illinois  during  the  same  length  of  time, 
making  38  speeches  of  from  two  and  a  half  to  three 
hours  each  in  the  last  23  days,  or  almost  two  daily, 
yet  such  was  their  character  that  a  prominent  gen- 
tleman declared  to  the  writer  that  he  "went  to  hear 
him  nine  times  during  that  campaign  and  that  the 
last  speech  was  the  best  of  all." 

Mr.  Phelps  is  an  ardent  and  uncompromising 
Democrat,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  almost  every 
political  campaign,  and  had  his  lot  been  cast  where 


his  party  was  in  the  ascendancy  there  is  no  position 
to  which  he  might  not  have  aspired.  He  was  ever 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  city  and  neighbor- 
hood. 

In  1875,  the  citizens  of  Monmouth,  desiring  to  ob- 
tain some  railroad  competition,  organized  the  Bur- 
lington, Monmouth  &  Illinois  River  Railway  Com- 
pany for  that  purpose.  Mr.  Phelps  was  among  the 
first  subscribers,  to  the  extent  of  $r,ooo.  He  was 
made  a  director  of  the  company,  and  in  1879,  when 
the  enterprise  seemed  likely  to  fall,  Mr.  Phelps  and 
Mr.  William  Hanna  assumed  control  and  acquired 
the  ownership  of  it,  and,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  no- 
tice of  the  Central  Iowa  Railway  Company,  pushed 
it  to  completion,  until  now  it  is  growing  to  be  one  of 
the  most  important  roads  of  the  West. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  more  remarkable  case  upon 
record  of  as  important  a  railway  as  this  developing 
from  so  humble  a  beginning  by  force  of  judicious 
management.  In  this  company  and  in  the  Peoria 
&  Farmington  Railway  Company,  which  was  its  suc- 
cessor, the  name  of  which  was  afterwards  changed  to 
the  Central  Iowa,  Mr.  Phelps  held  almost  every  po- 
sition of  responsibility  and  trust;  being  its  Vice-Pres-  - 
ident,  General  Manager,  Secretary  and  Legal 
Counselor.  He  made  the  contracts,  supervised  the 
construction  and  directed  its  operations ;  was  instru- 
mental in  consolidating  it  with  the  Central  Iowa,  of 
Iowa,  of  which  company  he  became  a  director  and 
assistant  Superintendant,  which  latter  position  he 
now  holds.  He  organized  the  Keithsburg  Bridge 
Company,  now  building  an  iron  bridge  over  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  at  Keithsburg,  111.,  and  was  until 
recently  a  director  and  secretary  thereof.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  interests  in  these  railways,  which  are 
large,  he  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Weir 
Plow  Company  of  Monmouth,  and  is  a  large  land- 
owner in  Warren  County  and  in  Iowa.  What  he 
has,  he  has  made  by  his  own  efforts.  While  at  the 
Bar,  he  was  recognized  as  standing  in  its  front  ranks. 
As  a  trial  lawyer,  he  perhaps  had  no  superior,  and 
as  an  advocate  before  a  jury  he  was  in  a  high  de- 
gree eloquent  and  persuasive,  while  an  indomitable 
will  made  him  never  despair  of  winning  the  most 
desperate  cases.  The  practice  of  his  firm  is  seen  by 
reference  to  the  reports  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
was  both  lucrative  and  extensive.  He  abandoned 
it  in  1880,  because  his  time  and  energies  were  en- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


595 


grossed  in  his  railway  enterprise.  As  a  business 
man,  he  possesses  good  judgment  and  great  execu- 
tive ability,  as  will  be  seen  from  his  industrious  and 
successful  career. 

On  April  13,  1870,  Mr.  Phelps  was  married  to 
Sarah  Jeannette,  daughter  of  Rev.  Anson  Tucker, 
of  whom  and  of  her  mother  and  their  ancestry 
sketches  appear  in  this  volume.  Mrs.  Phelps  is  a 
lady  of  rare  accomplishments  and  virtues.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Phelps  occupy  a  delightful  home,  beautified  by 
many  works  of  art  and  brightened  by  two  lovely 
daughters — Eleanor  Randolph,  12  years  old  and 
Claire  Marguerite,  eight  years  old.  With  a  father's 
partiality,  Mr.  P.  has  given  the  names  of  Eleanor 
and  Claire  to  two  stations  upon  the  line  of  the 
Central  Iowa  Railway  in  Illinois.  Mrs.  Phelps  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Mon- 
mouth.  She  is  beloved  by  the  poor  and  needy  of 
that  city  as  their  active  and  earnest  friend  and  as- 
sistant. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps  are  now  in  the  prime 
of  life,  with  promise  of  abundant  years  of  usefulness 
and  happiness  in  store  for  them. 


^phraim  S.  Swinney,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Monmouth,  was  born  at  Bridgeton,  N.  J., 
June  23,  1817,  and  was  the  second  in  or- 
der of  birth  of  a  family  of  three  sons  of  Daniel 
J.  and   Elizabeth  (Seeley)  Swinney,   natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  and  of  Irish  and 
Welsh  extraction  respectively. 

Ephraim  S.  Swinney  was  educated  at  Mansfield, 
Ohio,  where  his  father  removed  in  1822,  and  where 
Daniel  J.  Swinney,  who  was  a  physician  and  also  a 
preacher  in  the  Baptist  Church,  died  in  1858,  at  the 
age  of  76  years.  His  widow  died  at  the  same  place, 
surviving  him  only  one  month,  aged  72  years. 

Mr.  Swinney  of  this  notice  came  to  Monmouth  in 
1837,  and  here  he  has  since  lived,  and  what  he  does 
not  know  of  the  early  history  of  this  now  proud,  little 
city  will  never  be  told.  He  began  life  here  as  a  la- 
borer, worked  at  anything  or  everything,  quarried  the 
rock  that  laid  the  foundation  of  the  present  County 
Court  House,  and  in  1839  went  into  Daniel  McNeil's 
store  and  Postoffice  as  a  clerk.  In  1843  he  was 


elected  Recorder  of  the  county,  and  held  the  office 
eight  years,  or  up  to  the  day  that  office  was  abol- 
ished. In  1853  he  was  elected  County  Clerk,  and 
held  that  office  eight  years,  and  since  1861  has  lived 
a  life  of  peaceful  retirement. 

On  Dec.  21,  1843,  he  was  united  in  marriage  at 
Monmouth  with  Miss  Mary  Berry,  whose  father,  B. 
Berry,  of  Flemingsburg,  Ky.,  was  killed  in  the  War 
of  1812.  The  ten  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swinney  are  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  William  G.  Hutchinson), 
Miletus  L.,  Ann  M.  (Mrs.  W.  D.  Tresham),  Daniel 
J.,  John  Milton,  Lucy  J.,  Catherine  B.  (Mrs.  C.  E. 
Cornell),  Henrietta,  Octavia  G.  and  Richard  Lee, 
and  all  living  at  the  date  of  this  publication  (Febru- 
ary, 1886). 


tavid  Dunbar  Dunkle,  Commander  G.  A. 
R.  Post,  No.  330,  and  at  the  head  of  the 
firm  of  Dunkle  &  Bristol,  grocers  at  Mon- 
mouth, was  born  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Nov.  n, 
1840.  His  parents,  David  and  Margaret  A. 
(Henry)  Dunkle,  were  also  Pennsylvanians. 
They  were  the  parents  of  an  only  daughter,  who 
grew  to  womanhood,  married  a  Mr.  Stewart,  and  died 
soon  afterward  in  Pennsylvania.  David  was  born  a 
few  weeks  after  his  father's  death,  but  his  mother 
supplied  him  with  a  step-father  in  the  course  of  time, 
who  taught  David  how  to  farm,  and  the  neighborhood 
pedagogue  took  advantage  of  such  odd  times  as  the 
farm  could  not  monopolize,  and  taught  him  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  English  education.  When  about  20 
years  of  age  he  went  to  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.,  and  learned 
the  moulder's  trade,  and  on  the  27th  of  August, 
i86r,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  F,  tooth  Pa.  Reg., 
known  as  the  "Round  Heads,"  and  served  three 
years.  He  was  with  his  regiment  in  the  secret  expe- 
dition against  Hilton  Head,  in  November,  1861; 
participated  in  the  engagements  at  Bufort,  S.  C.  ; 
James  Island,  near  Charleston ;  joined  the  Eastern 
army  in  July,  1862,  and  fought  the  enemy  at  Bull 
Run,  Chantilla,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  and 
through  Gen.  Burnside's  winter  campaign.  The 
spring  of  1863  found  the  regiment  in  the  army  of  the 
Mississippi.  After  occupying  Vicksburg,  young  Da- 
vid was  taken  sick,  returned  to  Kentucky  and  left  at 


596 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Camp  Nelson  hospital.  After  his  recovery  he  re- 
turned to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  participated 
in  the  early  part  of  the  Grant  campaign,  in  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness,  and  on  to  Spottsylvania.  During 
the  whole  service  he  was  absent  from  duty  only  about 
four  months. 

After  the  war  D.  D.  Dunkle  made  a  flying  trip  to 
Colorado  via  Monmouth,  where,  after  returning  East, 
he  settled  down  in  the  spring  of  1866,  since  which 
time,  up  to  engaging  in  his  present  business,  he  has 
alternated  between  farming  and  working  at  his  trade. 
From  1880  to  1885  lie  was  employed  as  foreman  for 
the  Pattee  Plow  Company,  and  in  June,  1885,  he 
embarked  in  the  grocery  trade. 

In  1883.  he  was  elected  Senior  Vice-Commander 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post,  and,  in  1885,  promoted  to  Post 
Commander.  He  has  been  appointed  Aid-de-Camp 
on  the  staff"  of  the  present  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  G.  A.  R.  He  is  a  Past  Master  in  Masonry, 
High  Priest  in  the  Chapter  (No.  30),  and  member  of 
the  Oriental  Consistory  of  Chicago.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  in  all  the  Orders  to 
which  he  belongs  is  counted  among  the  brightest 
and  most  active  members.  For  the  last  three  years 
he  has  also  been  special  correspondent  of  this  county 
for  the  Chicago  Herald. 

May  22,  1867,  he  was  married  at  Viola,  111.,  to  Miss 
Jennie  N.  Ayles,  who  died  Aug.  31,  1879,  leaving 
three  children — Harry,  Maggie  and  Willie.  On  the 
2oth  of  December,  1882,  at  Monmouth,  he  married 
his  present  wife,  Mrs.  Amanda  Vine,  nee  Rodgers. 

Mr.  Dunkle  is  a  Democrat  in  political  affiliations, 
and  has  twice  been  elected  to  represent  his  Ward  in 
the  City  Council. 


.  harles  E.  Blackburn,  of  the  firm  of 
Blackburn  &  Turnbull,  undertakers  and 
dealers  in  undertaking  and  embalming 
goods,  also  proprietors  of  extensive  livery, 
sale  and  feed  stables  at  Monmouth,  was  born 
in  LaPorte  County,  Ind.,  Sept.  19,  r847.  His 
parents,  Alexander  and  Delilah  (Polk)  Blackburn,  na- 
tives of  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky  respec- 
tively, came  to  Illinois  in  1853,  and  lived  there 
several  years,  in  McDonough  Count) ,  where,  and  in 


Monmouth  College,  where  he  applied  himself  to  study 
for  two  years,  he  received  his  education. 

In  1872,  he  came  to  Monmouth,  clerked  awhile  in 
a  hardware  store,  embarked  in  the  saddle  and  har- 
ness business,  and  drifted  into  the  livery  business,  in 
1880.  (See  sketch  of  David  Turnbull,  in  this 
volume.) 

Mr.  Blackburn  was  married  at  Monmouth,  Nov.  2, 
1871,  to  Miss  Olive  Jewell,  daughter  of  Jacob  Jew- 
ell, and  of  this  union  three  children  were  born — 
Bessie,  Anna,  and  an  infant  son  who  is  dead. 


JJ\ 


:« rof.  Thomas  H.  Rogers,  Professor  of 
Mathematics  of  Monmouth  College,  was 
born  at  Banares,  India,  Sept.  2,  1836.  His 
parents,  Rev.  William  and  Julia  Ann  (Riley) 
Rogers,  natives  respectively  of  the  States  of 
Ohio  and  New  York,  were  married  at  Craw- 
fordsville,  Indiana,  and  the  children  born  of  their 
union  were  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  distinguished  ministerof  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  was  a  graduate  of  Miami  (Ohio) 
University,  and  in  1836,  sent  as  a  missionary  to  In- 
dia, where  he  remained  Light  years.  Returning  to 
this  country  in  1844,  he  settled  down  at  Oxford,  Ohio, 
and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life. 

Thomas  H.  Rogers,  of  whom  we  write,  also  a 
graduate  of  Miami  (Ohio)  University,  from  which 
institution  he  took  first  honors  in  Philosophy,  class  of 
1856,  has  spent  his  life  as  student  and  teacher.  Im- 
mediately upon  leaving  College  he  accepted  a  Pro- 
fessorship at  Logansport  (Ind.)  Academy;  going 
thence  at  the  end  of  a  year  to  Monroe  (Ohio)  Acad- 
emy, where  he  taught  the  three  succeeding  years. 
From  Monroe  he  took  charge  of  Paris  (111.)  Acade- 
my, coming  to  Monmouth  in  1864.  Here  he  had 
charge  of  the  Academy  for  some  years  before  ac- 
cepting the  chair  of  Mathematics  in  the  College. 
(See  history  of  Monmouth  College  ) 

From  1868  he  has  been  officially  connected  as  Sec- 
retary and  Superintendei.t,  with  the  Public  Library; 
first  in  connection  with  the  Monmouth  Free  Reading 
Room,  and  since  with  the  permanent  organization  of 
the  Library,  founded  by  the  large  and  wise  liberality 
of  William  P.  Pressley.  Much  credit  is  due  to  Prof 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


597 


Rogers,  as  to  every  one  of  the  Directors  of  this,  Mon- 
mouth's  greatest  public  institution,  for  its  unusual 
success,  and  its  almost  unparalleled  and  highly  de- 
served popularity. 

Speaking  thus  of  a  Library  at  so  small  a  city  as 
Monmouth,  may  sound  extravagant;  but  the  unbi- 
ased stranger  who  visits  such  places  from  time  to 
time  in  all  parts  of  the  Union  and  patronizes  them, 
though  only  for  selfish  purposes,  will  never  spend  a 
week  at  this  city  and  one  hour  each  day  thereof  in 
its  reading  rooms,  without  comprehending  fully  the 
force  of  the  language  here  used,  and  what  is  of  more 
importance,  appreciating  its  truthfulness.  (See  his- 
tory of  Warren  County  Library.) 

Prof.  Rogers  was  married  at  Lincoln,  111.,  Oc{.  24, 
1862,  to  Miss  Lucinda  R.  Brainard,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  daughter  of  Rev.  E.  Brainard,  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Mrs.  Rogers  died  Oct.  29,  1878,  leav- 
ing two  daughters — Amy  and  Ella,  the  first  a  gradu- 
ate of,  and  the  second  a  student  at  Monmouth  Col- 
lege. 


illiam  D.  Johnson,  whose  entrance  into 
life  was  coeval  with  that  of  the  igth  Cen- 
tury, and  whose  silvered  hair  is  strongly 
indicative  of  a  life  that  has  been  replete 
with  usefulness  and  honorable  actions,  was 
born  in  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.,  Dec.  19,  1800.  He 
is  to-day  venerated  by  all  who  know  him  as  one  of 
the  worthiest  citizens  of  Kirkwood,  where  he  has 
been  a  resident  for  nearly  15  years. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Johnson,  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Hall)  Johnson,  were  natives  of  New  Jersey  and 
there  resided  until  their  deaths.  William  D.  re- 
mained an  inmate  of  his  father's  household  until  he 
was  20  years  of  age,  having  in  the  meantime  received 
a  good  common-school  education  in  the  district 
schools.  At  the  age  named  he  settled  on  a  portion 
of  his  father's  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until  1834. 
On  the  1 2th  day  of  May,  1834,  Mr.  Johnson  started 
for  the  undeveloped  West  with  two  teams,  contain- 
ing his  family  (which  at  that  time  consisted  of  his 
wife  and  six  children)  and  such  household  effects 
as  were  portable  under  the  circumstances.  They 
came  by  way  of  Pittsburgh,  through  Pennsylvania 


and  through  the  Ohio  Valley  to  Indianapolis,  Ind. 
From  the  latter  city  they  came  to  this  State,  crossing 
the  Illinois  River  at  Havana,  and  going  thence  to 
Canton,  Fulton  County.  Arriving  at  the  latter  place 
Mr.  Johnson  concluded  it  was  a  good  agricultural 
country  and  determined  to  make  it  his  abiding  place. 
He  consequently  purchased  80  acres  of  Government 
land  and  cultivated  the  same  until  1836,  when  he 
sold  it  and  purchased  a  24o-acre  tract,  moved  his 
family,  and  at  once  engaged  actively  and  energetic- 
ally upon  its  cultivation  and  improvement,  with  the 
determination  at  that  time  of  making  it  a  permanent 
home.  He  lived  on  that  farm  for  some  21  years, 
erecting  thereon  a  fine  residence  and  a  substantial 
barn  and  other  necessary  outbuildings,  set  out  fruit 
and  ornamental  trees  and  otheiwise  improved  the 
land,  and  by  a  subsequent  purchase  increased  his 
landed  interests  in  that  county  to  400  acres.  In  18157 
he  purchased  320  acres  in  Henderson  County,  and 
during  that  year  came  to  Kirkwood,  purchased 
ground  and  erected  the  fine  residence  upon  it  which 
has  been  his  home  ever  since. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  took  place  in  1821, 
at  which  time  Miss  Martha  Shackleton,  a  native  of  „ 
New  Jersey,  became  his  wife.  They  have  seven 
children  living,  namely:  Pamelia,  born  Jan.  n, 
1822;  Samuel  J.,  Aug.  27,  1823;  Richard  S.,  April 
20,  1825;  Theodore  F.,  March  26,  1827;  Oakley, 
Feb.  4,  1830;  Mary  J.,  Dec.  21,  1832;  John  H., 
Nov.  9,  1834:  Andrew  R.,  July  2,  1838;  he  was 
killed  in  the  late  Civil  War.  Pamelia  married  Sam- 
uel Brimhall  and  resides  at  Kirkwood;  Samuel  mar- 
ried Hester  A.  Rapalee  ;  six  children  are  now  living, 
the  result  of  his  marriage — William  L.,  Elsena, 
Clayton,  Perry  J.,  Andrew  and  Marilda.  Of  his 
second  marriage  one  child  has  been  born  ;  he  now 
lives  in  Kansas.  Richard  was  married  to  Lucretia 
Bruce,  and  Kansas  is  now  his  home ;  Theodore  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Martin;  John  W.  and  Luella  are  the 
names  of  their  children  ;  Oakley  is  married  and  liv- 
ing in  Clay  Co.,  Neb. ;  Frank  and  Waldo,  besides 
two  deceased,  are  the  children  born  to  him  ;  Mary 
became  the  wife  of  James  Johnson ;  one  child  was 
born  to  them — Mattie  L. ;  Mr.  J.  died  Sept.  4,  1866; 
John  H.  married  Kate  Zook,  and  resides  at  Bush- 
nell. 

Mrs.  Johnson  died  April  14,  187  r,  mourned  by 
her  family  and  a  host  of  relatives  and  friends  as  a 
faithful,  loving  wife,  a  gentle  and  devoted  mother 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


and  a  generous,  warm-hearted  neighbor.  In  politics, 
Mr.  J.  is  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  principles  ad- 
vocated by  the  Republican  party.  In  his  religious 
views,  he  coincides  with  the  tenets  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  to  which  denomination  he  belongs.  He  has 
held  many  offices  of  trust  within  the  gift  of  the  peo- 
ple of  his  township,  and  now,  as  he  lingers  in  the 
shadows  of  life,  he  can  look  back  over  the  history  of 
the  past  with  satisfaction,  and  live  in  the  enjoyment 
of  that  peace  and  plenty  which  a  life  of  active  indus- 
try has  brought  him. 


>  V     V  £*" 


illiam  Wood,  in  mercantile  business  at 
Kirkwood,  on  Main  Street,  was  born  in 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  March  7,  1833,  his 
parents  being  Martin  H.  and  Sally  (Nettle- 
ton)  Wood.  Martin  H.  Wood,  father  of  the 
gentleman  whose  biography  we  write,  came  to 
Illinois  from  Ohio  in  1837.  His  terminus  in  this 
State  was  Warren  County,  and  on  arrival  here  he 
purchased  a  farm  on  which  he  located  with  his  fam- 
ily, and  engaged  in  that  pursuit  which  he  has  fol- 
lowed all  his  life,  agriculture.  He  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  in  this  county,  and  has  witnessed  its 
development  to  the  magnificent  agricultural  condi- 
tion it  occupies  to-day,  and  is  yet  living,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  87  years,  in  Henderson  County. 

William  Wood,  subject  of  this  notice,  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  ten  years  old,  when  he 
engaged  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Oquawka,  where  he 
remained  a  year.  He  then  changed  his  position  to 
another  store,  and  followed  the  same  occupation  for 
four  years  longer,  and  then  worked  on  the  river  dur- 
ing the  summers,  and  clerked  in  the  winter,  for  six 
years  more.  In  1856  he  purchased  40  acres  of  land, 
which  he  subsequently  added  to  by  the  purchase  of 
40  acres  in  Henderson  County,  and  on  which  he  re- 
sided, occupied  in  its  cultivation  and  improvement 
for  three  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he 
once  more  engaged  in  the  mercantile  pursuits  as  clerk 
at  Oquawka,  and  followed  the  same  for  four  years, 
until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Kirkwood,  this  county, 
and  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  provision  trade.  In 
company  with  a  Mr.  Thompson  he  bought  out  a 
Mr.  Morris  at  that  place,  and  after  carrying  on  their 


business  jointly  four  days,  they  were  burned  out. 
The  partners  were  not  disheartened  and  immediately 
purchased  another  building  and  under  the  firm  name 
of  Wood  &  Thompson  again  engaged  in  business, 
which  co-partnership  lasted  for  one  and  a  half  years, 
when  Mr.  Wood  bought  out  the  interest  of  his  part- 
ner, and  continued  the  business  two  years  longer.  He 
also  during  that  time  was  "mine  host"  of  the  Tre- 
mont  House  at  Kirkwood  for  18  months,  and  for  a 
time  followed  the  nursery  business,  which  he  merged 
into  the  green-house  business,  and  was  thus  occupied 
for  eight  years.  Disposing  of  the  latter  business,  he 
engaged  in  a  variety  store  at  Kirkwood  Village  in 
1880,  and  has  since  continued  the  same.  He  keeps 
a  general  stock  of  almost  everything  that  is  neces- 
sary to  supply  the  wants  of  his  customers,  and  is 
meeting  with  success. 

In  politics  he  votes  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  religion,  together  with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  addition  to  his  business  at  Kirkwood,  Mr. 
Wood  has  a  farm  of  160  acres,  in  Boone  County, 
Nebraska. 

He  was  married  Oct.  9,  1856,  to  Martha  E.  Tyr- 
ell,  a  native  of  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio. 

The  business  qualities  of  Mr.  Wood  are  such  as 
to  entitle  him  to  be  classified  as  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  Kirkwood,  and  his  dealings  are  such 
as  to  entitle  him  to  the  respect  of  the  citizens  of  the 
community  in  which  he  resides. 


ames  Watson,  the  only  gentleman  engaged 
I"  in  business  at  Ellison,  where  he  is  con- 
ducting a  dry  goods,  grocery  and  general 
mercantile  store,  and  is  also  Postmaster  and 
School  Trustee,  was  born  in  this  county,  Nov. 
10,  1855.  The  father  of  Mr.  Watson  of  this 
sketch,  Lucius  Watson,  was  born  in  Schoharie  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  came  with  his  parents  when  eight  years 
of  age  to  this  county.  They  settled  near  Roseville, 
and  live  in  Point  Pleasant  Township.  Lucius  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  married  Georgia  A.  Forte, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  After  marriage  he  settled  in 
Point  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  has  continued 
to  follow  his  chosen  profession  until  the  present  time. 
He  is  the  proprietor  of  280  acres  of  good  farm  land 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


60 1 


where  he  resides.  The  parental  family  comprised 
seven  children,  and  James  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth. 

James  Watson,  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  notice,  was  educated  in  the  township  of  his  na- 
tivity and  there  resided  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
17  years,  when  he  went  to  Abingdon  and  remained 
for  three  years.  He  afterward  taught  school  four 
terms  in  the  common  schools  of  the  county. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Augusta,  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  David  and  Jane  (Brown)  Brent, 
Oct.  30,  1877.  Her  parents  reside  in  the  county 
and  her  father  is  following  the  vocation  of  a  farmer 
in  Ellison  Township.  Mrs.  Watson  was  born  on 
the  parental  homestead  in  Ellison  Township,  Feb. 
22,  1856,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  town- 
ship of  her  nativity,  having  also  attended  college  at 
Abingdon  two  years  prior  to  her  marriage.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Watson  have  become  the  parents  of  one  child 
Amy,  born  Jan.  27,  1885. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Watson  located  on  a  farm  in 
Ellison  Township,  and  continued  to  reside  thereon 
until  December,  1881,  when  he  moved  to  the  village 
of  Ellison.  He  purchased  the  stock  of  goods  owned 
by  Amos  Pierce  at  that  place,  and  since  that  time 
has  continued  to  carry  on  the  mercantile  business. 
By  fair  and  honest  dealing  with  his  patrons,  he  has 
established  a  good  and  paying  business«and  is  meet- 
ing with  financial  success.  Soon  after  engaging  in 
business  at  that  place,  Mr.  Watson  was  appointed 
Postmaster,  which  office  he  continues  to  hold  until 
the  present  time.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Ellison,  of  which 
denomination  Mr.  Watson  is  Steward  and  Trustee. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  School  Trustee  for  two 
years,  and,  in  his  political  opinions,  he  affiliates 
with  the  Republican  party,  taking  an  active  interest 
in  local  politics. 


/.ugh    Marshall,  M.  D.,  a    prominent    phy- 
sician and  surgeon  of  Monmouth,  111.,  was 
born  In  Fairfield   District,  South  Carolina, 
Dec.    15,    1830.     His  grandparents  were  born 
in    Ireland,    and    his   parents,  Alexander   and 
Mary    (McMillan)    Marshall    were    natives   of 
South  Carolina.      They    reared    six   sons    and   one 


daughter,  Hugh  being  the  sixth  child  in  order  of 
birth.  Alexander  Marshall  was  a  'farmer  by  occu- 
pation, came  into  Henderson  Co.,  111.,  in  1838,  or 
1839,  and  there  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  in 
1869  or  1870  at  the  age  of  about  70  years. 

Hugh  Marshall  received  his  primary  and  literary 
training  at  the  common  schools  of  Illinois  and 
taught  therefrom  the  age  of  20  to  22  or  23.  In 
1848-9  he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  McMil- 
lan of  Henderson  ;  entered  Rush  Medical  College, 
Chicago,  in  1849,  and  graduated  in  1851.  He  be- 
gan practice  at  once  after  leaving  college  at  Cold- 
brook,  and  there  remained  until  1872  at  which  time 
he  removed  into  Monmouth.  Here  he  has  devoted 
his  time  to  his  profession,  and  with  such  success  as 
he  may  well  be  proud.  He  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  State  Medical  Society,  American  Medical 
Association,  Military  Tract  Society  and  Monmouth 
Medical  Club.  He  is  no  politician,  and  the  only  of- 
fices he  has  ever  held  in  the  county  has  been  a  term 
or  two  as  Collector  of  Coldbrook  Township,  and  one 
term  as  Coroner. 

He  was  married  at  Monmouth  some  time  in  1873 
to  Miss  Matilda  C.  Brewer,  native  of  Pennsylvania,^ 
and  daughter  of  the  late  John  T.  Brewer,  of  Mon- 
mouth. TJie  Doctor  is  a  member  of  no  Church. 
He  ranks  high  as  a  Mason,  and  votes  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  with  Christian  regularity. 


William  Randall,  a  member  of  the  reg- 
ular  school   of    medicine,    practicing    at 
Greenbush,    graduated    at   the   Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  at  the  head 
of  his  class,  March  9,  1858.     He  soon  after- 
|          ward   located   in    Greenbush,    this    county, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  good  practice  and  has  been 
very  successful.     The  Doctor  is  also  a  graduate   of 
surgery,  and  his  library  is  complete. 

Dr.  Randall  was  born  in  Dearbon  Co.,  Ind.,  ,25 
miles  from  Cincinnati,  in  the  town  of  Aurora,  May 
27,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  George  Randall,  born  in 
Kent  Co.,  England,  in  1796.  His  father  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  r82i,  and  located  near  New 
Haven,  Ind.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  followed  his  sacred  calling 
in  this  county  some  ten  years,  and  died  in  .1866.  He 
had  located  in  Indiana,  where  his  marriage  to  Miss 


602 


WARR&N  COUNTV. 


Rhoda  Eubank,  which  took  place  in  1826,  was 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  eight  children,  namely  :  John 
E.,  George  F.,  William,  Mary,  Thomas  E.  and  Rich- 
ard R.,  twins,  Rebecca  J.  and  Elizabeth  V.  Two 
are  deceased, — Mary  and  Richard.  The  wife  and 
mother  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  Eng.,  in  1806,  and 
died  in  Indiana  in  1859. 

Dr.  Randall,  of  this  sketch,  was  first  married  to 
Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of  F.  and  Adeline  Snapp, 
who  bore  him  two  children — George  S.  born  Dec.  27, 
1863,  and  Clyde  W.  Oct.  6,  1872.  The  Doctor  mar- 
ried Miss  Edwina  C.  Bond,  Feb.  28,  1879,  and  by 
this  union  there  is  one  child,  William  B.,  born 
April  3,  1882. 

In  politics,  the  Doctor  is  a  believer  in  the  princi- 
ples advocated  by  the  Democratic  party.  His  suc- 
cess as  a  practitioner  is  due  to  his  careful  diagnos- 
ing of  the  diseases  of  his  patients,  and  his  constant 
attention  to  his  cases. 

Dr.  Randall  is  a  gentleman  who  not  only  reflects 
honor  upon  his  profession,  but  is  a  credit  to  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lives.  His  large  and  extended 
experience,  his  deep  and  abiding  interest  in  his  pro- 
fession  and  the  general  welfare  of  the  community, 
make  him  both  a  valuable  physician  and  citizen.  He 
is  as  widely  known  and  as  highly  esteemed  as  any 
practitioner  in  the  county,  and  numbers  among  his 
patrons  and  friends  many  of  the  best  people  in  War- 
ren county.  As  both  a  representative  of  his  chosen 
profession  and  a  citizen  of  the  county,  the  publishers 
take  pleasure  in  placing  Dr.  Randall's  portrait  in  this 
ALBUM  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


ames  L.  Glasgow,  whose  accumulations 
during  the  years  of  the  past  have  enabled 
him  to  retire  from  the  active  labors  of  life, 
is  residing  upon  Section  28,  Monmouth  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Guernsey 
Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  24,  1843. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Glasgow,  Arthur  Glasgow,  was 
a  native  of  County  Antrim,  the  son  of  a  farmer,  of 
Irish  birth.  When  18  years  old,  Arthur's  parents 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  soon  after  land- 
ing at  an  Eastern  seaport,  located  in  Guernsey  Co., 


Ohio.  There  the  father  and  mother  both  died,  and 
there  Arthur,  father  of  the  gentleman  whose  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  notice,  is  at  present  resid- 
ing, with  his  wife,  he  having  purchased  the  old 
homestead  on  which  his  father  first  located  after 
coming  to  the  State.  Arthur,  before  the  death  of 
his  father,  was  married  to  Jane  Neal,  a  native  of 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children.  Jane  (Neal)  Glasgow,  the 
mother,  came  to  the  United  States,  with  her  parents, 
when  she  was  young,  locating  with  them  at  Wheel- 
ing, W.  Va.,  and  remaining  there  until  her  marriage. 
J.  L.  Glasgow,  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  notice,  remained  with  his  parents  on  the  par- 
ental homestead  in  Guernsey  County  until  October 
16,  1861,  when  the  call  for  brave  hearts  and  strong 
arms  to  battle  for  the  perpetuity  of  the  Union 
aroused  in  him  a  sense  of  duty,  and  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  H.  65th  Ohio  Vol.,  Inf.,  his  regiment  being  as- 
signed to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  under 
the  command  of  Gens.  Buell  and  Rosekranz.  It 
participated  in  the  second  days'  battle  of  Shiloh  and 
the  seven  days'  battle  at  Stone  river,  also  the  battle 
of  Murfreesboro,  and  Chicamauga.  On  the  second 
days'  fight  at  the  latter  place,  James  L.  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  after  passing  13  days  as  captive  of  the 
Confederates,  was  exchanged  and  on  account  of  dis- 
ability never  more  joined  his  regiment,  but  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  Camp  Denison,  Ohio,  Oct.  26, 


After  his  term  of  enlistment  had  expired,  he  re- 
turned home,  doffed  his  uniform,  cast  aside  the  ac- 
coutrements of  war  and  intended  to  enter  again 
upon  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  life,  but  his  indisposi- 
tion was  such  that  it  required  medical  attention,  and 
he  went  to  Madison,  Ind.,  where  for  six  months  he 
was  under  medical  treatment.  From  Madison,  he 
went  home,  and  from  there  to  Nebraska  where,  after 
remaining  for  a  time,  he  went  to  Eastern  Iowa,  and 
1 6  months  later  took  a  trip  over  Kansas  and  Mis- 
souri looking  for  land.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he 
started  across  the  plains  for  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
working  his  way  on  the  Union  Pacific  railroad  to 
Humboldt.  From  there  he  accompanied  another 
party  to  the  White  Pines  of  Nevada  Territory.  He 
passed  seven  years  in  that  Territory,  during  which 
time  he  was  engaged  in  mining,  meeting  with  fair 
success.  He  afterward  spent  one  year  in  the  Sierra 
Nevada  Mountains,  Cal.,  and  in  1877  returned  to 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


603 


this  county,  where  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Miss  Maggie  McAdam,  at  the  residence  of  the 
bride's  parents  near  Monmouth,  Jan.  i,  1877.  Mrs. 
Glasgow  was  born  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was 
educated  in  her  native  State.  Her  mother  died 
there  when  Maggie  was  an  infant,  and  her  father 
afterward  moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  died  at  West 
Point.  Mrs.  Glasgow  came  to  this  county  in  1867 
with  her  relatives,  and  graduated  from  Monmouth 
College  in  June,  1870.  She  has  borne  her  husband 
two  children— Robert  A.,  born  Sept.  i,  1879,  and 
Margaret  J.,  born  Jan.  23,  1884. 

After  the  marriage  Mr.  G.  returned  to  Nevada 
Territory  for  about  ten  months,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  settling  up  his  affairs.  In  1878  he  purchased 
80  acres  of  land  on  Section  i,  Hale  Town- 
ship. On  that  place,  he  with  his  young  bride,  lo- 
cated, and  there  resided  for  four  years,  when  they 
moved  to  Monmouth  Township  and  purchased  13 
acres  approximate  to  the  city  of  Monmouth,  on 
which  they  moved  and  are  at  present  residing.  They 
have  a  good  residence  on  their  Monmouth  Township 
property,  and  their  farm  of  80  acres  in  Hale  Town- 
ship is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  and 
has  good  improvements  upon  it.  They  are  both 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Monmouth,  of  which  denomination  Mr.  G.  is  one  of 
the  Trustees.  In  politics  he  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Prohibition  party,  and  a  strong  advocate  of  the  cause 
of  temperance.  Mr.  Glasgow  is  next  to  the  eldest 
in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  and 
what  is  remarkable  is,  that  not  a  death  has  occurred, 
and  to  them  20  grand-children  have  been  born. 


tavid  Turnbull,  of  the  firm  of  Blackburn 
&  Turnbull,  livery,  sale  and  feed  stables, 
undertakers  and  dealers  in  undertaking 
and  embalming  goods,  at  Monmouth,  was 
born  in  Greene  County,  Ohio,  Feb.  4,  1857. 
His  parents,  John  and  Margaret  J.  (Allen) 
Turnbull,  spent  their  lives  in  Greene  County,  the 
old  gentleman  dying  in  1880,  aged  So  years,  and  the 
old  lady  in  1881,  aged  63  years.  They  reared  three 


sons  and  four  daughters,  and  David  was  second  in 
order  of  birth. 

He  was  brought  up  to  farming  and  taught  in  the 
public  schools.  Abandoning  farming  in  1883,  he 
went  into  the  undertaking  business  at  Cedarville, 
Ohio,  and  came  to  Monmouth  a  year  later,  and  soon 
afterwards  formed  his  present  business  relations. 

Nov.  26,  1884,  he  was  married,  near  Xenia,  Ohio, 
to  Miss  Ada  Stevenson,  the  accomplished  daughter 
of  Col.  Robert  Stevenson,  Esq.,  of  Greene  County, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Turnbull  also 
belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is 
an  active  member  of  Capt.  Rankin's  Military  Com- 
pany. 


ev.  W.  T.  McConnell.  residing  at  Kirk- 
wood,  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa., 
April  13,  1847.  The  parents  of  Rev.  Mc- 
Connel  were  Lemuel  and  Jane  (Lawrence) 
McConnell,  natives  of  Washington  Co.,  Pa. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  in  that  State  and 
there  continued  to  follow  his  occupation  until  his 
death,  in  July,  1879.  His  mother  still  survives  and 
resides  with  her  son,  D.  S.  McConnell,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business. 

Rev.  W.  T.  McConnell,  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  biographical  notice,  remained  in  the 
parental  household  for  five  years  after  attaining  his 
majority.  He  obtained  a  rudimentary  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  at  the 
age  of  r6  years  supplemented  the  same  by  a  thor- 
ough course  of  study  at  the  Normal  School  at  Mills- 
borough,  Pa.,  and  followed  the  curriculum  of  that 
institution  for  one  year.  He  then  taught  school  for 
two  years,  and  in  1865  still  further  supplemented 
his  education  by  matriculating  at  the  Washington 
and  Jefferson  College  and  followed  the  curriculum  of 
that  institution  for  four  years,  after  which  he  at- 
tended the  New  Wilmington  College  one  year  and 
graduated  from  the  same  with  honors  in  1871.  After 
graduating  from  the  latter  institution,  the  Rev.  Mc- 
Connell attended  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Alle- 
gheny, and  graduated  from  the  same  in  1874.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach,  April  15,  1873,  by  the  United 


604 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Presbyterian  Church  at  Chartiers,  Pa.,  and  was  or- 
dained by  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
Beaver  Valley,  Nov.  18,  1873.  He  then  became 
Pastor  of  the  Churches  at  Mahoning  and  Poland,  the 
former  being  located  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter 
in  Ohio,  and  served  them  in  that  capacity  for  nine 
years,  after  which  he  was  Pastor  of  the  Mahoning 
Church  for  one  year. 

Since  March  i,  1884,  Rev.  McConnell  has  resided 
in  this  county,  living  at  Kirkwood.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  April  24,  1873,  to  Miss  Allie  Miller,  a 
resident  of  Cannonsburg,  Pa.,  and  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Annie  (Reed)  Miller,  natives  of  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Pa.  Of  their  union  four  children  have 
been  born — Lilliana  A.,  Agnes  G.,  Thomas  W.  A. 
and  Ralph  B.  In  politics  he  is  a  believer  in  and  a 
strong  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Prohibition 
party. 

r'         — s— —       s- 


>acob  W.  Brewer,  M.  D..  distinguished  33d 
degree  Mason,  Past  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  Oriental  Consistory  of  Chicago,  and 
a  prominent  physician  and  surgeon  at  Mon- 
mouth,  was  born  March  2,  1823,  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Pa.  His  parents,  Adam  and  Maria  (John- 
son) Brewer,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 
respectively  and  of  German  and  Irish  extraction, 
were  married  in  Franklin  County,  and  there  resided 
until  1836,  when  they  came  to  Fulton  County,  this 
State.  In  1851  they  removed  to  Knox  County  and 
spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  at  Knoxville,  the  elder 
Brewer  dying  in  1880,  aged  78  years;  and  his  widow 
two  years  later  aged  82  years. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  reared 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  educated  primar- 
ily at  the  common  schools,  and  at  Marshal!  College, 
Mercersburg,  Pa.  When  24  years  of  age,  he  began 
reading  medicine  at  Canton,  111.,  under  J.  R.  Walter, 
M.  D.,  and  after  devoting  himself  assiduously  to  the 
text  book  for  three  years,  entered  Ohio  Medical  Col- 
lege, Cincinnati,  and  in  1850  graduated  from  the 
same.  Knoxville  was  the  scene  of  his  earliest  strug- 
gles as  an  M.  D.,  and  here  he  made  reputation  and 
money  long  before  the  ten  years  that  he  staid  there 


had  passed.     While  at  Knoxville  he  was  Coroner  of 
Knox  County,  and  eight  years  Postmaster. 

Dr.  Brewer  came  to  Monmouth  in  1862,  and  has 
since  practiced  medicine  and  sold  drugs.  He  has 
been  in  the  City  Council  as  a  member;  has  served 
often  on  the  Board  of  Health,  and,  altogether,  has 
been  a  useful  member  of  society  and  a  citizen  that 
would  reflect  credit  even  upon  a  better  town  than 
Monmouth.  His  Masonic  career  began  when  he 
was  about  25  years  of  age.  At  Canton,  111.,  March 
20,  1847,  he  received  his  first  degree,  in  Morning 
Star  Lodge,  No.  30,  and  May  20  following,  the  third 
degree.  In  December  of  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  Senior  Warden  of  that  lodge,  and  in  1853-54 
held  the  office  of  Deputy  Grand  Secretary  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois.  On  Dec.  28,  1856,  he  re- 
ceived the  32d  degree  A.  A.  S.  Rite,  and  June  22,  187  i, 
was  created  Sovereign  Grand  Inspector  General  in 
33d  degree.  He  was  elected  Illustrious  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  Monmouth  Consistory,  No.  3,  in  1869, 
appointed  Second  Lieutenant  Commander,  Council 
of  Deliberation  for  Illinois,  June  22,  1871;  elected 
High  Priest,  Warren  Chapter,  No.  30,  Dec.  12,  1879; 
and  his  present  rank  is  the  highest  known  in  Ma- 
sonry. 

Dr.  Brewer  was  married  at  Knoxville,  111.,  Nov. 
10,  1852,  to  Miss  Roxalana  Hansford,  daughter  of  the 
late  Dr.  Charles  Hansford,  and  she  bore  him  one 
child,  Florence,  who  died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  32 
years,  being  at  the  time  of  her  demise  the  wife  of 
Cooper  Shoemaker,  of  Monmouth.  Mrs.  Dr.  Brewer 
died  in  1884,  aged  about  52  years.  She  was  born  in 
Knox  County. 


|ev.  J.  B.  McMichael,  A.  M.  D.  D.,  Presi- 
dent of  Monmouth  College,  was  born 
in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  July  22,  1833.  His 
parents  John  and  Margaret  (Burgess)  Mc- 
Michael, were  natives  of  Ireland,  and  the  first 
named  came  to  America  when  but  15  years 
of  age,  and  lived  in  Ohio  up  to  1848.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of 
his  life,  dying  in  Greenville,  Mercer  County,  in  1881. 
He  \vas  a  farmer  and  his  five  sons  were  brought  up 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


605 


in  that  vocation.  Hts  mother  was  brought  to  this 
country  in  infancy.  The  family  came  from  County 
Antrim,  Ireland,  the  father  being  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent. The  mother  died  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1844.  John  McMichael,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  thrice  married.  Eight  children  (five  sons  and 
three  daughters)  were  born  of  the  first  union.  These 
were  Andrew,  Charles,  Jackson  B.,  William,  John  D., 
Mary,  Eliza,  Jane  and  Maria.  Charles  and  William 
are  deceased.  Andrew  is  a  carriage  manufacturer 
at  Meadville,  Pa.  He  is  married  and  has  two 
daughters  living.  John  is  living  at  Topeka,  Kan., 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He  is 
also  married  and  has  one  son.  Mary  became  the 
wife  of  Capt.  Samuel  Isett,  of  Altoona.  He  is  now 
deceased.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  sons  and  one 
daughter  and  resides  at  that  place.  Eliza  J.  married 
William  Buchanan,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Kansas.  One 
child  is  the  result  of  this  marriage.  Maria  is  the 
wife  of  Mr.  DuMars,  of  Greenville,  Pa.  John  Mc- 

1  Michael's  wife,  the  mother  of  the  above  named  chil- 
dren, died  in    1844,  and  he   was  again   married   in 
1846,  Miss  Jannette  Calvin,  from  Mercer  Co.,  Pa., 
•"  becoming  his  wife.     She  became  the   mother  of  two 

I  children — Robert  C.  and  Elizabeth.  The  former 
married  a  Miss  Nelson,  of  Greenville,  Pa.,  who  has 
borne  him  four  children.  He  is  now  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Elizabeth  married  Dennis  Cole,  of  Kansas,  and 
they  have  four  children.  After  the  death  of  his  sec- 
ond wife,  which  occurred  in  1850,  Mr.  McMichael 
married  Miss  Sarah  Straight,  of  Georgetown,  Pa. 
This  union  occurred  about  1850,  and  the  widow  lives 
at  the  old  homestead. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  common 
schools  while  a  lad,  and  at  the  age  of  17  years  went 
to  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  and  spent  the  two  succeeding 
years  at  learning  a  trade  with  his  brother.  From  the 
age  of  20  to  22  he  was  at  Greenville  (Pa.)  Academy, 
and  from  there  went  to  Westminister  College,  in 
Lawrence  County,  that  State,  and  after  following  the 
entire  curriculum  of  that  institution,  graduated  there- 
from as  A.  B.  in  1859.  In  1862  he  graduated  from 
Xenia  (Ohio)  Theological  Seminary,  and  was  soon 
afterward  ordained  and  settled  in  Sugar  Creek,  near 
Xenia,  where  he  was  in  charge  of  a  congregation  for 
about  1 6  years.  During  the  last  five  years  he  also 
held  a  professorship  in  the  Xenia  Theological  Semin- 
ary. In  June,  1878,  he  was  elected  to  the  Presi- 
dency of  Monmouth  College,  and  on  the  5th  of  the 


following  September  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office,  which  position  he  holds  at  the  present 
time. 

Rev.  McMichael  was  married  at  Washington,  Pa., 
Oct.  16,  1862,  to  Miss  Mary  N.  Hanna,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Hanna,  D.  D.,  of  that  city.  Of  their 
union,  six  children  were  born,  named  as  follows : 
Thomas  Hanna,  John  Charles,  William  Jackson, 
Gracie,  James  Starr  Eckels,  and  George  Harold,  who 
died  in  1872,  age  14  months.  Thomas  and  Charles 
are  members  of  the  class  of  1886,  and  will  graduate 
on  the  i?th  of  June.  William  belongs  to  the  class  of 
1878;  Gracie  attends  the  public  schools  and  James 
is  the  baby. 

The  Doctor  is  not  only  a  thorough  scholar,  but  a 
man  of  rare  executive  ability.  The  growth  of  Mon- 
mouth College,  under  his  administration,  attests  his 
fitness  for  the  position  he  occupies.  (See  history  of 
Monmouth  College,  this  volume.) 


illiam  S.  Weir,  President  of  the  Weir  Plow 
Company,  Monmouth,  and  son  of  William 
S.  and  Frances  (Brown)  Weir,  natives  re- 
spectively of  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Kentucky,  and  of  Scotch  descent,  was  born 
at  Yellow  Springs,  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  July  2, 
1835.  His  father,  William  S.  Weir,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia  in  1804,  and  his  father,  Wil- 
liam Weir,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  left  home 
for  America  when  a  young  man.  He  landed  at  Phil- 
adelphia, where  he  married  and  died  about  the  time 
his  son,  William  S.,  was  ten  years  of  age.  There 
were  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  in 
the  family.  William  S.,  Sr.,  became  an  apprentice 
when  a  boy  to  learn  the  trade  of  wool-carding  and 
cloth  dressing.  After  20  years  of  age  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming.  He  married  Frances  Brown, 
and  they  had  a  family  of  five  children,  four  of  whom 
were  sons.  Of  this  number,  William  S.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  is  the  eldest.  The  next  are  James  B., 
Francis  M.,  John  B.  and  Pauline,  all  of  whom  are 
residents  of  Monmouth. 

The  family  come  to  Monmouth   in  1838.  and  the 
year  following  the  senior  Mr.  Weir  started   a  small 


f 


606 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


factory  near  Little  York  for  making  woolen  goods, 
and  carried  it  on  for  about  20  years. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  received  a 
limited  education  at  the  country  schools  of  Sumner 
Township,  but  being  compelled  to  shift  for  himself, 
from  the  time  he  was  1 1  years  of  age,  he  naturally 
had  but  small  time  to  devote  to  books.  He  followed 
farming  up  to  1863.  In  1862  he  patented  the"  Weir 
Two-Horse  Cultivator,"  an  implement  covering  all 
the  important  principles  employed  in  every  walking 
cultivator  manufactured  in  this  country  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  and  yet  not  all  protected  by  his  patent.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Weir  was  an  unedu- 
cated farmer,  necessarily  knowing  little  of  the  patent 
laws,  and  less  of  their  scope  in  application ;  he  there- 
fore had  to  rely  upon  his  attorneys  in  obtaining  let- 
ters pater.t  that  would  secure  him  his  rights.  Then, 
as  now,  the  business  of  the  patent  attorney  was  in 
securing  patents,  and  if  one  valuable  invention  em- 
bodied a  dozen  indispensable  principles  and  the  at- 
torney could  satisfy  the  applicant  or  hoodwink  him 
into  accepting  letters  protecting  but  one,  of  course 
eleven  remaining  features  would  be  left  open  for  so 
many  different  applications,  thereby  increasing  largely 
the  business  or  chances  of  business  for  the  attorney. 
This  may  not  state  just  the  experience  of  Mr.  Weir, 
but  it  fully  illustrates  the  practice  that  let  in  other 
manufacturers,  who  employed  important  features  of 
his  invention  that  should  have  been  protected  by  his 
patent  of  1862.  But,  "  men  live  and  learn,"  and  the 
proverb  is  eminently  verified  in  William  S.  Weir.  It 
has  been  many  years  since  the  duplicity  of  any  pat- 
ent attorney  has  operated  to  close  his  eyes  against 
the  salient  points  of  his  inventions.  With  $200  cap- 
ital, he  came  to  Monmouth  in  1863  and  had  made 
for  him,  under  contract,  120  cultivators  ;  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  500  were  made,  and  in  1865  he  erected 
a  small  shop,  from  which  he  turned  out  800.  The 
following  year,  with  increased  capacity,  he  put  upon 
the  market  1,200  cultivators,  and  in  the  winter  of 
1866-67  'lad  his  entire  establishment  destroyed  by 
fire. 

Rebuilding  his  shops  at  once,  Mr.  Weir  put  out 
2,000  implements  and  in  the  fall  of  1867  organized 
the  Wier  Plow  Company,  with  himself  as  President. 
(A  history  of  which  company  see  in  another  part  of 
of  this  volume.)  It  is  useless  for  the  biographer  to 
attempt  any  enlargement  upon  the  history  of  Mr. 
Weir.  That  he  began  life  a  very  poor  boy  and  un- 


der the  greatest  disadvantages,  is  readily  observed 
from  the  facts  already  disclosed ;  that  he  has  made 
his  life  a  success,  and  in  doing  so  accomplished 
more  for  the  established  welfare  of  Monmoulh  than 
any  other  man  in  Warren  County,  is  attested  by  his 
personal  history  and  by  the  hundreds  of  families  who 
are  daily  benefhted,  not  to  say  supported,  from  the 
gigantic  establishment  over  which  he  presides  and 
which  should  be  made  perpetual  as  a  monument  to 
his  memory.  Indeed,  the  history  of  Monmouth  it- 
self must  ever  be  pregnant  with  the  works  of  William 
S.  Weir.  Compare  the  man  who  does  great  work ; 
erects  immense  shops  ;  employs  hundreds  of  his  fel- 
low men  as  laborers  in  the  manufacture  of  useful  ar- 
ticles, which  he  sends  broadcast  throughout  the 
world,  returning  their  products  to  him  to  go  again 
and  again  into  the  wages  of  the  poor;  compare  such 
an  one  we  say,  with  the  miserable  miser,  who  hoards 
up  his  hundreds  of  thousands,  dispensing  only  upon 
the  guarantee  of  usury,  and  note  the  difference. 

Mr.  Weir  was  married  in  Hale  Township,  October,  *. 
1859,  to  Fidelia  J.  Boyd,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  I 
Ann  Boyd,  the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and  the  | 
latter  of  New  York.     Mrs.  Weir  died  Feb.  i,  1884,-^ 
leaving  four  children,  having  buried  five  in  infancy. 
The  living  are  Ella,  Jessie,  William  B.  and  Amy. 


eorge  Sickmon,  one  of  Warren  County's 
successful  farmers  and  stock  raisers,  re- 
siding on  section  33,  Monmouth  Township, 
a  native  of  New  York,  having  been  born  in 
Erie  County,  that  State,  Jan.  18,  1819.  He  is 
at  present  living  in  retirement,  passing  the 
sunset  of  his  life  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  competency, 
which  has  been  procured  through  his  own  indomi- 
table energy,  perseverance  and  good  judgment. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Sickmon,  Henry  Sickmon,  was 
a  native  of  Germany.  He  and  a  brother  Thomas 
were  the  progenitors  of  the  Sickmon  family  in  this 
country,  coming  here  and  locating  in  Erie  County, 
N.  Y.  The  father  was  married  there  to  Susan  Fran- 
cis, a  native  of  Cayauga  County.  After  a  residence 
there  of  some  years,  Henry  Sickmon  died  and  his 
wife  afterward  came  to  this  State,  and  resided  with 


WARREN  CotiNTY. 


607 


her  son  George,  for  14  years,  when  in  Nov.  1864,  she 
passed  to  the  land  of  the  hereafter,  aged  73  years. 

George  Sickmon,  whose  biography  we  write,  was 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  eight  sons  and  four  daughters ;  seven  of  the 
former,  and  one  of  the  latter  still  survives,  and  all 
are  married.  George  lived  at  home  attending  the 
common  schools  until  he  attained  the  age  of  n 
years,  when  he  set  out  to  do  for  himself  in  life.  He 
first  lived  with  a  farmer  in  Erie  County  for  eighteen 
months,  then  with  another  farmer  for  six  months  and 
then  went  to  live  with  Daniel  A.  Albert,  with  whom 
he  continued  to  reside  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
On  becoming  his  own  man,  Mr.  Sickmon  engaged  to 
work  by  the  month  on  a  farm,  which  occupation  he 
followed  for  one  year,  and  was  then  employed  by  a 
gentleman  who  was  dealing  in  oil,  and  remained 
with  him  one  year,  in  the  city  of  Buffalo.  He  after- 
ward went  back  to  Erie  County,  the  place  of  his  na- 
tivity, where  Sept.  i,  1842,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
'  riage  to  Miss  Sarah,  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
Abel  and  Sallie  (Green)  Green,  natives  of  York 
State,  where  they  both  died  when  Mrs.  Sickmon  was 
^  quite  young,  and  she  is  the  only  member  of  the  fam- 
ily, who  lived  to  attain  the  age  of  majority.  She  was 
born  in  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  20,  1824.  After 
the  death  of  her  parents,  she  lived  with  her  aunt 
until  her  marriaee.  Of  her  union  with  Mr.  S.  six 
children  have  been  born,  all  of  whom  are  living — 
Sallie  M.,  married  Felix  Regnier,  a  farmer  residing 
in  Monmouth  [Township;  Susan  became  the  wife  of 
William  P.  Norcross,  a  large  land  owner,  banker, 
stock  raiser  and  shipper,  residing  in  Nebraska  ;  Win- 
field  S.,  is  engaged  in  practicing  law  at  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  his  wife's  maiden  name  being  Alvareta  Main ; 
Ann  E.  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  J.  Frantz,  a  farmer  in 
.Nebraska;  and  Eliza  became  the  wife  of  John  KeU 
tering,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Nebraska ; 
Charles  is  also  a  farmer,  residing  in  this  township, 
and  his  wife's  maiden  name  was  Katie  Frantz. 

Two  years  after  marriage  Mr.  S.  with  his  bride 
came  West,  and  pitched  his  tent  on  a  new  and  un- 
cultivated 80  acre  tract  of  land,  which  is  now  the 
well  improved  farm  and  pleasant  homestead  on 
which  he  resides.  He  has  subsequently,  by  his  in- 
dustry and  perseverance,  increased  his  landed  inter- 
ests, until  he  at  present  has  400  acres  of  good  farm 
land  in  this  county,  and  in  addition  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  same,  he  is  devoting  a  goodly  portion  of 


his  time  to  dealing  in  stock,  having  sold  as  high  as 
$12,000  worth  annually.  His  residence  and  farm 
buildings  are  large  and  commodious  and  the  appear- 
ance of  his  farm  is  indicative  of  that  spirit  of  push 
and  perseverance  which  Mr.  S.  possesses  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held  the  position 
of  Supervisor  for  three  years  and  also  other  minor 
offices.  For  three  and  a  half  years,  Mr.  S.  resided 
in  the  city  of  Monmouth,  where  his  ability  was 
recognized,  and  he  was  elected  Street  Commissioner 
and  Alderman. 


amuel  Gibson,  retired  farmer  and  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Warren  County,  now  (1885) 
living  in  the  suburbs  west  of  Monmouth,  was 
born  in  Blount  Co.,  Tenn.,  Sept.  3,  1804,  and 
was  the  fifth  in  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  five 
daughters,  born  and  reared  to  men  and  women, 
by  Thomas  and  Martha  (Hogue)  Gibson,  natives  re- 
spectively of  the  states  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia. The  family,  except  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  had  preceded  them  about  one  year,  came  to  Il- 
linois from  Xenia,  Ohio,  where  they  had  resided 
about  25  years,  in  1831,  and  here  the  two  old  people 
spent  the  rest  of  their  lives. 

Samuel  Gibson  was  fairly  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  Ohio,  and  there  learned  something  of  the 
mechanic's  trade  under  his  father.  He  lived  in  Mon- 
mouth until  1835,  when  he  moved  to  his  farm  adja- 
cent to  the  south  line  of  the  town.  Here  he  has  lived 
a  full  half  century,  and  at  this  writing  is  in  the  en- 
joyment of  good  health,  walks  as  lithe  and  erect  as 
an  Indian,  and  bids  fair  to  join  his  numerous  friends 
at  the  celebration  of  many  another  anniversary.  He 
joined  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  when  he  was 
27  years  of  age,  and  his  life  therein  has  remained 
unbroken  and  consistent. 

August  3,  1826  Mr.  Gibson  was  married  in  Greene 
Co.,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Pierce,  a  native  of  Bour- 
bon Co.,  Ky.  She  died  in  February,  1858,  and  their 
seven  children  are  mentioned  here,  as  follows  :  Wil- 
liam, who  left  home  in  1853,  and  was  last  heard  from 


6o8 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


in  California,  in  1878  ;  Martha  H.,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Little;  Sarah  E.,  who  with  untiring  filial  de- 
votion, ministers  daily  to  the  wants  and  comforts  of 
her  aged  father;  Isabel,  wife  of  J.  B.  L.  Smith,  of 
Indiana;  Albert  G.,  died  in  October,  1882;  Mary 
Jane  (Mrs.  Martin)  died  in  1881,  and  Thomas  A. 
died  in  1862,  a  few  days  after  arriving  home  from  the 
Union  army. 

Thus  briefly  we  scan  the  events  of  a  life  coexist- 
ent almost  with  the  history  of  our  Nation,  and  as  we 
read  we  realize  at  once  what  constitutes  the  memo- 
rable matter  in  a  man's  life.  The  date  of  his  birth 
is  treasured;  the  ruddy  cheeks  and  rollicking  laugh- 
ter of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  as  in  their  cheerful 
childhood  they  gathered  about  the  great  log  fire  in 
the  old  chimney  place  of  the  long,  long  ago,  are  cher- 
ished and  not  forgotten  ;  the  father  and  mother  are 
remembered,  and  the  kind  old  faces  of  his  grandfa- 
ther and  grandmother  pass  vividly  in  view ;  the  old 
log  school  house  of  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago; 
the  dapper  little  teacher,  and  his  spelling  schools, 
later  on ;  the  ruby-lipped  and  bright-eyed  girl  who 
developed  first  into  a  sweetheart  and  next  into  a  wife  ; 
the  little  ones  that  came  and  entwined  themselves 
about  his  heart  to  be  torn  ruthlessly  away,  crushing 
for  a  time  his  every  ambition  in  life,  and  the  names  of 
the  living  and  the  dead  are  repeated.  These  events, 
representing  the  happiest  and  the  saddest  in  life  are 
ever  remembered  by  the  aged,  and  to  the  exclusion 
of -the  thousands  of  hardships  incident  to  pioneer 
times,  are  told  to  the  biographer  in  response  to  his 
inquiry  for  the  most  important  data  from  which  to 
write  a  sketch. 


,  . .._ 


Barnes    T.    Hartman,    Supervisor   of    Cold 
||   Brook  Township,  a  gentleman  of  more  than 
ordinary  business   ability  and  a  good  and 
successful  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  residing  on 
Section   12,  Cold  Brook  Township,  is  a  native 
of  Marion   Co.,   Indiana,  where  he   was   born 
April  21,  1835. 

John  Hartman,  the  father  of  James  T.,  was  born 
in  North  Carolina,  and  was  of  German  ancestry. 
He  was  married  in  his  native  state  to  Nancy  Marklin, 


a  native  of  that  state.  Of  their  union  nine  children 
were  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  the  family  then 
journeyed  to  Indiana  and  located  on  a  tract  of  land 
which  was  in  its  natural  condition. 

James  T.  Hartman  was  the  first  child  born  to  his 
parents  after  their  emigration  to  the  wilds  of  the 
Hoosier  State.  There  was  also  another  child 
born  to  the  parents,  in  Indiana,  making  their 
children  1 1  in  number,  six  sons  and  five  daughters, 
of  which  four  of  the  former  and  two  of  the  latter  sur- 
vive. Mr.  Hartman  was  only  eight  years  old  when 
his  father  died,  and  he  lived  with  his  mother  until  he 
had  nearly  attained  his  majority.  He  received  the 
advantages  of  the  district  schools  of  that  early  pe- 
riod, and  at  the  age  of  17  years  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  Mt.  Jackson,  near  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  under  a  Mr.  Forshee,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a 
blacksmith.  After  serving  a  term  of  four  years,  he 
came  to  Illinois  in  December,  1855,  settling  in  Buf- 
falo 'Prairie  Township,  Rock  Island  County.  At  the 
latter  place  he  remained,  working  at  his  trade  until  • 
1859,  when  he  emigrated  further  West  to  the  State 
of  California,  and  from  there  to  Idaho  Territory.  In 
the  latter  territory  he  began  mining  in  the  Bitter  Root . 
Mountains,  and  continued  there  for  some  time,  from 
whence  he  passed  on  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  where 
he  resumed  mining,  and  continued  for  three  years  . 
longer.  He  then  retraced  his  steps  to  Warren  County, 
purchased  80  acres  of  land  on  his  present  site,  and 
began  its  improvement  and  cultivation. 

The  marriage  of  James  T.  Hartman  and  Miss  Hen- 
rietta Freeman  was  celebrated  in  Knox  County,  Nov. 
27,  1862.  The  lady  of  his  choice  was  a  daughter  of 
F.  Leroy  and  Margaret  (Brown)  Freeman,  natives  of 
Virginia  and  Kentucky  respectively,  both  from  old 
families  of  those  states.  They  were  married  in  Illi- 
nois, where  they  both  came  in  early  life,  settling  with 
their  parents  in  Knox  County  early  in  its  history,  and 
were  there  during  the  Black  Hawk  War.  The  pa- 
rents were  farmers  and  died  in  Henderson  Township, 
where  they  had  lived  since  marriage.  Mrs.  Hart- 
man, of  this  notice,  was  born  in  Henderson  Town- 
ship, Knox  County,  Oct.  27,  1841.  Her  education 
was  commenced  in  the  public  schools  but  finished  at 
college.  Sl\e  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage, 
and  of  her  union  with  Mr.  Hartman  has  been  born 
three  children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased.  Minnie  is 
the  wife  of  Clark  Robinson,  and  they  reside  in  Co- 
manche  Co.,  Kan.,  her  husband  being  engaged  in 


.jySfk'r-^ 

•i***^ 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


613 


farming;  Ettie  I.  died  in  infancy,  and  Lillie  G.  is  at- 
tending college  at  Galesburg. 

Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartman  have 
resided  on  their  present  homestead,  and  have  made 
remarkable  changes  and  improvements,  until  now 
their  farm  is  considered  an  excellent  one  in  every 
respect. 

Mr.  Hartman  has  served  his  township  as  Collector 
for  four  years  ;  Supervisor  for  the  past  12  years,  and 
in  politics  is  a  first-class  Democrat. 


illiam   Hanna,  one   of  the   most   widely 
known  and  enterprising  business  men  of 
Illinois,  and  whose  portrait  we  present  on 
the  opposite  page,  is  a  resident  of  Monmouth. 
A  view  of  his  elegant  home,  which  is  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  county,  is   also  presented  in 
this  volume.       He  was   born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind., 
June  19,  1827,  and  comes  of  Scotch-Irish  stock  on 
T  the  paternal  side.     His  father,  John  Hanna,  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina  and  married  Miss  Sarah 
I  Crawford,  a  Virginia  lady.  In  1835  Mr.  John  Hanna 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  12  miles  northwest  of 
Monmouth,  in  Warren  County. 

Here  on  the  farm  young  Hanna  was  reared  and  re- 
ceived such  education  as  the  subscription  schools  of 
the  neighborhood  afforded.  In  1849,  upon  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  California  gold  fever,  in  company  with 
others,  he  drove  an  ox  team  across  the  plains  to  the 
land  of  gold.  He  was  successful  there  to  the  extent 
of  gathering  a  few  thousand  dollars.  He  returned 
home  in  1851,  bought  a  farm  in  Henderson  County 
and  engaged  in  agriculture  until  1867.  That  year  he 
came  to  Monmouth,  and,  in  company  with  Messrs. 
W.  S.  Weir  and  Dr.  W.  B.  Boyd,  formed  a  joint 
stock  company  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
farm  implements.  The  capital  stock  of  the  company 
was  $25,000.  Under  the  skillful  and  efficient  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Hanna  the  business  of  the  company 
increased  very  rapidly.  In  fact,  at  the  end  of  14 
years  the  capital  stock  had  increased  to  the  enor- 
mous amount  of  $1,000,000,  after  paying  $163,00*0  of 
dividends. 

Immediately  after  the  company  was  organized  and 


its  factory  in  operation,  Mr.  Hanna  "  took  the  road  " 
and  the  following  seven  years  traveled  in  the  inter- 
ests of  the  company,  introducing  its  implements  and 
establishing  agencies.  It  was  through  his  persistent 
and  indefatigable  efforts  that  the  foundation  and 
subsequent  success  of  the  Weir  Plow  Company  was 
securely  laid.  In  short,  his  energy  and  business 
ability  built  up  and  made  a  great  institution  of  this 
now  world-wide  known  company. 

Mr.  Hanna,  in  addition  to  his  vast  interests  as 
above  stated,  has  found  time  to  engage  in  various 
enterprises,  which  in  the  main  have  for  their  object 
the  increase  of  the  material  wealth  and  prosperity  of 
Monmouth  and  vicinity.  He  is  President  of  the 
Monmouth  Mining  and  Manufacturing  Company, 
which  makes  sewer  pipe,  drain  tile,  fire  brick,  etc. 
The  company  employs  a  large  number  of  men  and 
manufactures  over  100  car-loads  of  its  products  a 
month,  and  arrangements  are  being  perfected  to  in- 
ciease  its  capacity  to  150  car-loads  per  month. 

Mr.  Hanna  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the 
Monmouth  National  Bank,  which  was  established 
in  1871,  and  for  ten  years  (1874  to  1884)  served 
it  in  the  capacity  of  President.  He  was  one  of  the  " 
original  incorporators  of  the  Keithsburgh  Bridge 
Company,  and  still  continues  as  one  of  its  directors. 
He  was  President  and  Treasurer  of  the  Burlington, 
Monmouth  &  Illinois  River  and  the  Peoria  &  Farm- 
ington  Railway  Companies  during  the  construction 
of  these  roads  and  until  their  consolidation  with  the 
Central  Iowa.  Without  his  wealth,  energy,  judgment 
and  perseverance  that  railway  would  never  have 
been  constructed.  He  is  a  Director  of  the  Iowa 
Central  RailwayCompany  at  present.  He  is  aTrustee 
of  the  Warren  County  Library  and  also  of  the  Lom- 
bard University,  located  at  Galesburg,  and  is  deeply 
interested  in  any  and  every  public  enterprise  calcu- 
lated to  benefit  the  people. 

In  1851  Mr.  Hanna  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  James  Findley,  who  settled  in 
Warren  County  as  early  as  1832.  Three  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  two  of  whom  are  living,  J. 
Ross,  a  sketch  of  whom  may  be  found  on  another 
page  of  this  volume,  and  Mary  J.  E. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hanna  has  steadily  voted  the 
Democratic  ticket  and  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  sav- 
ing grace  of  that  political  organization.  He  has 
twice  been  honored  with  an  election  as  the  Mayor  ot 


'• 


614 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


the  city  of  Monmouth,  and  during  his  terms  of  office 
brought  to  bear  in  the  municipal  affairs  of  the  city 
his  characteristic  energy  and  excellent  judgment. 

Thus  we  have  a  brief  outline  of  the  life  of  one  of 
the  most  valuable  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Warren  County.  He  started  in  life  poor  and  un- 
aided, but  by  the  sheer  force  of  his  own  indomitable 
energy  and  the  exercise  of  good,  common,  business 
sense,  he  has  succeeded  in  carving  out  for  himself  a 
comfortable  competency,  and  at  the  same  time  has 
maintained  his  reputation  as  an  honorable,  consci- 
entious gentleman 


ev.  Anson  Tucker,  was  born  in  New  York 
State,  June  8,  1811.  He  graduated  from 
Haddington  College,  and  was  ordained, 
in  1835,  a  minister  in  the  Baptist  Church.  He 
was  pastor  at  Sardinia  and  Lockport,  N.  Y., 
Norwalk,  O.,  Adrian,  Mich.,  Lafayette,  Ind.. 
Dixon  and  Monmouth,  111.  He  died  at  the  latter  place, 
Apr.  23,  i858,aged47.  Though  compartively  a  young 
man,  he  had  attained  considerable  prominence  in  his 
denomination.  He  had  an  unusually  refined  and 
sensitive  nature,  and  was  strict  in  his  ideas  of  right 
and  wrong.  Beloved  by  his  people  wherever  he 
preached,  his  life  was  one  of  great  usefulness.  He 
was  of  a  family  of  ministers,  his  father  and  four 
brothers  all  being  Baptist  clergymen,  and  what  is 
very  unusual,  all  preaching  at  the  same  time.  He 
had  one  other  brother.a  gifted  lawyer.who  was  study- 
ing for  the  ministry,  when  he  suddenly  died. 

Mr.  Tucker  was  a  man  of  cultivated  literary 
tastes,  and  an  earnest  and  eloquent  speaker.  His 
friendships  were  deep  and  strong,  and  as  a  husband 
and  father  his  affections  were  tender  and  devoted. 
His  ancestors  came  from  England  and  settled  in 
Virginia  in  the  Colonial  times,  where  many  still  re- 
main, Judge  Tucker,  of  Richmond,  and  John  Ran- 
dolph Tucker  being  of  the  family.  Part  of  the  fam- 
ily had  gone  North,  and  of  that  branch  was  Rev. 
Anson  Tucker. 

He  was  married  to  Caroline  Rogers  in  1836.  They 
had  seven  children,  six  girls  and  one  boy,  who  died 


in  infancy:  Eliza,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  A. 
S.  Humphries,  of  Columbus,  Miss. ;  Erenah  married 
T.  W.  Raymond,  of  London,  England;  Caroline 
married  Guy  Stapp,  of  Monmouth;  Jeannette  married 
D.  P.  Phelps,  of  Monmouth;  Emma  resides  in  Mon- 
mouth, and  Frances  is  a  resident  of  Columbus, 
Miss. 

Caroline  Rogers  was  born  in  New  York  State.  She 
was  daughter  of  Rev.  James  and  Marcy(Champlain) 
Rogers.  Rev.  James  Rogers  was  the  son  of  Hon. 
Thomas  Rogers,  one  of  the  three  contemporary 
Judges  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Marcy  Cham- 
plain  was  the  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Elizabeth 
(Perry)  Champlain.  The  Perrys  came  from  England. 
Elizabeth  Perry  was  the  daughter  of  Freeman  Perry, 
who  was  Supreme  Judge  of  Rhode  Island  44  years. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Hazard.  Their  children  were 
Joshua,  Oliver  Hazard,  Raymond,  Elizabeth,  Mary 
and  Susan.  Joshua  was  a  physician;  Raymond  was 
a  sea  Captain  and  Commodore  in  the  Navy,  and  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  United  States  Navy,  and  for 
several  months  he  was  a  prisoner  on  board  thedreadj 
ful  Jersey  prison  ships.  After  his  discharge  he  was  ona 
of  the  Lieutenants  of  theTrumbull  during  heractiof* 
with  the  Watt,  one  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  irj 
our  War  of  Independence.  He  had  five  sons;  thtj 
eldest,  Commodore  Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  gained  th« 
battle  on  Lake  Erie,  and  along  with  him  in  that  en- 
gagement was  his  little  brother,  Alexander,  a  boy  of 
10  years,  serving  as  midshipman  and  aide.  The  lit- 
tle fellow  received  a  ball  through  the  cap,  and  was 
subsequently  voted  the  thanks  of  Congress  and  a 
sword  of  honor,  being  probably  the  youngest  recip- 
ient ever  known  of  such  national  acknowledgment. 
Another  of  the  five  brothers  was  Commodore  M.  C. 
Perry,  who  crowned  a  long  life  of  glory  by  opening 
the  ports  of  Japan  to  American  commerce,  while 
two  more  brothers  were  commanders  under  Commo- 
dore McDonough  in  the  battle  on  Lake  Champlain. 
Another  ancestor,  Commodore  Stephen  Champlain, 
was  born  Nov.  17,  1789,  at  South  Kingston,  R.  I. 
At  the  age  of  23  he  was  in  command  of  the  brig 
"Dore."  He  became  one  of  the  most  active  and 
useful  officers  in  the  United  States  Navy.  It  is  a. 
well  authenticated  fact  that  he  fired  the  first  and  last 
gun  in  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie.  He  was  then  in 
command  of  the  "Scorpion,"  and  with  that  vessel 
overhauled  the  brttish  ship  "Little  Belt,"  and  cap- 
tured her  as  she  was  endeavoring  to  run  away  from 


>       9- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


the  fight.  He  died  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  20,  1870. 
Rev.  Anson  Tucker  was  married  a  second  time  in 
1854,  to  Miss  Luana  Macomber,  of  New  York  State. 
They  had  two  sons,  Howard,  who  was  three  years 
old,  and  George  15  months,  when  they  both  died, 
within  two  weeks  of  each  other,  and  only  a  few  weeks 
before  their  father,  in  the  spring  of  1858,  at  Mon- 
mouth,  111. 


eyton  Roberts,  General  Insurance  and 
Land  Agent,  at  Monmouth,  111.,  was  born 
at  Fountain  Green,  Hancock  Co.,  111.,  Jan. 
2ist,  1839.  His  great  grandfather,  James 
Roberts,  was- from  Switzerland,  and  settled  in 
Wythe  Co.,  Va.,  in  1775,  where  his  grandfather, 
bhn  Roberts,  was  born,  in  1781.  His  father,  James 
.  Roberts,  was  born  in  Campbell  Co.,  Tenn.,  Aug. 
8th,  1807.  His  mother,  Sally  M.,  (Cox)  Roberts, 
as  also  descended  from  the  Swiss.  Her  great 
grandfather,  Friend  Cox,  settled  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1712.  Her  grandfather,  John  Cox,  and  her  father, 
(Benjamin  Cox,  lived  at  McKeesport,  Pa.,  where  she 
was  born  Dec.  22d,  1807. 

The  parents  of  Peyton  were  married  at  Hudson- 
ville,  Breckenridge  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  joth,  1830.  They 
moved  to  Fountain  Green,  Hancock  Co.,  111.  in  June, 
1837,  where  the  father  now  (1885)  lives,  at  the  age 
of  78.  The  mother  died  at  this  place  June  24th, 
1846. 

Peyton  Roberts  was  educated  at  Hedding  College, 
Abingdon,  111.  He  entered  the  Insurance  business 
at  the  same  place  in  1863,  and  on  January  4th,  1864, 
transferred  his  headquarters  to  Monmouth,  where 
he  has  since  stood  at  the  very  head  of  the  Fire  In- 
surance Underwriters  of  the  County,  representing 
at  all  times  the  best  companies  in  the  world,  and  ju- 
diciously writing  his  policies  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
preclude  the  possibility  of  misconception ;  avoiding 
all  ambiguities,  and  thereby  placing  the  policy  pur- 
chaser solidly  upon  the  ground  of  the  assured.  If  this 
information,  thrown  into  this  sketch  without  the 
knowledge  or  consent  of  Mr.  Roberts,  but  none  the 
less  based  upon  facts,  should  prove  incomprehens- 
ible to  some,  the  writer  knows  to  all  such  as  may 


be  unfortunate  enough  as  to  sustain  loss  by  fire  and 
find  an  improperly  written  policy  in  their  possession, 
there  will  be  no  longer  any  mystery. 

Mr.  Roberts  is  a  Director  in  the  Monmouth  Min- 
ing and  Manufacturing  Co.;  a  Director  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Biggsville,  111.;  is  connected  with 
the  Second  National  Bank  of  Monmouth,  111.;  is  Sec- 
retary of  Trinity  Lodge,  No.  561,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
Member  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee. 

Mr.  Roberts  was  united  in  marriage  at  Bushnell, 
111.,  May  8th,  1866,  with  Miss  Lizzie  K.  Cox,  of  Hud- 
sonville,  Ky.  They  have  two  children  living,  Emma 
and  Corinne;  one,  Lizzie  Lena,  having  died  when 
three  months  old.  Mrs.  Roberts  is  a  descendant  of 
the  Lendrum  family,  of  Virginia,  and  the  daughter 
of  Ralph  and  Emily  A.  Cox,  of  Vine  Grove,  Ky. 


ohn  W.  Lusk,  of  the  firm  of  Lusk  Bros., 
^  leading  grocers  of  Monmouth,  is  justly  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  enterprising  business 
men  of  that  city.  His  father,  Wilson  Lusk, 
was  an  early  resident  of  Monmouth,  locating 
here  as  early  as  1848.  On  the  2rstof  January 
of  the  following  year,  John  W.  was  born.  He  was 
one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two 
daughters,  born  to  his  parents,  Wilson  and  Mary 
Jane  (McCoy)  Lusk.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
at  Monmouth,  and  early  in  life  began  to  learn  the 
printer's  trade,  at  which  he  became  very  profi- 
cient. 

In  the  spring  of  1864,  when  yet  a  mere  lad,  he 
enrolled  in  the  service  of  his  country  as  a  drummer, 
in  Co.  A,  r38th  111.  Inf.  He  served  until  the  follow- 
ing fall,  when  the  term  of  his  enlistment  expired.  Im- 
mediately upon  being  mustered  out  of  the  i38th,  he 
entered  Co.  H,  471)1  111.  Inf.,  as  a  private,  and  serv- 
ed up  to  the  winter  of  1865-6,  when  he  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Salem,  Ala.  He  did  valiant  and  faithful 
service,  and  from  the  commencement  to  the  close  of 
his  enlistment  he  never  missed  a  day  from  his  regi- 
ment, and  the  47th,  being  a  part  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  it  was  in  ac- 
tive duty  continually. 

Upon  the  expiration  of  Ms  term  of  enlistment  in 


6i6 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


the  army,  Mr.  Lusk  returned  to  his  home  in  Mon- 
mouth,  and  for  a  while  worked  in  the  Review  office. 
Subsequently  he  went  to  Macomb,  this  State,  where 
he  was  engaged  on  the  newspapers  of  that  city  for 
a  time.  In  1869,  we  find  him  at  Beardstown,  in  the 
capacity  of  foreman  of  the  lllinoisan,  a  position  he 
acceptably  filled  for  about  two  years.  He  then  form- 
ed a  partnership  with  H.  A.  Wilkinson,  and  started 
the  Beardstown  Herald,  a  Democratic  weekly  paper. 
At  the  expiration  of  about  a  year,  Mr.  Lusk  sold  out 
his  interest  in  the  Herald,  and  returned  to  Macomb 
and  after  spending  a  few  years  as  a  book-keeper  in  a 
grocery  house,  in  1879  he  bought  his  employer  out. 
In  1 88 1  he  sold  out  his  business  at  Macomb  and 
came  to  Monmouth,and  at  once  embarked  in  his  pres- 
ent enterprise,  since  which  time,  in  connection  with 
his  partners,  the  firm  of  Lusk  Bros,  have  taken  front 
rank  among  the  leading  business  houses  of  Mon- 
mouth. 

Upon  the  30th  of  January,  1871,  at  Macomb,  111., 
r  Mr.  Lusk  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Kate 
I  Shumate,  daughter  of  a  well  known  citizen  of  that  city. 
J  She  is  a  native  of  Garrard  Co.,  Ky.,  and  has  become 
•  the  mother  of  two  children,  Birdie  and  Claude. 

1  Politically,  Mr.  Lusk  is  a  Democrat,  and  socially 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O. 
U.  W. 


-esse  Walton  Bond,  an  energetic  and  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Lenox  Township,  residing 
upon  section  19,  is  a  son  of  John  C.  and 
Polly  (Grimsley)  Bond.  A  biography  of  the 
former  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The 
Bonds  came  from  Ireland  with  Lord  Baltimore 
and  settled  in  Maryland,  in  1632,  and  from  there 
were  scattered  throughout  the  South.  Jesse  W.  Bond, 
the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina,  in  1777.  When  a  small  boy, 
his  father's  family  removed  to  Kentucky,  in  which 
State  his  father  was  killed  by  Indians,  leaving  three 
children — Jesse  W.,  Lucy  and  Nathan. 

In  1798,  Jesse  W.  Bond,  the  eldest  of  the  children, 
was  married  in  Overton  Co.,  Tenn.,  to  Miss  Susan- 
nah Crane.  She  was  born  in  Georgia,  in  IJTJ,  and 


of  their  union  seven  children  were  born — John  Crane 
Bond,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice;  Ben- 
jamin, Joel,  Ruby,  William  B.,  Jesse  W.  and  Nathan, 
only  two  of  whom  are  living,  Nathan  Bond,  of  Al- 
bany, Oregon,  and  Mrs.  Ruby  Looiiey,  of  Salem, 
Oregon. 

Jesse  W.  Bond,  the  grandfather,  removed  to  Jack- 
son Co.,  Ala.,  in  1819.  From  there  he  went  to  Mor- 
gan Co.,  111.,  and  in  1830,  came  to  this  county,  and 
here  resided  until  his  death,  in  1842,  the  demise  of 
his  wife  occurring  in  1858.  The  grandparents  are 
both  buried  on  the  old  homestead,  in  the  family 
burial  ground,  Greenbush  Township,  where  six  gen- 
erations of  Bonds  are  resting.  The  homestead  at  his 
death  passed  into  the  hands  of  Maj.  John  Crane 
Bond,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  whose 
biography  we  give,  and  when  he  died  he  left  it  to  his 
grandson,  John  Crane  Bond,  Jr.,  eldest  son  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

Jesse  Walton  Bond  was  born  in  Jackson  Co., 
Ala.,  Sept.  7,  1825.  When  he  was  a  year  old,  his 
parents  moved  to  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  and  he  was  nine 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  county.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
common  schools,  and  he  continued  to  reside  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage.  '  He  lived  in  Greenbush 
Township  until  1850,  when  he  crossed  the  plains  to 
California  in  search  of  gold,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  meeting  with  partial  success,  when  he  returned 
for  his  family  and  soon  afterward  went  back  to 
California.  The  following  year,  1853,  his  wife  died, 
and  Jesse  W.  once  more  returned  to  this  county,  but' 
only  remained  a  short  time,  when  he  went  back  to 
California,  the  third  time  crossing  the  plains.  He  re- 
mained in  the  latter  State  until  r86z,  when  he  re- 
turned to  this  county  and  i\vo  years  later  removed  to 
Iowa,  and  was  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1869.  During  that  year,  he  again  came 
back  to  this  county,  and  took  charge  of  the  Warren 
County  Poor  Farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  March, 
1885.  Not  desiring  a  reappointment,  he  removed  to 
his  farm  in  Lenox  Township,  where  he  at  present  re- 
sides. He  is  the  owner  of  320  acres  of  land 
in  Lenox  Township,  all  of  which  is  under  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Bond,  of  this  sketch,  was  first  married  in  Swan 
Creek  Township,  this  county,  Feb.  12,  1848,  to  Sarah 
E.  Terry,  who  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  111.  She 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


6,7 


was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Nancy  G.  (Stice) 
Terry,  and  bore  him  three  children— Edwina,  Ellen 
S.  and  John  C.  Edwina  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Randall, 
of  Greenbush  Township.  Ellen  S.  married  Benja- 
min F.  Reed,  who  resides  in  Swan  Township.  John 
C.  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Greenbush  Township. 
Mrs.  Bond  died  in  Sacramento  Co.,  Cal.,  Jan.  28, 
1854,  and  Mr.  Bond  was  again  married  in  Green- 
bush  Township,  Oct.  25,  1863,  to  Anna  C.  Harrah, 
daughter  of  John  N.  and  Helen  (Wharton)  Harrah. 
Her  parents  came  to  Warren  County  about  1860, 
and  settled  in  Greenbush  Township,  where  they 
lived  until  about  1878,  when  they  moved  to  Sedalia, 
Mo.  Mrs.  Bond  was  born  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio, 
Feb.  25,  1835,  and  has  borne  her  husband  three  chil- 
dren— Sara  Helen,  Jesse  Walton,  Jr.,  and  Anna  J., 
who  resides  at  home.  Mr.  Bond  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Order,  and  in  politics,  is  a  supporter  of  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Democratic  party.  His 
father  and  grandfather  were  likewise  members  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

The  Bonds  are  related  directly  to  Gov.  Walton,  of 
Georgia,  who  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  and  also  to  Shadrach  Bond, 
the  first  Governor  of  Illinois. 


j.apt.  John  M.  Turnbull,  Postmaster  at 
Monmouth,  this  State,  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Nancy  (Mitchell)  Turnbull,  natives  of 
Green  Co.,  Ohio,  and  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  respec- 
tively, and  bearing  through  their  veins  the 
blood  of  various  Celtic  races,  with  an  odd 
mixture  of  the  Scandinavian,  was  born  in  Ohio, 
July  23,  1833.  His  parents  were  married  in  Xenia, 
Ohio,  in  1831  ;  came  to  Illinois  in  1833,  and  settled 
upon  a  tract  of  land  purchased  the  year  before  by 
Mr.  TurnbuH's  father,  the  land  being  now  occupied 
by  A.  W.  Spicer,  and  lying  about  one  mile  northwest 
from  Monmouth.  At  the  end  of  the  following  year 
they  removed  into  Hale  Township,  six  miles  north- 
west from  Monmouth,  at  a  place  afterwards  known 
as  "TurnbuH's  Point."  Here  for  many  years  his 
house  formed  a  kind  of  relay  for  emigrants  and  pi- 
oneers, passing  and  repassing  between  the  great  river 


and  interior  points.  In  1850,  he  removed  to  the 
vicinity  of  Sugar  Tree  Grove,  and  there  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life,  dying,  however,  at  the  home  of  his  son, 
in  Monmouth,  in  187 1,  aged  about  63  years.  His  wife 
had  died  a  few  years  before,  it  is  believed  in  1866, 
aged  about  62  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  12 
children,  only  eight  of  whom — John  M.,  Ann  E., 
Sarah  I.,  Mary  A.,  William  W.,  David  A.,  Thomas 
B.  and  Nannie  J.,  grew  to  the  estate  of  men  and 
women.  Three  of  his  sons,  John  M.,  William  W. 
and  David  A.  were  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
late  war,  and  he  for  two  years,  1863-4,  held  the  po- 
sition of  Deputy  United  States  Marshal.  Mr.  Turn- 
bull  was  all  his  life  an  active  citizen,  a  zealous  work- 
er, both  in  Church  and  State,  and  while  no  office 
seeker,  held  almost  continuously  some  useful,  al- 
though unprofitable  office.  He  served  two  terms  as 
Sheriff  of  Warren  County ;  was  several  years  Chair- 
man of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  altogether  was 
one  of  the  most  useful  men  in  the  community. 

Capt.  John  M.  Turnbull,  whose  name  heads  this 
biographical  sketch,  was  brought  up  to  farming,  and 
was  about  28  years  of  age  when  he  abandoned  it. 
His  education  was  the  best  to  be  had  at  the  common  ** 
schools.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  farming. 
In  August,  1861,  he  enrolled  at  Kirkwood,  this 
county,  in  Co.  C,  36th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  as  Second  Lieu- 
tenant; was  promoted  the  following  spring  at  Mur- 
freesboro  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant,  and  served 
until  May  24,  1864.  In  February  or  March  of 
1863,  he  was  detailed  for  staff  duty,  and  was 
in  that  position  as  long  as  he  was  in  the  service.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Perryville, 
Stone  River,  Chicamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  in 
Sherman's  Atlanta  Campaign,  and  near  Dallas  on  the 
night  of  May  24,  1864,  while  acting  as  Brigade  In- 
spector, and  in  preparing  to  relieve  Gen.  Hooker's 
command,  received  a  gun  shot  wound  in  the  left 
knee  which  cost  him  the  loss  of  that  limb. 

His  regiment  formed  a  part  of  the  First  Brigade 
Second  Division,  Fourth  Army  Corps, commanded  by 
Gen.  Sheridan,  serving  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  T.  F. 
Sherman  and  W.  H.  Lytle,  and  last  on  Gen.  Nathan 
Kimball's  staff,  and  was  staff  officer  at  the  time  he 
was  wounded. 

He  returned  to  Warren  County,  and  in  January, 
1865,  removed  into  Monmouth  ;  his  name  was  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Lincoln  for  Postmaster  at  this  place, 


6i8 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


but  the  President's  death  occurring  in  the  meantime, 
his  commission  was  signed  by  Andrew  Johnson,  and 
he  took  charge  of  the  office  in  May,  1865.  In  the 
fall  of  1866  Johnson  removed  him  and  appointed 
Dr.  Griffith  as  his  successor,  but  the  Senate  refused 
confirmation  of  the  action,  and  Capt.  Turnbull  was, 
at  the  end  of  six  months,  reinstated.  His  last  com- 
mission will  end  January  16,  1887. 

He  was  married  at  Washington,  Iowa,  Nov.  7, 
1854,  to  Anna  P.  Orr,  native  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and 
their  six  children  are  mentioned  as  follows  :  Ralph, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Mary,  Emma,  Clara  O., 
Nannie  A.,  Jennie  R.,  and  an  infant  deceased. 
The  four  daughters  were  all  educated  at  Monmouth 
College. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  U.  P.  Church. 


oseph  W.  Adcock,  an  agriculturist  of 
Kelly  Township,  is  of  ancestry  and  ante- 
cedents of  Southern  origin.  Edmund  Ad- 
cock,  his  .father,  was  a  pioneer  of  Warren 
County  of  1833.  The  latter  was  born  Nov. 
23,  1800,  in  Buckingham  Co.,  Va.,  and  was  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Cason)  Adcock.  His  par- 
ents were  both  members  of  families  of  Virginia  origin 
and  he  was  reared  to  the  age  of  manhood  in  his 
native  county  and  in  Kanawha  County,  whither  his 
parents  removed  when  he  was  in  his  youth.  In  the 
county  last  named  he  was  married  to  Cynthia  Chris- 
tian. She  was  a  native  of  Kanawha  County,  and 
her  father,  Robert  Christian,  had  a  record  as  a  brave 
soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The  marriage 
referred  to  took  place  March  13,  1823.  The  newly 
married  people  settled  in  the  same  county  and  were 
there  resident  until  1828.  In  that  year  they  removed 
to  Indiana  and  located  in  Crawford  County,  where 
they  remained  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1830  they 
set  out  for  Illinois.  The  family  then  included  the 
father,  mother  and  three  children.  A  neighbor  of 
theirs  in  Indiana  had  made  a  prospecting  tour  to 
Knox  County,  and  on  his  return  the  Adcock  family 
resolved  to  come  to  Illinois  with  him.  He  had  a 


team  and  they  made  the  trip  together.  It  was  fall 
when  they  arrived,  and  Mr.  Adcock  secured  a  claim 
on  section  3  in  what  is  now  Henderson  Township, 
Knox  County.  He  obtained  an  entire  quarter-sec- 
tion and  built  a  house  for  the  temporary  accommo- 
dation of  his  family.  It  was  the  most  primitive  kind 
of  a  structure  and  covered  with  clapboards  obtained 
from  trees  by  a  process  called  "  riving,''  a  term  which 
has  the  same  significance  at  present  though  the  ap- 
plication in  this  locality  is  considerably  different. 
The  floor  was  made  of  puncheon.  In  this  the  house- 
hold lived  through  the  Black  Hawk  War.  It  was 
located  within  a  mile  of  the  fort.  There  were  then 
only  a  few  families  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the 
people  would  frequently  become  alarmed  at  the 
sight  of  a  stray  Indian,  or  rumors  of  their  depreda- 
tions would  put  them  in  such  a  state  of  fright  that, 
in  the  early  times  preceding  the  contest  referred  to, 
they  would  repair  to  the  fort  for  protection.  On  one 
occasion,  Wm.  McMurtry  and  Edmund  Adcock,  who 
were  in  the  block-house  with  their  families,  went  out  to 
attend  to  their  stock  and  agreed  not  to  remain  longer 
than  to  perform  the  service  which  took  them  out. 
They  also  promised  not  to  discharge  their  fire-arms 
unless  they  saw  Indians,  but  the  sight  of  a  quantity 
of  squirrels  put  the  last  stipulation  out  of  their  re- 
membrances, and  they  fired  at  the  little  animals. 
The  shooting  was  rapid  and  alarmed  their  friends  at 
the  fort.  The  men  remaining  there  hastily  gathered 
their  arms  and  ammunition  and  started  out  one  by 
one,  without  order  or  system,  to  the  rescue,  leaving 
not  a  gun  in  the  fort  for  the  defense  of  the  women 
and  children.  Happily  their  fears  proved  ground- 
less. 

In  the  spring  of  1833,  Mr.  Adcock  sold  his  prop- 
erty and  came  to  Warren  County.  He  located 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  27  in  town- 
ship 12,  range  i.  His  brother  Henry  had  previously 
purchased  the  land  and  the  tenant  lived  on  the 
place  two  ..years.  He  then  made  a  claim  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  the  same  section  and  removed 
to  a  s  nail  log  cabin  which  had  already  been  erected 
on  the  place.  A  few  years  later  it  was  abandoned 
for  a  new  dwelling  of  rather  aristocratic  pretentions 
for  that  period.  The  latter  was  a  double  hewed-log 
house  and  was  their  residence  for  some  years,  or 
until  improved  circumstances  enabled  them  to  build 
a  frame  house.  This  was  the  home  as  long  as  the 
father  lived.  His  death  occurred  May  7,  1859.  At 


WARREN  Co  UN  TV. 


<5r9 


the  time  he  was  the  owner  of  the  south  half  of  sec- 
tion 27,  about  50  acres  of  which  were  in  tillage.  The 
wife  died  Oct.  26,  1865.  They  had  only  the  three 
children,  with  whom  they  removed  to  Illinois.  The 
oldest  was  a  daughter,  named  Cynthia  Elizabeth. 
She  married  John  McMullen,  and  survived  her  mar- 
riage only  a  few  weeks.  Joseph  and  Robert  J.  are 
twins.  They  were  born  Jan.  23,  1826,  in  Kanawha 
Co.,  Va.  They  were  but  four  years  old  when  they 
removed  with  their  parents  to  Illinois.  The  brother 
of  Mr.  Adcock  is  a  resident  of  Tompkins  Township. 
The  latter  was  7  years  old  when  his  father  and  mother 
took  up  their  residence  in  Warren  County.  Every- 
thing was  in  its  primitive  condition  and  there  were 
no  schools,  consequently  the  parents  gave  their  sons 
such  education  as  they 'could  within  the  home.  Af- 
ter Mr.  Adcock  had  grown  to  be  quite  a  youth,  there 
was  a  school  established  about  three  miles  distant, 
which  he  attended,  but  it  was  not  of  the  character  of 
the  free  schools  of  to-day,  as  it  was  instituted  by  the 
pioneers  to  secure  a  little  instruction  for  their  chil- 
dren, and  they  willingly  bore  all  the  expense  thefh- 
selves. 

Mr.  Adcock  was  married  Aug.  30,  1849,  to  Mary 
Elizabeth  McMurtry.  She  was  born  in  Crawford 
Co.,  Ind..  Sept.  26,  1827,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Hon.  William  and  Ruth  (Champion)  McMurtry. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  settled  in 
Knox  Co.,  111.,  in  1829.  He  rose  to  distinction  in 
State  affairs,  and  was  elected  Lieutenant-Governor 
with  Augustus  French,  in  the  second  term  which 
was  served  by  that  gentleman,  in  November,  1848. 
He  was  a  candidate  at  the  time  of  the  first  election 
of  Gov.  French,  when  the  successful  nominee  was 
Mr.  Wells.  Hon.  William  McMurtry  died  at  his 
home  in  Knox  County,  in  1875. 

After  the  date  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Adcock  located 
on  a.  part  of  the  homestead  of  his  father,  a  portion  of 
which  he  had  given  to  him.  During  the  first  year, 
he  lived  with  the  family,  and  then  removed  to  a  log 
cabin  and  commenced  the  life  of  the  true  pioneer. 
This  was  the  home  of  himself  and  his  wife  for  sev- 
eral years,  when  they  removed  to  the  frame'  house 
which  his  family  have  since  occupied.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  459  acres.  Eight  of  the  children  born 
to  himself  and  wife  are  still  living.  William  resides 
on  section  35  in  Kelly  Township;  Edmund  follows 
the  legal  profession  in  Chicago;  Cynthia  married  E. 
E.  Terpenning,  who  is  a  farmer  on  section  3  in  Cold 


Brook  Township;  Robert  J.,  an  attorney-at-law, 
lives  in  Monmouth ;  Ruth  F.  married  C.  F.  Barnett, 
a  farmer  on  section  18,  S'parta  Township,  Knox  Co., 
111.  Lucy  and  Mary  live  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents. 

In  political  faith  and  connection,  Mr.  Adcock  is  a 
Democrat. 

-5 *~ 


em  M.  Lusk,  senior  member  of  the  mer- 
cantile firm  of  Lusk  Bros.,  of  Monmouth, 
was  born  at  Newburg,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
Dec.  19,  1843.  His  parents,  Wilson  and  Mary 
Jane  (McCoy)  Lusk,  were  natives  of  the  States 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  respectively. 
The  former  was  of  German  and  the  latter  of  Scotch 
ancestry.  They  reared  four  sons  and  two  daughters, 
our  subject  being  the  eldest  of  the  six.  The  family 
came  West  as  early  as  1846,  and  located  in  Iowa] 
and  two  years  later  came  to  Monmouth.  Here  Mr| 
Lusk  was  reared  and  received  his  education,  and  in* 
the  office  of  the  Monmouth  Review  learned  tha 
printer's  trade. 

Mr.  Lusk  had  worked  on  the  above  named  paper] 
only  about  six  years,  when  he  determined  to  enlist 
in  the  services  of  his  country  to  defend  the  flag  that 
had  been  assaulted  the  previous  year.  Accordingly, 
on  July  17,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  83d  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  for  three  years  did  faithful  and  commenda- 
ble service.  In  the  summer  of  1863,  while  at 
Clarksville,  Tenn.,  he  was  detailed  as  printer  at  Post 
Headquarters,  which  duty  he  performed  during  the 
remainder  of  his  term  of  service.  He  had,  however, 
previous  to  that  time  seen  some  active  service  on  the 
field.  He  wab  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  participated  in 
about  twenty  skirmishes.  He  was  never  off  duty 
either  as  a  soldier  of  the  ranks,  or  when  assigned  to 
the  printing  department,  and  it  may  be  said  to  his 
credit  as  a  brave  and  devoted  patriot,  that 
he  did  not  seek  the  latter  position  as  the  safer  one. 
He  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  dis- 
charged at  Chicago,  111.  His  parchment,  bearing  all 
the  credits  of  an  honorable  soldier,  is  dated  July  5, 
1865. 

He  then  returned  home  and  resumed  the  quiet 
pursuits  of  life,  and  has  become  one  of  the  highly 


620 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


respected  and  influential  citizens  of  Monmouth.  The 
firm  of  Lusk  Bros,  does  a  large  and  lucrative  busi- 
ness in  the  grocery  line,  having  one  of  the  largest 
stocks  and  best  assortments  carried  by  any  house  in 
the  county. 

September  13,  1866,  Mr.  Lusk  was  married  at 
Monmouth,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Riggs,  who  has  borne  to 
him  six  children — Minnie,  Jessie  H.,  Adda,  Mamie, 
Fred  W.  and  Jean  E. 

Mr.  Lusk  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and 
Quartermaster  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post;  Treasurer 
or  Engine  Company  No.  i,  and  politically  he  is  a 
Democrat. 


.  ames  C.  Hogue,  a  farmer  of  Tompkins 
Township,  owning  80  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 26,  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  having 
been  born  in  that  State  Feb.  23,  1840.  His 
parents  were  P.  F.  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Stormout) 
Hogue,  natives  of  Indiana  and  Tennessee  re- 
spectively. The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  notice 
emigrated  to  this  State  in  1841,  and  purchased  land 
in  Walnut  Hill  Township,  Jefferson  County.  On 
this  land  the  father  moved  his  family  and  was  there 
engaged  in  farming  for  six  years,  when  he  sold  the 
same  and  came  to  Warren  County,  buying  160  acres 
on  section  23,  Tompkins  Township,  and  on  which 
he  resided  until  1868.  During  that  year  he  sold  his 
land  and  moved  to  Cutler,  Perry  County,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  which  place  he  purchased  240  acres 
and  where  he  is  at  present  residing,  following  the 
vocation  of  an  agriculturist. 

James  C.  Hogue  was  an  inmate  of  the  home  circle 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  27  years,  during  the 
meantime  having  received  the  advantages  afforded 
by  the  common  schools.  After  leaving  home,  he 
purchased  the  farm  of  80  acres  on  which  he  is  at 
present  living,  moved  on  the  same  with  his  family 
and  has  there  been  continuously  occupied  in  its  cul- 
tivation and  improvement  until  the  present  time. 

In  1868,  Miss  Margery  J.  Stewart  became  the 
wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice  and  has  borne  him 
six  children — Amelia  H.,  Robert  E.,  Anna  E.,  Mary 
B.,  Edna  S.,  Norma  A.  In  politics  Mr.  Hogue  votes 
with  the  Republican  party.  His  religious  views, 


as  likewise  those  of  his  wife,  coincide  with  the  tenets 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

By  economy  and  energetic  effort,  Mr.  Hogue  has 
succeeded  in  accumulating  sufficient  to  enable  him 
to  add  40  acres  to  his  original  purchase  and  at  pres- 
ent he  has  a  clear  title  to  120  acres  of  good  farm 
land,  and  in  the  vocation  which  he  has  chosen  for  a 
life  pursuit,  he  is  meeting  with  that  success  which 
energy  and  perseverance  are  sure  to  bring. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  War  for  the  Union,  and 
at  a  time  when  strong  arms  and  brave  hearts  were 
necessary  to  fight  in  defense  of  the  flag,  Mr.  Hogue 
was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist  in  the  cause,  which  he 
did  by  joining  Co.  K,  36th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  a  private, 
and  for  four  years  stood  the  brunt  of  battle.  He 
participated  in  the  engagements  of  Pea  Ridge,  Per- 
ryville,  Murphysboro,  Chattanooga,  Mission  Ridge, 
the  Atlanta  campaign,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and 
was  twice  wounded,  which  necessitated  his  confine- 
ment in  the  hospital  for  13  months.  He  enlisted  as 
private,  was  promoted  Sergeant  in  August,  1862.  He 
re-enlisted  with  his  regiment  as  a  veteran  volunteer, 
Jan.  i,  1863,  and  was  promoted  to  Captain  of  his 
Company  in  June,  1865,  receiving  an  honorable  dis- 
charge Oct.  9,  1865,  by  reason  of  services  no  longer 
required. 


oshua  W.  Coates,  Jr.  The  writers  of  the 
jjj-  biographical  sketches  of  this  book,  in  their 
travels  throughout  this  county,  very  rarely 
met  an  active  business  man,  one  who  had  for 
sometime  been  engaged  in  his  vocation,  who  was 
a  jiative  of  the  county.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  the  earliest  pioneers,  those  who  came  between 
the  "3o's  and  '40*5,  were  few  in  number,  and  were 
only  found  here  and  there  settled  on  some  neck  of 
timber,  or  had  grubbed  out  a  little  farm  on  the  bank 
of  some  small  stream.  But  it  was  not  until  after 
1850,  that  any  one  ventured  out  upon  the  broad  and 
fertile  prairies.  It  was  about  this  period  that  the  old 
Oquawka  Railroad  was  projected,  and  settlers  began 
to  pour  in  rapidly,  and  from  1850  to  1856  there  were 
doubtless  more  settlers  came  in  than  all  the  years 
previous  from  the  day  Daniel  McNeil  made  his  lo- 
cation where  the  city  of  Monmouth  now  stands. 


?>*.; 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


623 


Prominent  among  the  few  of  this  class  intervieved, 
is  Joshua  W.  Coates,  Jr.,  who  is  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  Roseville  Township,  where  he  has  resided 
all  his  life,  having  been  born  here  Sept.  17,  1859. 
He  is  a  son  of  Joshua  W.  and  Eletha  (Ray)  Coates, 
natives  of  Kentucky  and  Illinois,  respectively.  The 
father,  Joshua,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  county,  having  located  on  section  8,  of  Rose- 
ville Township,  at  a  very  early  period.  He  pur- 
chased 240  acres  of  land  there,  which  he  made  his 
home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1862.  His 
wife,  who  had  journeyed  with  him  through  so  many 
years  of  his  life,  died  the  same  year.  Their  family 
consisted  of  two  children,  one  of  whom,  William, 
having  died  when  in  the  third  year  of  his  life. 

Joshua,  Jr.,  as  will  be  noticed,  lost  his  parents 
when  an  infant.  He  was  taken  in  charge  by  his 
mother's  sister,  now  Mrs.  Clarinda  Talbert,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  he  began  business  for  him- 
self. On  becoming  of  age,  lie  went  to  Iowa  and  at- 

.  tended  Howe's  Academy  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  returned  to  the  farm  left  by  his  parents, 
and  where  he  is  now  living.  His  other  landed  pos- 
sessions are  120  acres  on  section  9,  and  about  160 

I  acres  located  on  sections  8  and  9.  He  owned  a 
farm  in  Henderson  County,  which  he  left  in  1883, 

[  and  went  to  Eureka  Springs,  Ark.,  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  in  Warren 
Co.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1885,  to  the  place  where  he 
is  now  residing.  A  view  of  his  residence  and  accom- 
panying farm  buildings  are  given  on  page  416. 

Mr.  Coates  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Baptist 
Church,  and  in  political  matters  casts  his  influence 
and  vote  with  the  Democratic  party. 


r,on.  Robert  Holloway,  formerly  a    promi- 
nent member  of  the  Bar  of  Warren  County, 
in   1881   removed  from  Monrnouth    to    his 
farm^in  Suez  Township,   Mercer  County.      He 

!was  a  resident  of  Monmouth  foi  30  years,   and 
during  that  period    was   extensively    identified 
with  its  varied  interests  and  its  development.     He  is 
a  native  of   Kentucky    and    was    born    in    Bourbon 
County,  Sept.  26,  1829.     His  father,  George  Hollo- 


way,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  there  remained 
until  he  grew  to  manhood.  While  still  a  young  man 
he  emigrated  to  Kentucky  and  was  a  member  of  the 
pioneer  element  of  that  State.  He  located  in  Bour- 
bon County,  and  was  there  married  to  Mary  McClan- 
ahan.  She  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  although  her 
parents  were  from  the  State  of  Virginia. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Holloway  having  died  when  he 
was  quite  young,  his  mother  devoted  much  pains- 
taking care  to  the  education  of  her  son,  who  was  for 
some  time  a  {.upil  in  St.  Mary's  College  in  Washing- 
County,  Ky.  He  afterwards  graduated  from  the 
Kentucky  Military  Institute,  in  1849,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  most  proficient  of  its  students, 
his  grade  in  conduct  and  every  class  being  500, 
the  maximum.  A.  M.  Garland,  now  United  States  At- 
torney-General under  President  Cleveland,  and  his 
brother,  Rufus  Garland,  were  members  of  the  same 
class  with  him  at  St.  Mary's  College.  The  elder 
Garland,  Rufus,  and  Mr.  H.  being  the  best  students 
of  the  smaller  d:.rmitory,  Mr.  H.  was  awarded  the  first 
and  Mr.  Garland  the  second  prize  of  merit.  During 
his  course  of  study  at  the  Kentucky  Military  Insti- 
tute, Mr.  Holloway  received  the  appointment  of  ^ 
Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  filled  the 
Chair  throughout  the  remainder  of  the  time  he  passed 
at  the  Institute.  He  was  also  elected  to  the  po- 
sition of  Captain  of  the  First  Corps  of  Cadets,  and 
after  taking  his  degree  he  was  elected  to  the  Chair 
of  Mathematics  and  accepted  the  honor.  Soon  after, 
a  change  became  necessary  in  order  to  allow  of  his 
fulfillment  of  his  determination  to  enter  upon  the 
study  of  law,  and  he  resigned  his  position  in  the 
Institute. 

He  proceeded  to  Lexington,  in  the  State  of  his 
nativity,  where  he  entered  the  law  office  of  the  Hon. 
George  Robinson,  then  of  the  Supreme  Benrch  of 
Kentucky,  and  read  there  under  the  preceptorshipof 
that  gentleman  until  1851.  He  also  attended  Tran- 
sylvania University  at  that  place  during  the  fall  and 
winter  of  1849-50  and  1850-5  i,  and  graduated  from 
that  institution  during  the  latter  term  with  honors. 
Judge  George  Robinson,  Judge  Thomas  A.  Mar- 
shall, both  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Kentucky,  and 
Madison  C.  Johnson,  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  Lex- 
ington, were  professors  and  law  lecturers  in  the  in- 
stitution. 

In  April,  1851,  he  came  to  Monmouth.   Soon  after 


624 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


his  arrival  he  was  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the  Bar 
of  Illinois,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  duties  of  a 
law  practitioner  at  that  place.  He  also  became 
interested  in  the  purchase  of  real-estate  and  was 
soon  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  land  in  Warren  and 
adjoining  counties.  At  one  time  he  owned  more  than 
7,000  acres  of  land,  including  some  fine  farms.  He 
thus  grew  into  an  interest  in  the  various  avenues 
open  to  the  agriculturist  and  was  soon  deeply  in- 
volved in  growing  stock.  He  was  the  first  importer 
of  thorough-bred  Short-horn  cattle  in  Warren  Coun- 
ty. In  1876  he  held  a  sale  at  Dexter  Park,  Chicago, 
at  which  he  disposed  of  7 1  head  of  blooded  cattle, 
which  brought  an  average  price  of  $t,ioo  a  head,  a 
sale  at  that  time  without  a  parallel. 

In  1 88 1,  Mr.  Holloway  removed  to  the  farm  on 
which  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  still  carrying  on 
his  plans  for  the  improvement  of  the  stock  in  his  own 
and  adjacent  counties,  and  is  now  more  especially 
interested  in  the  breeding  of  thorough-bred  Clydes- 

f  dale  horses.     He  has  journeyed  to  Scotland   several 
times  for   the   purpose   of  personally   selecting   his 

1  breeding-stock.     His  stables  contain   150   horses   of 
the  best  accredited  type. 

He  became  interested  in  Clydesdale  or  draft 
horses,  which  he  has  become  so  largely  identified 
with  since,  in  the  following  way  :  While  attending 
a  sale  of  noted  Short-horns  in  Canada,  in  1873, 
he  saw  a  magnificeut  Clydesdale  stallion,  named 
Jonnie  Coope,  which  he  purchased.  Two  years  later, 
desiring  another  horse  for  breeding  purposes,  to  take 
the  place  of  the  one  mentioned  above,  he  purchased 
Donald  Dinnie.  He  has  also  imported  from  Scot- 
land many  of  the  finest  Clydesdales  that  country  has 
produced.  Among  these  was  Druid,  the  best  Clydes- 
dale horse  ever  seen  in  Scotland;  also  Pointsman,  the 
largest  draft  horse  living.  Among  other  importa- 
tions were  Prnice  George  Frederick,  Cairn  Broggie 
Kier,  King  Edward,  Simple  Jaminie  and  Prince  of 
Wales  Yet.  Mr.  Holloway  has  on  his  farm  near 
Alexis,  the  largest  breeding  stud  of  Clydesdale  mares 
in  the  world.  His  purpose  and  ambition  is  'to  show 
that  in  America  draft  horses  may  be  grown  not  in- 
ferior to  those  imported  from  Great  Britan,  and  soon 
to  supply  the  market  with  such  without  further  im- 
portation. 

Mr.  H.  came  to  Illinois  with  Whig  proclivities,  but 
shortly  afterward  hearing  Douglas  speak,  was  con- 


vinced that  his  views  were  correct,  and  has  since 
continued  a  Democrat  in  his  political  belief.  When 
James  Buchannan  was  elected  President,  Mr.  Hol- 
loway was  Presidential  Elector  for  the  Congressional 
District  of  which  Warren  County  formed  a  part. 
From  the  time  he  began  political  speaking  he  has 
borne  a  conspicuous  and  distinguished  part  in  advo- 
cating the  principles  of  his  party  in  this  portion  of 
the  State  ;  and  the  writer  of  this  sketch  was  told  by 
some  of  his  friends  that  Douglas,  in  speaking  of  Mr. 
Holloway  remarked,  that  "  he  was  one  of  the  best 
stump  orators  in  Illinois."  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Convention  at  Charleston  in  1860  and  sup- 
ported Douglas  for  President.  He  has  always  been 
prominent  in  his  devotion  to  the  interest  of  his  party, 
and  has  on  two  occasions  refused  the  nomination  for 
Congress  in  his  district.  In  1880  he  consented  to 
the  use  of  his  name  and  scored  a  home  triumph  by 
polling  1,300  more  votes  than  the  Presidential  candi- 
date of  his  party. 

Mr.  Holloway  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Catherine 
E.  Thompson,  Oct.  24,  1853.  Mrs.  Holloway  is  the 
daughter  of  Judge  James  and  Elizabeth  (Ewing) 
Thompson,  who  were  pioneers  of  Monmouth.  She 
was  born  in  Sidney,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holloway 
have  four  children.  They  are  named  Edmunds  B., 
George,  Elizabeth  Ellen  and  Mary  Belle.  The  eldest 
son  married  Belle  Lafferty,  of  Mercer  County.  The 
eldest  daughter  is  the  wife  of  M.  M.  McClana- 
han,  a  practicing  physician  at  Woodhull,  Henry  Co., 
111.  The  others  reside  at  home. 

When  Mr.  H.  was  married  his  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  About  the  year  1858, 
he  was  converted  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  R. 
C.  Mathews,  and  united  with  the  same  Church.  Some 
time  afterward  he  was  elected  an  Elder,  and  con- 
tinued to  fill  that  position  so  long  as  he  remained  in 
Monmouth.  After  his  removal  to  the  country,  he 
transferred  his  membership  to  the  Church  at  Nor- 
wood and  thence  to  Alexis  and  has  since  held 
the  position  of  Elder  in  those  congregations  During 
almost  all  of  the  time  Mr.  Holloway  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Church  he  has  been  a  teacher  of  the 
Bible  class  in  the  Sunday-school,  a  regular  attendant 
upon  the  services  of  the  Church,  and  an  interested 
an  active  worker  in  all  its  labors  at  home  and  a  will- 
ing contributor  of  his  means  to  all  its  agencies  for  the 
spreading  of  the  gospel  abroad.  He  has  a  profound 
and  unshaken  conviction  in  the  truth  of  God's  Word 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


625 


and  in  its  power  to  reclaim  and  bless  man.  His  in- 
terest and  labors  in  this  work  are  beyond  what  he 
feels  in  and  gives  to  any  other  cause. 

Being  so  long  identified  with  the  interests  of  Mon- 
mouthandso  well  known  throughout  the  county,  we 
are  pleased  to  be  able  to  present  a  portrait  of  Mr. 
Holloway  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


form  B.  Meginnis,  a  retired  farmer  residing 
near  the  city  of  Monmouth,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  25,  1813.  His 
father,  James  Meginnis,  was  a  carpenter  in 
early  life  and  later  a  farmer,  and  his  demise 
occurred  Jan.  3,  1831,  in  the  county  where 
his  son  was  born.  He  was  a  native  of  Dauphin 
County,  same  State,  of  Irish  descent  but  American 
parentage,  and  the  son  of  a  Pennsylvania  farmer. 
He  remained  in  his  native  county  until  he  reached 
maturity,  when  he  came  to  Lancaster  County  and 
was  there  united  in  marriage  with  Frances  Brandt, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  Lancaster  County.  Of  this 
union  were  born  nine  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
was  the  eldest.  Only  three  now  survive — Fanny, 
the  wife  of  David  Detweiler,  who  resides  on  a  farm 
in  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa. ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  David 
Gingrich,  also  residing  on  a  farm  in  the  same  county ; 
and  our  subject,  John  B. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Frances 
Meginnis  was  united  again  in  marriage,  with  Samuel 
Bossier,  but  they  had  no  family.  She  died  in  her 
native  county. 

John  B.  Meginnis  remained  on  the  farm  with  his 
mother,  alternating  his  labors  there  with  attendance 
at  the  district  schools,  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
majority,  when  he  went  to  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
and  superintended  a  farm  there  for  his  uncle  two 
years.  He  then  rented  land  there  for  some  time 
and  while  in  that  county  was  married,  at  Harrisburg, 
to  Miss  Margaret  Sprout,  on  the  ist  of  November, 
1838.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(McHose)  Sprout,  the  eldest  of  her  parents'  family, 
and  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  March  18, 
1820.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  that  county, 
where  they  were  engaged  chiefly  in  farming.  They 


were  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  the  death  of  the  father 
occurred  in  1855,  and  that  of  the  mother  in  1831, 
both  in  their  native  county.  Their  family  comprised 
five  children,  all  living,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Meginnis, 
wife  of  our  subject ;  Mrs.  Firoved,  wife  of  Simon 
Firoved,  a  retired  farmer  residing  .in  Monmouth  ; 
William  married  Catherine  Hempt,  and  is  engaged 
in  farming  at  Phelps,  this  county  ;  John  is  the  hus- 
band of  Miss  Mary  Wellman,  and  they  reside  in 
Hale  Township,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming ; 
Hettie  E.,  wife  of  James  C.  Nesbit,  resides  on  a  farm 
in  Hale  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meginnis,  are  the  parents  of  four 
children:  James  married  Priscilla  Brooks,  and  re 
sides  on  the  old  homestead  in  this  township;  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  B.  W.  Hardin  and  resides  on  a 
farm  in  Union  Co.,  Iowa;  Fannie  B.  is  at  home;  and 
John  S.,  residing  on  a  farm  in  Monmouth  Township, 
has  never  been  married. 

After  Mr.  Meginnis  was  married,  he  farmed  in 
Cumberland  County  until  the  year  1852,  and  came 
thence  to  Illinois  and  here  purchased  land  to  the 
extent  of  200  acres,  partly  improved,  in  Monmouth 
Township.  On  this  he  lived  and  farmed,  being 
very  successful,  until  the  year  1869,  when  he  left 
the  farm  and  purchased  five  acres  where  he  now  re- 
sides. This  he  has  improved  as  a  home. 

Mrs.  Meginnis  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  M.  is  an  old  line  Democrat. 


B.  Nash,  residing  on  section  16,  Hale 
j^  Township,  is  one  of  the  successful,  sturdy 
tillers  of  the  soil,  and  owns  160  acres  of 
good  farm  land.  He  was  born  in  Greene 
Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  18,  1833.  When  about  two 
years  old,  his  parents  came  to  Warren 
County,  where  he  received  his  education,  which, 
owing  to  the  necessity  which  compelled  him  to  as- 
sist in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  was  somewhat  limited. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  about  seven  years  of 
age,  and  he  chose  for  his  vocation  in  life  that  of 
agriculture,  which  he  has  followed  until  the  present 
time.  He  has  erected  on  his  farm  a  good  residence, 
double  corn  crib,  32  x  24  feet,  barn  and  outbuild-- 


"• 


726 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


ings,  and  his  premises  are  indicative  of  that  push 
and  energy  of  which  he  is  possessed. 

Mr.  Nash  was  married  in  Hale  Township,  Feb.  i, 
1860,  to  Adeline  C.  McKinney,  who  was  born 
in  Warren  County,  on  the  izth  day  of  January, 
1836.  She  bore  him  four  children — James  T.  R.,  born 
Jan.  21,  1861 ;  John  H.,  Feb.  16,  1862;  Mary  J., 
May  22,  1864;  and  Harry  C.,  Aug.  22,  1867  ;  John 
departed  this  life  April  r,  1882,  aged  20  years.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  June  26,  1870,  and  Mr.  Nash 
was  again  married  in  the  same  township,  Oct  7, 
1875,  to  Susan  E.  Hamilton,  who  was  born  in  Clin- 
ton Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  20,  1844.  Her  parents  were 
John  and  Sarah  (Baldridge)  Hamilton,  natives  of 
South  Carolina  and  Ohio  respectively.  They  came 
to  this  county  in  1871,  where  the  father  died,  in  April, 
1876;  the  mother  still  survives.  The  parents  of 
Mr.  Nash's  first  wife  were  Abraham  and  Anna 
(Brownlee)  McKinney. 

Mr.  Nash  has  been  School  Director,  and  his  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Po- 
litically, he  is  a  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Nash  were  James  and  Marga- 
ret (Brown)  Nash,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ken- 
tucky. They  came  to  this  county  in  1835,  and  set- 
tled in  Hale  Township,  where  they  were  among  the 
early  pioneers,  and  experienced  all  the  trials  and  pri- 
vations incident  to  the  settlement  of  a  new  country. 
They  continued  to  reside  in  Hale  Township  until  the 
death  of  the  head  of  the  family,  which  took  place  in 
that  township,  Jan.  21,  1841.  The  wife  and  mother 
survived  -her  husband,  and  resides  in  Hale  Town- 
ship, at  the  advanced  age  of  81  years. 


K.  Morris.  The  subject  of  the  following 
sketch  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  well- 
to-do  farmers  of  Ellison  Township.  He  was 
born  May  4,  1835,  in  Madison  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
is  the  son  of  Amos  and  Rhoda  J.  (Campbell) 
Morris,  and  the  youngest  of  the  family  now 
living.  He  came  with  his'parents  to  Warren  County 
in  1854.  They  settled  on  section  15,  of  Ellison 
Township,  wiiere  the  elder  Morris  purchased  80 
acres  of  land,  to  which  subsequently  other  tracts  were 
added. 

Young  Morris  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 


ucation in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  State  and 
remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental  home  until 
shortly  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War.  In 
February,  of  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  1 2th  111. 
Cav.  The  regiment  rendezvous  was  at  Chicago  and 
from  there  went  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  for  three 
months  it  was  on  duty  guarding  prisoners.  The  reg- 
iment was  then  ordered  to  Marlinsburg,  Va.,  and 
soon  after  the  entire  command,  under  Gen.  Miles, 
was  captured  at  Harper's  Ferry,  except  the  I3th 
Cavalry,  which  succeeded  in  cutting  its  way  through 
the  Rebel  lines  and  escaped.  Private  Morris  was 
sick  in  the  hospital  at  the  time  and  was  captured. 
He  was  paroled  at  Harper's  Ferry  and  from  there 
went  to  Chicago,  via  Baltimore  and  Annapolis.  In 
February, 1863,  he  re-joined  his  regiment  at  Falmouth, 
Va.,  and  was  unfortunate  enough  to  again  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  He  was  captured  in  the  fight 
at  Farrel  Station  and  sent  to  Libby  Prison,  at  Rich- 
mond, from  which  he  was  paroled  and  soon  after  ex- 
changed. We  soon  after,  however,  find  him  again  at 
the  front  at  the  famous  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  did 
honorable  and  faithful  service  for  his  country,  and 
should  be  remembered  for  the  valiant  part  he  took 
in  its  defense. 

;,,on.  John  Porter,  a   prominent  member  of 
the  Warren  County  Bar,   resident  at  Mon- 
mouth,  is  a  son  of  Jatnes  and  Sarah  (Wray) 
Porter,  natives  respectively  of  County  Donegal, 

S  Ireland,  and  Juniata  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  born  in 
Huntington  Co.,  Pa.,  April  27,  1824.  His  par- 
were  married  in  Huntington  County,  where 
their  eight  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born,  and 
where  they  died,  the  old  lady  in  1856,  aged  about  60 
years,  and  the  old  gentleman  two  years  later,  aged 
66  years. 

Of  the  ten  children  born  to  them,  below  will  be 
found  the  record  :  Nancy,  William,  Robert  W.,  John, 
James  D.,  Joseph,  David  T.,  Martha  M.,  Franklin 
T.  and  Andrew  J.  Nancy  married  James  Boggs  and 
resides  in  Mercer  County,  and  is  the  mother  of  seven 
children.  William  married  Miss  Isabel  Lane,  of 
Huntington  Co.,  Pa. ;  they  have  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren. Robert  W.  married  Miss  Doyle,  of  Hunting- 
ton  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  had  five  children;,  his  wife 
died  in  1854,  and  he  was  again  married,  to  Nancy 


ents 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


626 


Robb,  of  the  same  county,  and  by  the  latter  union 
has  two  children.  James  D.  Porter  married  Miss 
Mary  Irvine,  of  Philadelphia,  and  they  have  two 
children  and  at  present  are  residing  in  Spring  Grove 
Township.  Joseph  Porter  married  Mary  J.  Lytle,  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  is  now  deceased  ;  they  had  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  and  he  is  at  present  living  near 
Lynchburg,  Amherst  Co.,  Va.,  and  has  been,  and  is 
at  the  present  time,  passing  through  the  experience 
of  Judge  Tourgee's  great  character  in  the  Fool's  Er- 
rand. David  T.  Porter  married  Miss  Emeline  Wil- 
son, of  Stone  Creek,  Pa.,  and  they  have  a  family  of 
ten  children  and  are  residing  in  Chariton  Co.,  Mo. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  in  that  section  of  the  country.  Martha  M. 
married  John  Henry,  of  Shavers  Creek,  Pa.,  and  is 
now  deceased.  She  left  a  family  of  six  children  to 
mourn  her  loss.  Franklin  T.  is  unmarried.  Andrew 
J.  married  Miss  Tillie  Stuckey,  of  Bedford,  Pa. ;  they 
have  two  children  living  and  reside  in  Filmore  Co., 
Neb.  The  last  three  brothers  named  served  in  the 
Union  army.  David  T.  and  Franklin  T.  enlisted  in 
the  io2d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  command  of  Col.  Mc- 
Murlry,  of  Knox  County,  who  was  afterwards  super- 
seded by  Col.  Smith.  Andrew  J.  Porter  enlisted  in 
the  55th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  went  out  as  Orderly  Sergeant, 
was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  participated 
in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  engaged, 
without  receiving  a  single  scratch.  All  three  broth- 
ers received  honorable  discharges. 

The  first  18  years  of  John  Porter's  life  were  spent 
upon  his  father's  farm,  and  afterwards  he  learned 
the  trade  of  making  and  laying  brick,  working  at 
the  same  every  summer  till  he  married,  and  teaching 
school  in  the  winter.  The  summer  of  1845  he 
worked  at  his  trade  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  laying  brick 
at  $1.50  per  day.  In  1846  he  followed  his  trade 
in  his  native  county.  His  primary  education  was 
obtained  through  the  common  schools,  and  from  the 
age  of  18  to  23  years  he  taught  in  the  schools  of  his 
county.  His  last  school  was  taught  in  Ogle  Co., 
111.,  whither  he  had  removed  in  1850,  and  where 
he  spent  the  summer  working  at  his  trade.  In 
the  spring  of  185  i  he  took  a  farm  in  Warren  County, 
in  Spring  Grove  Township,  removing  thence  the 
following  year  to  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased  in 
Sumner  Township.  Here  he  farmed  with  success 
up  to  the  spring  of  1858,  when  he  removed  to  Mon- 
mouth,  began  at  once  the  study  of  law,  and  in  Janu- 


ary, of  1863,  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Ottawa. 
His  official  life  began  away  back  in  1855,  when  he 
was  elected  Supervisor  of  Sumner  Township.  Two 
years  later,  to  fill  a  vacancy,  he  was  elected  to  the 
County  Judgeship,  for  the  next  full  term  in  Nov. 
1857.  This  term  the  law  giving  the  Court  of  this 
county  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  Circuit  Court 
in  civil  suits  to  the  amount  of  $500,  making  the  prac- 
tice and  pleading  the  same  as  in  the  Circuit  Court, 
was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  and  Judge  Porter 
was  forced  to  study  law  to  protect  himself,  and  this 
fact  probably  more  than  any  other  accounts  for  his 
adopting  the  law  for  his  profession.  In  r86i  he  was 
again  elected  County  Judge  for  four  years,  and  soon 
afterward  may  be  dated  his  real  beginning  as  a  law- 
yer. Up  to  1862,  he  had  worked  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  since  that  date  the  Republican 
party  has  had  no  stronger  supporter. 

In  1868  the  party  of  his  adoption  sent  him  to  the 
Legislature,  probably  the  most  important  session  since 
the  war.  The  i4th  amendment  to  the  United  States 
Constitution  was  adopted  ;  and  so  was  the  famous 
(or  infamous)  tax  steal,  the  latter  being  passed  over 
the  Governor's  veto,  but  to  the  credit  of  Judge  Por- 
ter, it  is  said,  that  while  he  stood  with  the  majority 
in  the  amendment  bill,  he  opposed  them  in  the  tax 
theft.  The  Judge  was  the  author  of  and  drew  the  ' 
bill  providing  for  the  appointment  of  a  conservator 
for  habitual  drunkards,  the  bill  becoming  a  law  with- 
out the  delay  of  engrossing. 

On  Jan.  25,  1847,  Mr.  Porter  was  married,  in  his 
native  county,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Robb,  at  which 
time  he  rented  a  farm  in  Hartslog  Valley,  where  he 
resided  for  the  next  three  years,  coming  west 
in  the  spring  of  1850.  Their  eight  children  are 
mentioned  as  follows :  Mary,  born  in  November, 
r847,  died  in  April,  1883,  and  was  the  wife  of 
W.  J.  Brooks;  Sarah,  bom  in  1849,  is  at  present 
Mrs.  Thomas  Donahue,  of  Belle  Plain,  Kansas ; 
James  R.,  banker,  of  Belle  Plain,  Kansas;  Nannie  is 
the  wife  of  G.  F.  Buller,  Wellington,  Kans. ;  Silas 
W.,  attorney  at  Monmouth;  Charles  H.,  a  resident 
of  Colorado;  Ella  F.,  at  home;  and  George  died  in 
infancy. 

Mrs.  Porter  was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Livingston)  Robb.  The  former  was  a  native  of  the 
north  of  Ireland,  and  the  latter  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 
the  Livingstons  being  one  of  the  oldest  families  of 
that  State.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 


628 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Mrs.  Porter  of  this  sketch  being  the  seventh  in  or- 
der of  birth.  John  married  Miss  Mary  Cunningham; 
William  married  Margaret  Cunningham,  sister  of  the 
former,  and  they  are  both  deceased,  their  widows 
living  in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.  Alexander  is  de- 
ceased ;  he  was  a  physician  and  emigrated  to 
Indiana  and  there  died,  about  the  year  1838. 
James  lives  in  Mercer  County  111. ;  Sarah  J.  mar- 
ried Peter  C.  Swoope,  and  they  are  both  deceased. 
They  left  a  family  of  four  children,  one  of  whom  is 
deceased.  Nancy  Robb  is  the  second  wife  of  R.  W. 
Porter,  brother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  and  they 
at  present  reside  in  Sumner  Township.  Livingston 
Robb  married  Mary  Wilson,  a  native  of  Huntington 
Co.,  Pa. ;  they  have  a  large  family  and  reside  on  the 
old  Robb  homestead,  in  Hartslog  Valley,  Pa.  Thomas 
S.  Robb  married  Miss  Martha  Campbell,  of  McCon- 
nellstown,  Pa.,  and  they  at  present  reside  in  Mercer 
Co.,  this  State;  they  have  six  children  living  and 
have  lost  several.  The  Robbs  are  of  Scotch  descent, 
William  Robb  having  come  to  this  country  about  the 
year  1800,  settling  in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  became  a  large  land  owner  and  a  prominent  and 
influential  man  in  that  section  of  the  country. 

Judge  Porter  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  the  orders  of  Ma- 
sonry and  Odd  Fellows.  Although  now  a  member 
of  one  of  the  learned  professions,  so-called,  he  is  as 
proud  of  his  record  while  a  mechanic  and  a  farmer 
as  of  any  other  part  of  his  life,  and  fully  believes 
with  Burns,  that  "the  rank  is  but  the  guinea's  stamp, 
the  man's  the  gold  for  a'  that." 


jtrames  C.  Irwin,  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes 
|f  and  millinery,  at  Monmouth,  was  born  in 
Clarion,  Pa.,  Aug.  19,  1843,  a»d  was  the 
son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Patrick)  Irwin, 
natives  also  of  Pennsylvania.  The  family 
removed  from  the  Keystone  State  to  Michigan, 
probably  in  184401  1845,  and  there  in  the  city  of 
Detroit  the  parents  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives. 

James  C.  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of 


Michigan ;  came  to  Morris,  this  State,  in  1858,  and 
to  Monmouth  in  1869.  While  at  Morris  he  enlisted, 
August,  1862,  in  Co.  C,  7  6th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served 
to  the  close  of  the  war. 

He  returned  from  the  army  to  Morris,  and  clerked 
in  a  dry  goods  store  up  to  the  date  of  his  coming  to 
Monmouth.  Here  he  engaged  with  an  older  brother 
in  mercantile  business,  and  gave  it  his  attention  up 
to  1878,  his  brother,  however,  retiring  from  the  firm 
at  the  end  of  the  first  year.  In  1878,  he  closed  out 
his  dry  goods,  retained  the  millinery  department, 
and  put  in  an  extensive  stock  of  boots  and  shoes. 
Associated  with  him  in  business  is  Mr.  James  Man- 
non  as  salesman.  Mr.  Mannon  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
came  to  Monmouth  in  1877,  and  has  been  with  Mr. 
Irwin  since  1880.  Like  Mr.  Irwin,  he  is  instinctively 
a  gentleman,  and  the  source  of  their  success  in  their 
line,  the  secret  to  which  they  without  effort  place 
themselves  at  the  very  head  of  their  trade,  is  readily 
traceable  to  the  fact  that  they  recognize  the  rights 
of  their  patrons,  and  are  satisfied  with  reasonable  ' 
profits. 

These  are  the  kind  of  men   who  deserve  to  suc- 
ceed, and  the  writer  of  the  industrial  history  of  Mon-  -< 
mouth  places   their   names  in  the  list  of  "honorable 
mention." 


[ames  Gardner,  owning  200  acres  of  good 
farm  land,  under  an  advanced  state  of  cul- 
tivation, located  on  section  6,  Cold  Brook 
Township,  was  born  in  Edmonson  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  13,  1829.  The  father  of  James,  Thornat 
Gardner,  was  born  in  West  Virginia,  and  was 
the  son  of  a  farmer,  who  came  to  Edmonson  Co., 
Ky. ;  was  there  reared  to  manhood  and  married 
Catherine  Lair,  a  native  of  Barren  Co.,  Ky.,  the 
daughter  of  a  Kentucky  farmer.  Seven  children 
were  born  to  the  parents  while  residents  of  Ken- 
tucky, James,  our  subject,  being  the  eldest. 

James  Gardner  was  17  years  of  age  when  his 
father  died  in  Edmonson  Co.,  Ky.,  and  two  years 
later  his  mother,  accompanied  by  her  six  children, 
came  to  this  State  and  located  in  Cold  Brook  Town- 
ship, this  county,  where  the  mother  remained  until 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


629 


her  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  28,  1880,  at  the  age 
of  79  years,  the  date  of  her  birth  being  April  26, 
1801. 

James  Gardner,  after  accompanying  his  mother  to 
this  State  and  county,  lived  with  and  labored  for  her 
support  and  the  maintenance  of  the  children  until 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  A.  Robison,  which 
occurred  in  Cold  Brook  Township,  May  10,  1853. 
She  was  born  Nov.  i,i82g,and  was  the  seventh  child 
of  her  parents'  family,  having  been  born  in  this  coun- 
ty, and  is  at  present  the  oldest  citizen  of  the  county, 
whose  birth  is  recorded  as  within  its  boundaries. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Nancy  (Stitt)  Rob- 
ison. (See  sketch  of  M.  C.  L.  Robison).  Her  par- 
ents came  to  this  State  at  an  early  day,  and  settled 
in  what  is  now  Kelly  Township,  and  known  as  Rob- 
ison Point,  Sept.  12,  1829.  That  portion  of  the 
county  at  the  time  was  undeveloped,  and  her  par- 
ents endured  all  the  privations  incident  to  the  im- 
provement of  a  new  settlement.  Their  marketing 

T  was  done  at  what  is  now  Oquawka,  Henderson 
County.  The  county  at  that  time  included  what  is 

]  now  Warren  and  Henderson  counties,  the  latter  hav- 
ing received  its  name  from  Henderson  Richie,  who 
was  the  first  white  child  born  within  its  present  bound- 
ary. Mrs.  Gardner  was  the  oldest  white  child  born 
in  Warren  County. 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardner  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, they  located  on  a. new  and  unbroken  tract  of 
prairie  land,  which  to-day  comprises  the  fine  farm  on 
which  they  reside.  It  consists  of  200  acres,  and  the 
labors  of  the  past  have  placed  it  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation. 

When  Mr.  Gardner  first  started  in  this  county  he 
was  as  poor  as  a  church  mouse,  but  by  energy  and 
perseverance,  coupled  with  the  active  co-operation  of 
his  good  helpmeet,  he  is  to-day  the  possessor  of  a 
fine  faim  as  stated,  and  from  his  present  standpoint 
looks  back  over  the  history  of  the  past  and  smiles  at 
the  trials  and  difficulties  which  he  and  his  good  wife 
encountered  and  overcame. 

Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  the  birth  of 
seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Ella  D. 
became  the  wife  of  Clarence  Young,  a  farmer  resid- 
ing in  Kelly  Township,  and  of  which  union  three 
children  have  been  born— Roy,  Phebe  and  Nellie; 
Effie  D.  was  united  in  marriage  to  Henry  Gates,  who 
resides  on  a  farm  in  Butler  Co.,  Neb.,  and  they  have 


one  child,  Bertha;  Nancy  C.,  Milton  E.  and  Ira  M. 
are  living  at  home. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Gardner  votes  with  the  Democrat- 
ic party. 

Mrs.  Gardner  having  been  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Warren  County,  strange  to  say,  has  resided 
within  one  and  a  half  miles  of  the  place  of  her  na- 
tivity until  the  present,  and  in  the  sunset  of  her 
years  realizes  the  wonderful  developments  through 
which  the  county  has  passed  since  her  birth.  She 
was  never  out  of  the  State,  even  on  a  visit,  until 
about  the  age  of  52. 


j  obert  A.  Gibson,  retired  farmer,  residing 
at  Monmouth,  was  born  near  Xenia,  Ohio, 
Nov.  6,  1815,  and  of  the  eight  sons  born 
to  Thomas  and  Martha  (Hogue)  Gibson,  he 
was  the  youngest.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  respectively,  and 
in  addition  to  eight  sons,  they  reared  five  daughters — 
a  real  old-fashioned  house  full  of  children. 

Thomas  Gibson  came  to  Warren  County  in  the 
fall  of  1831,  and  bought  a  farm  containing  several 
quarter  sections,  about  two  miles  northwest  from 
Monmouth.  Here  he  spent  many  years  of  his  life, 
and  here  his  wife  ended  her  days  in  the  year  1842. 
The  old  gentleman  lived  to  become  87  years  of  age, 
and  died  in  1860,  at  the  house  of  his  son,  George, 
near  Little  York.  The  Gibsons  came  originally  from 
England,  and  the  Hogues  from  Scotland.  The  sons 
of  Thomas  G.  were  brought  up  to  farming,  and  the 
old  man  gave  each  of  them  a  quarter  section. 

Robert  A.,  whose  name  heads  this  article,  received 
a  pretty  thorough  common  school  education,  and  at 
the  age  of  18  years,  entered  Hanover  College,  In- 
diana, and  graduated  as  an  A.  B.  in  1838.  After 
leaving  College  he  read  law  some  and  took  a  course 
of  lectures,  and  after  returning  to  Illinois,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  in  1844.  The  farm,  however,  was 
his  choice,  and  he  abandoned  a  professional  life  be- 
fore he  had  scarcely  begun  it.  He  lived  on  his 
farm,  two  miles  northeast  from  Monmouth,  from  1844 
to  1875,  when  in  the  latter  year  he  rented  it  out 
and  moved  into  town,  and  like  the  sensible  man  that 


630 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


he  is,  proposes  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  life  free  from 
care. 

October  15,  1842,  he  was  married  in  Trimble  Co., 
Ky.,  to  Miss  Maria  Davidge,  who  lived  but  about 
four  years  and  left  one  child,  Sarah,  now  (Sept., 
1885,)  employed  at  the  Delevan  (Wisconsin),  Deaf 
and  Dumb  Institute. 

On  the  i yth  of  January,  1861,  at  Monmouth,  111., 
Mr.  Gibson  was  again  married  to  Miss  Amanda 
Paine,  a  grandaughter  of  Gen.  Edward  Paine,  the 
founder  of  the  city  of  Painesville,  Ohio,  and  the 
daughter  of  Chas.  H.  Paine,  who  came  into  Warren 
County,  in  1836,  and  settled  near  Little  York,  and 
spent  his  life  upon  his  farm,  dying  in  1859.  Mrs. 
Gibson  was  educated  at  Painesville,  Ohio;  Michigan 
City,  Ind  ;  Canton,  111.;  and  Jacksonville  (111.)  Fe- 
male Academy,  and  taught  school  from  the  time  she 
was  16  years  of  age  until  she  was  36. 

Mr.  Gibson  had  also  some  experience  at  school 
teaching  before  he  went  to  farming,  but  not  enough 
to  fall  in  love  with  it.  He  also  soldiered  a  little  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  it  may  be  presumed  that 
he  did  not  fall  in  love  with  war  any  more  than  he 
did  with  school  teaching.  He  has  been  a  hard- 
working man,  and  to  the  talents  given  him  has 
abundantly  added,  like  the  wise  and  good  servant 
spoken  of  in  the  parable. 

He  belongs  to  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  enjoys  heartily  the 
fruits  of  his  many  years'  labor. 


]  illiam  Porter  is  one  of  the  prominent  and 
is  substantial  agriculturists  of  the  township 
of  Sumner,  and  is  located  on  section  2.  He 
is  the  proprietor  of  a  large  tract  of  land 
which  contains  376  acres,  and  which  is  all 
in  fine  condition  for  profitable  cultivation,  with 
the  exception  of  20  acres,  which  is  in  timber,  and 
increases  the  value  of  the  estate. 

Mr.  Porter  made  his  first  acquaintance  with  War- 
ren County  in  1852,  when  he  bought  unimproved 
tracts  of  prairie,  a  part  of  which  is  included  in  the 
property  he  now  owns.  After  making  his  purchases 


he  returned  to  his  home  and  remained  thereuntil  the 
following  spring,  when  he  removed  to  Warren  Coun- 
ty with  his  family.  They  were  the  occupants  during 
the  first  year  of  a  house  on  section  i.  Meanwhile 
Mr.  Porter  had  erected  a  small  frame  house  on  his 
own  land,  to  which  he  removed  his  family  in  the 
spring  of  1854.  A  great  transformation  has  been 
brought  about  by  the  application  of  persevering  in- 
dustry, good  management  and  the  best  and  most  ap- 
proved methods  of  modern  farming.  The  pioneer 
home  has  been  replaced  by  a  house  of  convenient  pro- 
portions,and  the  other  buildings  which  have  been  erect- 
ed are  of  the  sort  demanded  by  the  purposes  to  which 
the  farm  is  devoted.  Shade  and  fruit  trees  add  to 
the  appearance  and  value  of  the  place,  and  there  are 
ample  sheds  and  other  arrangements  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  stock  on  the  farm. 

Mr.  Porter  was  born  in  Brady  Township,  Hunting- 
don Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  5,  1819,  and  is  the  son  of  James 
and  Sarah    (Wray)    Porter.     (See   sketch   of  Judge 
John  Porter.)    He  received  his  early  education  in  the  . 
common,  or  as  it  Was  then  called,  subscription  school,  j 
the  system  now  in  vogue  not  having  been  establish-  I 
ed.     Later,  he  attended    the   district    school  in  the 
winter  seasons,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  the  year' 
in  farm  labor.  He  also  assisted  in  the  lumber  woods, 
where  it  was  the  custom  at  that  day  to  pass  a  portion  , 
of  every  year. 

At  the  age  of  17  he  obtained  a  position  as  clerk 
in  a  store  in  the  village  of  Huntingdon.  He  ope- 
rated in  that  capacity  one  year,  and  then  returned 
home  and  resumed  farming.  He  alternated  that 
employ  with  teaching.  In  1845  he  withdrew  from 
the  roof  tree  of  his  parents,  taking  possession  of  a 
home  of  his  own,  in  company  with  his  wife. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Isabella  Lane,  March  25 
of  that  year.  They  located  on  the  family  home- 
stead, and  remained  in  Huntingdon  County  until 
their  removal  to  Warren  Cou.ity,  as  has  been  related. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Martha  (Steele) 
Lane.  She  was  born  in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct. 
15,  1824.  Her  parents  on  her  father's  side  were 
English,  and  on  her  mother's  side  of  Scotch-Irish 
origin.  She  is  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth  of  ten 
children,  viz.  ,  Mary,  Samuel  M.,  Eliza,  Eleanor, 
William  A.,  James  R.,  Martha  J.,  Isabella  and 
Franklin  H.  One  child  died  in  infancy.  Samuel, 
Eliza  and  Martha  J.  are  deceased.  Franklin  H.  was 


' 


WARREN  COUNTY 


633 


a  General  in  the  late  Civil  War,  and  is  now  living  in 
Huntingdon,  Pa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  have  had  1 1  children.  Nine 
are  still  living.  Sarah  J.  and  Etta  M.  are  the  two 
eldest.  Minerva  is  married  to  James  Milligan,  of 
Mercer  County.  James  L  and  John  C.  are  pros- 
perous farmers  in  Cedar  Co.,  Iowa.  Clara  is  a  well- 
known  and  popular  teacher  in  the  public  schools. 
The  other  survivors  are  Frank,  Warren  J.  and  Pearl. 
Ada,  the  seventh  child,  was  born  Sept.  4,  1857,  and 
died  June  19,  1883.  She  was  well  educated,  and  at 
the  time  of  her  death  was  engaged  in  teaching.  Mar- 
tha J.,  the  second  child,  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  have  always  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  educational  matters,  and  provided  liber- 
ally for  the  mental  training  of  their  children.  They 
sent  them  to  the  academy  in  Monrnouth,  and  to  the 
college  at  Dixon. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  Porter  votes  the  straight  Democratic 
ticket. 


orter  Phelps,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  War- 
ren County,  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  April  14,  1804,  and  died  at  his  resi- 
dence  in  Lenox  Township,  four  miles  east  of 
Monmouth,  Sept.  20,  1885.  He  was  married 
to  Mary  Ellen  Rees,  in  Peterboro,  N.  Y., 
March  29,  1826.  She  was  born  in  Cazenovia,  Mad- 
ison Co.,  that  State,  May  23,  1805,  and  died  at  the 
family  residence  July  26,  1884. 

The  name  of  Phelps  is  very  old,  being  found  at 
Gloucestershire,  England,  as  far  back  as  the  compi- 
lation of  the  Dooms  Day  Book  of  William  the  Con- 
querer.  Porter  Phelps  traces  his  ancestry  back  in  an 
unbroken  and  honorable  chain  to  James  Phelps,  who 
was  born  in  Tewksbury,  England,  about  1530.  His 
grandson,  William  Phelps,  was  born  at  that  place  in 
August,  1599,  and  came  to  America,  landing  at  South 
Boston,  then  Hull,  May  30,  1630,  but  soon  after  set- 
tled at  Dorchester.  He  moved  to  Windsor,  Conn.,  in 
1635,  and  was  conspicuous  in  the  settlement  of  that 
State,  filling  many  influential  positions.  Capt.  Tim- 
othy Phelps,  his  son,  was  born  at  Windsor,  Sept.  i, 
1639,  and  married  Mary  Griswold,  May  19,  1661. 
He  had  a  son,  Timothy,  born  also  at  Windsor,  Nov. 
i,  1662.  He  married  Martha  Crow,  Nov.  4,  1686, 


and  removed  to  Hebron,  Conn.,  in  1690.  He  also 
had  a  son  Timothy,  who  was  born  at  Hebron,  June 
29,  1692,  who  was  married  to  Hannah  Calkins,  July 
29,  1714.  They,  too,  had  a  son  named  Timothy, 
also  bom  at  Hebron,  June  29,  1718.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Hannah  Northam,  Sept.  16,  1742.  To  them 
was  born  a  son,  at  Hebron,  whom  they  named  Sam- 
uel;  the  date  of  his  birth  was  Sept.  2,  1759.  He 
was  married  to  Lydia  Porter,  Dec.  18,  1785.  They 
were  the  parents  of  Porter  Phelps,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  had  moved  to  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  pre- 
vious to  his  birth.  Samuel  Phelps,  and  also  two  of 
his  brothers,  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  War 
and  the  former,  while  prostrated  with  fever,  was 
held  upon  his  horse  to  enable  him  to  escape  when 
New  York  was  evacuated  by  the  Americans. 

Lydia  Porter,  the  mother  of  Porter  Phelps,  and  for 
whom  he  was  named,  was  descended  from  John  Por- 
ter, who  was  born  in  1590,  in  Kenilworth,  Warwick- 
shire, England,  at  Wraxhall  Abbey,  the  ancient 
seat  of  the  family,  where  many  of  the  name  are 
interred.  He  was  descended,  in  the  izth  genera- 
tion, from  William  De  LaPorte,  a  Norman  knight,  < 
who  came  over  in  the  train  of  William  the  Conquerer,  | 
at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Conquest,  in  1066,  as  can 
still  be  seen  upon  the  rolls  of  Battle  Abbey,  his  J 
name  being  transformed  to  Porter.  John  Porter, 
with  his  wife  and  children,  were  among  the  first  to 
penetrate  the  wilderness  of  Connecticut,  settling  at 
Windsor,  Conn.,  in  1635,  the  very  year  William 
Phelps  arrived  there.  There  he  died.  April  22, 1648. 
Their  son,  John  Porter,  was  born  in  1618.  About 
1650,  he  married  Mary  Stanley,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Stanley,  who  came  from  London  in  1635  and  was  one 
of  the  original  proprietors  of  Hartford,  Conn.  They 
had  a  son,  John,  born  Jan.  3,  1651;  he  married  Joanna 
Gaylord,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  Of  their  12 
children,  David  was  bora  Oct.  3,  1685,  and  on  Jan. 
3,  1707,  married  Anna  Phelps,  daughter  of  Captain 
Timothy  Phelps,  above  mentioned.  They  had  seven 
children.  Their  youngest  son,  Increase  Porter,  born 
Feb.  26,1722,  married  Mary  Niles,  May  15,  1750. 
Their  youngest  daughter,  Lydia  Porter,  born  about 
1765,  married  Samuel  Phelps  Dec.  18,  1785,  as  above 
stated.  She  was  a  sister  of  Rev.  David  Porter,  D.  D., 
a  celebrated  Presbyterian  Divine,  of  New  York,  and 
grandfather  of  Prof.  Porter,  of  Yale  College. 

We  find  by  the  records  that  John  Porter,  who  first 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


came  to  America,  was  a  man  of  distinction  and  pos- 
sessed of  large  property  for  those  times.  He  was  a 
man  of  fine  appearance  and  intrusted  with  positions 
of  importance.  A  long  list  of  names  may  be  traced 
among  his  descendants,  as  well  as  among  those  of 
William  Phelps,  who  came  over  abdut  the  same  time, 
who  were  distinguished  in  the  various  learned  pro- 
fessions and  walks  of  life,  throughout  the  country. 
The  ancestors  of  Mary  Ellen  (Rees)  Plielps  came 
from  Glamorganshire,  South  Wales,  tracing  their  de- 
scent from  old  and  distinguished  stock. 

In  1835  Porter  Phelps,  with  his  family,  started 
West,  traveling  the  entire  distance  to  this  point  in  a 
wagon  drawn  by  horses.  They  were  69  days  in 
reaching  Eugene,  Tnd.,  where  they  spent  the  winter. 
The  following  spring  they  came  to  Knoxville,  111., 
where  Mr.  Phelps  was  taken  sick  and  was  carried 
in  a  wagon  to  Monmouth  to  be  doctored,  there  being 
no  desirable  physician,  if  any  at  all,  in  Knoxville. 
His  wife,  with  heroism  born  of  devotion,  remained  at 
Knoxville  to  care  for  their  little  ones,  and  from  time 
to  time  rode  on  horseback  to  Monmouth  to  see  her 
husband.  He  stopped  while  sick  at  the  house  of 
Daniel  McNeil,  which  was  situated  on  East  Broad- 
way, about  where  the  residence  of  Rev.  Dr.  McDill 
now  stands.  This  was  then  almost  the  only  resi- 
dence in  Monmouth.  There  was  an  old  log  house 
where  court  was  held.  The  judge  and  attorneys  who 
traveled  in  those  times  almost,  if  not  quite,  from 
Springfield  to  Galena  on  horseback  or  by  stages, 
stopped  at  the  McNeil  hostelry.  Those  were  the 
days  when  Douglas,  Browning,  Richardson,  Baker, 
McDougall,  Lincoln,  Walker,  Butterfield  and  other 
great  men  of  that  day  rode  the  circuit.  There  were 
mighty  men  in  this  wilderness,  even  then,  whose 
ability  has  never  been  surpassed. 

In  the  spring  of  1837  Mr  Phelps,  with  his  family, 
moved  to  Roseville  Township,  where  he  improved  a 
small  farm.  In  1844  he  moved  to  the  vicinity  of 
Berwick,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year  took 
possession  of  the  place  where  himself  and  wife  both 
died.  They  reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  one 
daughter,  Mary  Gertrude,  a  lovely  girl,  dying  in 
1847.  She  was  greatly  beloved  and  is  still  remem- 
bered by  those  who  knew  her.  Their  youngest  son, 
Kenneth  Graham,  died  in  1876,  a  few  years  after 
graduating  from  Monmouth  College  in  the  classical 
department,  and  when  nearly  ready  to  be  ordained 


a  minister  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
was  a  young  man  of  great  promise  and  most  lovable 
character,  whom  to  have  known  was  but  to  love.  We 
cannot  forbear  cop)ing  from  the  beautiful  tribute  to 
him  of  his  class-mate,  Miss  Mary  J.  Howard  :  "Six 
years  ago  there  left  this  port  a  sailor  lad,  whom  to 
know  was  to  love,  to  name  was  to  praise.  Just  as 
he  pulled  away  from  the  shore,  his  strength  began  to 
fail;  the  little  bark  rocked  on  the  waves  awhile,  and 
then  the  angel  came  down  the  sunbeam-stairs  and 
carried  him  upward  and  away.  To  day  you  may  go 
out  on  the  wharves  of  a  village,  that  lieth  cold  aad  still 
and  there  you  may  trace  in  the  rolling  grass  iheform 
of  an  upturned  boat.  Six  years  ago  he  left  this  dear, 
old  college-port,  the  subject  of  his  farewell  speech, 
'A  King."  One  thing  he  said  we  will  not  forget — 
'  For  all  bright  things  there  is  a  resurrection.'  One 
year  ago,  on  the  same  day  on  which  a  group  of  boys 
and  gitls  were  starting  out  to  sea,  he  was  mounting 
the  steps  on  the  other  shore,  to  stand  forever  in  the 
presence  of  A  King.  '  Of  the  soft,  brown  hair,  the 
large  gray  eyes,  so  full  of  truth  ;  the  warm,  firm  hand, 
we  can  only  say,  '  For  all  bright  things  there  is  a 
Resurrection.  " 

Samuel  David  Phelps,  eldest  son  of  Porter  Phelps, 
lives  upon  the  old  homestead,  with  his  three  children 
— Gertrude,  Garrett  Kirk  and  Rees.  His  wife  was 
Jane  E.  Lockwood,  now  deceased,  and  the  daughter 
of  Sheldon  and  Parthenia  Lockwood,  who  were 
among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Warren  County.  They 
came  from  New  York  and  settled  about  ten  miles 
south  of  Monmouth,  prior  to  the  Black  Hawk  War. 
DeWitt  Phelps,  the  second  son,  lives  southeast  of 
Kirkwood,  in  this  county,  and  Delos  P.  Phelps  at 
Monmouth,  sketches  of  whom  appear  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  Ralph  Gurley  Phelps  is  a  prominent 
lawyer  at  Atlantic,  Iowa.  Ellen  Porter  and  Annie 
E.  reside  with  their  brother  upon  the  old  homestead. 
They  are  cultured  and  intelligent  women,  with  great 
love  of  literature  and  poetry  and  both  write  more 
or  less  for  the  press. 

It  is  impossible  for  the  present  generation  to  real- 
ize the  hardships  and  privations  endured  by  the  pio- 
neers. Porter  Phelps  was  always  an  influential  man 
in  his  neighborhood  and  was  the  Supervisor  of  his 
township  from  the  date  of  township  organization 
until  the  year  r864.  He  was  retiring  in  his 
disposition  and  put  forward  others  rather  than 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


635 


himself.  In  politics,  he  was  always  a  consistent 
Democrat,  and  his  five  sons  were  of  the  same  faith. 
Perhaps  there  is  no  better  way  to  close  this  brief 
mention  of  the  lives  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  Phelps 
than  by  copying  from  the  notices  of  their  deaths,  as 
published  in  the  county  papers. 

"Mary  Ellen  Phelps,  daughter  of  David  and  Ann 
(Smith)  Rees,  being  a  woman  of  intellectual  and  re- 
fined tastes,  it  required  strong  effort  to  make  her 
home  in  the  then  new  country.  The  decision  once 
made,  her  unusual  intellectual  and  physical  strength 
was  exerted  that  the  new  abode  might  be  a  success, 
and  especially  that  her  children  might  be  deprived 
as  little  as  possible  ol  the  superior  educational  ad- 
vantages of  an  older  country.  To  the  very  last  she 
retained  her  interest  in  public  events,  literature, 
history  and  poetry,  keeping  a  daily  record,  and  lay- 
ing down  her  pen  only  with  her  life.  A  consistent 
Christian,  she  made  a  profession  of  faith  at  the  age  of 
14,  uniting  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  (Dr. 
•  Aiken's),  of  Utica,  New  York.  She  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  place  almost  from 
its  organization  until  1858,  and  at  the  time  of  her 
death,  and  for  many  years  previously,  a  member  of 
the  Second  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Mon- 
mouth.  The  mother  of  eight  children,  six,  with  her 
husband,  survive  her.  Although  her  health  had  been 
very  precarious  for  some  time,  she  was  not  confined 
to  her  room,  and  was  sitting  at  the  breakfast  table 
when  the  summons  came.  Without  a  struggle  or  a 
word,  in  a  moment's  time,  she  departed. 

"Of  no  distemper,  of  no  blast  she  died. 

But  fell  like  autumn  fruit  that  mellowed  long, 
E'en  wondered  at  because  she  dropped  no  sooner; 

Fate  seemed  to  wind  for  three  and  half  score 

years, 
Yet,  swiftly  ran  she  on  ten  summers  more, 

Till,  like  a  clock,  worn  out  with  eating  time, 
The  wheels  of  weary  life  at  last  stood  still." 

"Porter  Phelps  at  his  death  had  attained  to  more 
than  eleven  years  beyond  the  three  score  and  ten  al- 
lotted as  the  life  of  man.  He  was  descended  in  di- 
rect line,  by  both  paternal  and  maternal  ancestry, 
from  those  stern,  hardy,  conscientious,  liberty-loving 
pioneers,  who  settled  New  England  in  the  early 
part  of  the  iyth  century,  when  America  was  a  wilder- 
ness. He,  himself,  was  a  pioneer,  coming  West  from 
New  York  in  1835.  Reaching  Knox  County,  111.,  in 
1836,  he  came  to  Warren  County  in  1837,  where  he 
has  since  continuously  resided,  and  for  more  than  40 


of  the  last  years  at  his  home,  four  miles  east  of  Mon- 
mouth.  Since  his  residence  here  lie  has  witnessed 
this  country  change  from  uninhabited  prairie  and 
woodland  to  cultivated  fields  and  cities  enriched  with 
a  superior  civilization. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ellen  Phelps.  a  noble  help-meet, 
worthy  such  a  husband,  with  whom  he  lived  for  more 
than  58  years,  died  July  26,  1884,  and  for  her  he 
grieved  constantly  to  the  day  of  his  death.  They 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  sur- 
vive them. 

"  Porter  Phelps  inherited  the  characteristics  of  his 
ancestors.  He  possessed  a  keen  sense  of  justice,  a 
discriminating  judgment  that  suffered  few  errors,  a 
passionate  love  of  liberty,  home  and  country,  and 
a  conscientiousness  which  was  the  mainspring  of  all 
his  actions.  Although  physically  weak,  he  was  a 
man  of  great  personal  courage.  A  look  of  his  eye, 
when  aroused,  not  unfrequently  quelled  opposition 
and  overawed  su;  erior  strength.  His  will  was  in- 
domitable. His  firmness  and  tenacity  of  purpose,  • 
when  satisfied  he  was  right,  knew  no  such  thing  as 
change.  His  reading,  intelligence,  love  of  books, 
learning,  poetry  and  eloquence,  were  remarkable ;  I 
and,  had  he  chosen  such  a  career,  there  had  been  no 
position  in  civil  life  he  would  not  have  adorned.  To 
these  stronger  characteristics  he  added  feelings  ten-  . 
der  and  true,  friendships  warm,  sincere  and  endur- 
ing. His  soul  was  full  of  pathos.  Many  a  time,  in 
reading  a  touching  poem  or  narration,  the  tears 
would  start,  the  lip  tremble,  and  the  voice  break 
with  emotion. 

"The  spirituality  of  his  nature  was  very  great. 
From  early  life  he  had  been  a  sincere  and  devoted 
Christian.  His  faith  looked  up  to  Calvary,  undim- 
med  by  doubt  or  fear.  He  joined  the  Presbyterian 
Church  when  21  years  old,  and  from  22  was  ruling 
elder  at  Stockbridge  and  Addison,  N.  Y.,  and  Knox- 
ville,  III.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Monmouth,  an  elder  therein 
for  many  years,  and  when  he  died  was  a  member  of 
the  Second  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city. 
But  a  few  weeks  before  his  death,  he  was  noticed 
reading  in  his  Bible,  the  tears  streaming  down  his 
cheeks.  The  page  showed  it  was  of  the  agony  of 
our  Saviour  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane.  Still  later 
and  but  a  few  days  before  his  death,  from  near  the 
window  beside  which  he  sat,  he  took  his  bible,  found. 


\ 


636 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


the  23d  Psalm  and  read  aloud  in  feeble  yet  confi- 
dent voice  :  '  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not 
want. '  Here  he  stopped,  and  after  turning  his  book 
from  side  to  side,  said  he  could  not  see.  His  sight 
had  failed  him.  This  was  the  last  verse  he  ever 
read. 

"  He  had  been  a  great  sufferer  through  the  last 
months  of  his  life  from  progressive  paralysis,  and  in- 
ability to  help  himself  was  a  great  trial  to  his  self- 
reliant  and  determined  spirit.  Yet,  through  all  his 
sufferings  he  was  ever  patient  and  thoughtful  of 
those  who  cared  for  him.  His  last  hours  were  peace- 
ful and  comparatively  painless. 

"  In  death  his  face  was  calm  and  beautiful.  Faith 
and  hope  still  sat  upon  his  brow,  though  the  light  of 
his  eye  was  quenched.  His  life  had  drawn  to  a  close 
like  the  ending  of  that  bright  and  _beautiful  autumn 
Sabbath.  " 

"How  flue  has  the  day  beenijhow  bright  was  the  sun-! 

How  lovely  and  joyful  the  course  that  he  run, 
Though  he  rose  in  a  mist  when  his  race  he  begun, 

'And  there  followed  somejdroppings  of  rain ! 
But  when  the  fair  traveler 's  come  to  the  west, 

His  rays  are  all  gold,  his  beauties  are  best-: 
He  paints  the  sky  gay  as  he  sinks  to  his  rest, 

And  foretells  a  bright  rising  again. 

Just  such  is  the  Christian;  -'his  course.-he  begins 

Like  the  sun  in  a  mist,  when  he  mourns  for  his  sins, 
And  melts  into  tears;  thenjie  break«;out  and  shines. 

And  travels  his  heavenly  way: 
But  when  he  conies  nearer  to  finish  his  race, 

Like  a  fine  setting  sun,  he  looks  richer  in  grace, 
And  gives  a  sure  hope,  at  the  end  of  his  days, 

Of  rising  in  brighter  array." 


^.amuel  W.  Eodgers,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Warren  County,  and  at  present  (Octo- 
ber, 1885),  of  the  firm  of  Glendening  & 
Rodgers,  dealers  in  wood,  coal,  hay,  feed,  etc., 
at  Monmouth,  was  born  near  Hannibal,  Mo., 
Oct.  12,  1832.  His  parents,  Aleri  and  Mary 
(Davidson)  Rodgers,  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and 
of  Scotch  descent.  They  reared  a  family  of  five 
sons  and  three  daughters,  and  buried  two  children 
in  youth. 

The  senior  Mr.  Rodgers  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion ;  removed  from  Virginia  to  Missouri,  probably 
in  1821;  from  there  to  Hale  Township,  in  1836, 


where  he  died  in  1863,  about  74  years  of  age.  His 
widow  survived  him  until  July  3,  1879,  and  was  about 
89  years  of  age  when  she  died. 

S.  W.  Rodgers  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  edu- 
cated at  the  common  schools.  In  1882,  he  aban- 
doned agricultural  pursuits,  removed  into  town,  and 
the  following  year  entered  into  his  present  business 
arrangements.  His  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Hale  Township,  in  1854,  died  in  1874,  leav- 
ing five  children — Ida  E.  (Mrs.  Horace  Parsons), 
Jasper  F.,  James  A.,  deceased,  John  S.  and  Anna 
Mary. 

February  28,  1878,  Mr.  Rodgers  was  again  mar- 
ried in  Mercer  County,  this  State,  to  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Finley,  nee  Cabeen,  and  their  only  child  is  named 
Isabella  C. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rodgers  are 'members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


— i- 


.on.  John  J.  Glenn,  the  subject  of  the  fol- 
lowing sketch,  is  one  of  the  prominent  jur- 
ists, not  only  of  the  Tenth  Judicial  District, 
but  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  is  a  descend- 
j  ant  from  the  hardy  and  vigorous  Scotch-Irish 
I  stock,  his  ancestors  being  natives  of  the  North 
of  Ireland.  They  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
in  Maryland,  where  John  Glenn,  the  father  of 
Judge  Glenn,  was  born  in  the  year  1794.  He  was 
reared  there,  and  in  1818  went  to  Ohio,  and  settled 
in  Ashland  County,  where  he  followed  the  vocation 
of  a  farmer  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  1868.  He  had  married  Miss  Anna  John- 
son, a  native  of  New  Jersey,  who  died  in  May,  1841. 
Of  this  union,  five  children  were  born,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters.  John  J.,  one  of  the  number, 
was  born  in  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  March  2,  1831.  The 
days  of  his  youth,  like  those  of  most  farmers' sons, 
were  spent  upon  the  farm,  assisting  his  father  during 
the  summer  months  and  in  the  winters  attending  the 
district  schools.  In  the  latter  he  received  the  rudi- 
ments of  a  good  English  education,  and  was  thus 
prepared  for  an  academic  course,  which  he  received 
in  the  Vennillion  Institute,  Haysville,  Ohio.  He 
was  then  fitted  for  college  and  accordingly  entered 


''     WARREN  COUNTY. 


637 


the  Miami  University ,r,which  institution  subsequently 
conferred   upon  him  the  degree  of  M.  A. 

After  leaving  college,  our  subject  accepted  a  po- 
sition as  teacher  in  the  academy  at  Logansport, 
Ind.  He  l.ad,  however,  no  intention  of  making 
teaching  the  profession  of  his  life,  for  soon  after  his 
arrival  at  that  city  he  commenced  the  study  of  law, 
in  the  office  and  under  the  direction  of  Hon.  Daniel 
D.  Pratt,  then  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  and  prom- 
inent in  the  counsels  of  the  State  and  nation.  Young 
Glenn  labored  diligently  in  the  acquisition  of  legal 
lore,  and  two  years  later,  at  New  Castle,  that  State, 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  Immediately  after  his  ad- 
mission, lie  went  to  Forl  Wayne,  opened  an  office 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
remained  there  until  1860,  when,  believing  that  suc- 
cess would  sooner  crown  his  efforts  in  newer  and 
more  western  fields,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located 
at  Aledo.  Here  he  remained  for  one  year,  whence 
he  removed  to  Monmouth,  which  has  since  been  his 

|  permanent   abode.     In  his  new  field  he  soon  met 
with  success,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  es- 

J  tablished  a  large  and  remunerative  practice. 

Judge  Glenn  was  justly  recognized  as  standing  in 
the  front  rank  of  attorneys  in  his  Judicial  Circuit. 
He  possessed  that  kind  of  patient  industry  and  care 
in  the  arrangement  and  preparation  of  his  cases  that 
made  him  intimately  acquainted  with  their  strong 
points,  and  these  he  was  equally  careful  to  impress 
upon  Court  or  jury.  In  addition  to  the  clearness 
and  logic  of  his  statements,  they  were  always  care- 
fully supported  by  decisions  of  the  higher  courts 
bearing  upon  the  case.  The  natural  result  of  such 
efforts  was  usually  a  verdict  for  his  client.  He  soon 
earned  for  himself  the  reputation  of  being  a  careful, 
conscientious  and  painstaking  lawyer,  one  who  looked 
after  the  interests  of  his  client  and  used  all  honor- 
ble  means  to  secure  him  exact  and  equal  justice.  As 
an  advocate,  his  appeals  to  the  jury  and  to  the  Court 
were  made  to  the  reason  and  judgment  rather  than 
to  the  passions;  and  were  not  an  endeavor  to  so  be- 
cloud the  intellect  of  his  auditors,  by  sophistical 
reasoning,  that  the  rightousness  of  the  verdict  was 
left  in  doubt  when  rendered. 

In  1877,  Mr.  Glenn's  ability  as  an  attorney  and 
his  probity  of  character  and  worth  as  a  man,  received 
honorable  and  suitable  recognition  by  his  election  to 
the  Judgeship  of  the  Tenth  Judicial  District,  under 


the  new  law  that  originated  in  the  Appellate  Court. 
In  1879,  he  was  elected  for  the  full  term,  and  in 
1885  was  re-elected,  without  opposition,  for  a  second 
full  term. 

The  same  characteristics  that  marked  Mr.  Glenn 
as  a  lawyer  are  equally  prominent  in  him  as  a  Judge 
upon  the  Bench.  Painstaking  and  careful  attention 
to  the  evidence,  and  an  intelligent  application  of  the 
law  to  the  case,  renders  his  decisions  impregnable, 
and  he  has  had  but  few  reversals  from  the  higher 
courts.  Politically  Judge  Glenn  has  always  been  a 
staunch  Republican. 

On  the-i2th  of  August,  1856,  Judge  Glenn  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J.  Magaw, 
daughter  of  William  and  Rachel  (Paxton)  Magaw, 
of  Preble  Co.,  Ohio.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  them,  who  bear  the  following  names:  Anna  R., 
J.  McG.,  William  M.,  Minnie  E.  and  Addie  M.  The 
family  are  all  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  which  Judge  Glenn  has  been  an  Elder  for  many 
years. 


— S 


born 


rs.  Mary  E.  Freeman,  widow  of  B.  F. 
Freeman,  residing  at  Kirkwood,  was  born 
at  Washington,  Tazewell  Co.,  this   State, 
Feb.  5,  1842.     She  was  united  in   marriage 
to  B.  F.   Freeman,  Jan.  i,  1865.     B.   F.  Free- 
man, husband  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was 
in   Mercer  Co.,  this  State,  Nov.    29,  1835,  and 


died  June  15,  1876.  His  parents,  Fauntleroy  and 
Margaret  E.  (Brown)  Freeman,  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky. They  came  to  this  State  in  r834,  and  settled 
in  Mercer  County,  where  they  remained  a  number  of 
years,  and  where  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  occu- 
pation of  a  farmer.  Leaving  the  latter  county  they 
moved  to  Knox  County,  where  they  resided  until 
their  deaths,  which  occurred  in  1844  and  1878,  re- 
spectively. 

B.  F.  Freeman  remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  until  November,  1868,  having  previous  to 
attaining  his  majority  acquired  a  good  education  in 
the  district  schools.  After  leaving  home,  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Greenville  Township,  Henderson 
Co.,  of  160  acres,  on  which  he  located,  with  his  fam- 
ily, and  entered  actively  and  energetically  upon  the 


638 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


task  of  its  cultivation  and  improvement,  and  by  a 
subsequent  purchase  increased  the  same  about 
160  acres,  making  his  total  landed  interests  some 
320  acres,  on  which  he  Jived  and  labored  until  his 
death. 

He  was  married  Jan.  i,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Riddle,  and  of  their  union  four  children  are  living, 
viz. :  Fauritleroy,  Alta  M.,  Lloyd  H.  and  Mary  C. 
Mrs.  Freeman  has  purchased  a  residence  and  lot  in 
Kirkwood  Village,  and  is  residing  there  at  present 
with  her  three  children. 

Her  husband  in  political  matters  voted  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  was  a  stockholder  in  the 
First  National  Bank  at  Kirkwood,  and  was  a  warm- 
hearted, generous,  whole-souled  gentleman,  who  was 
always  ready  to  assist  any  good  enterprise  that  was 
calculated  to  benefit  the  community  in  which  he 
resided. 

He  died  respected  and  honored  by  those  who  knew 
him,  either  socially  or  in  business  transactions. 


eorge  W.   Brent  is  a  prominent  farmer 
and   stock-raiser,  residing  on  section   18, 
Ellison  Township,  where  he  was  born  on 
March  the  4th,  1840.     He  is  the  youngest  son 
of  Kenner  Brent,  Sr.,  who  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  Ellison  Township.     (See  sketch  of 
Paul   Brent.) 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  attended 
the  schools  in  his  township  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. On  becoming  of  age  he  set  out  as  a  work- 
man on  his  father's  farm  for  some  time.  His  first 
purchase  of  land  was  80  acres  in  Walnut  Grove 
Township,  Henderson  Co.,  which  was  partly  im- 
proved at  the  time  of  purchase.  After  making  fur- 
ther improvements  he  added  to  his  possessions  a 
tract  of  53  acres  in  Warren  County,  where  he  now 
resides  with  his  sisters,  Virginia  and  Sarah,  the  for- 
mer born  in  Virginia  three  months  before  her  parents 
came  to  Illinois;  Sarah  was  born  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Brent  enlisted  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
Feb.  r4,  1865,  in  Company  H,  491)1  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  fought  in  all  the  battles  in  which 
his  regiment  was  engaged.  He  was  promoted  to 
Corporal  December  21,  1865.  He  was  discharged 


at  Selma,  Ala.,  January  21,  1866,  and  returned  home 
immediately.  He  has  since  continued  to  reside  upon 
his  farm,  where  he  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  meeting  with  success  in  his  chosen  voca- 
tion. 

The  property  of  Mr.  Brent  is  mostly  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  his  residence  is  located  in 
a  beautiful  hickory  grove. 


I"  ames  H  Burke,  a.  pushing,  energetic  farmer, 
residing  on  section  19,  Hale  Township, 
where  he  rents  an  A,  No.  i  farm,  is  a  son 
of  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Morgan)  Burke,  na- 
tives of.  Virginia  and  Ohio  respectively.  His 
parents  were  married  and  settled  in  Indiana, 
and  in  1837  did  not  take  the  ndvice  of  Horace  Gree- 
ley,  but  came  West  without  it,  and  settled  in  Mon- 
mouth  Township.  From  the  date  of  their  settlement 
we  see  they  were  early  pioneers,  and  they  no  doubt 
experienced  all  the  trials  and  privations  which  the 
old  sturdy  pioneers  were  compelled  to  pass  through 
in  the  early  settlement  of  the  county.  •  In  1850,  af-«p, 
ter  a  residence  in  the  county  of  some  13  years,  the 
parents  removed  to  Henderson  County,  where  the 
mother  died.  After  her  doath  the  father  removed  to 
Iowa,  in  which  state  his  demise  occurred.  The  issue 
of  their  union  was  nine  children,  of  whom  James  H. 
was  second  in  order  of  birth. 

James  H.  Burke  was  born  in  Hancock  Co.,  Ind., 
May  6,  1833,  and  at  the  time  his  parents  emigrated 
to  this  county  was  but  four  years  of  age,  conse- 
quently may  be  classified  as  a  pioneer  himself.  He 
lived  at  home  uniil  he  was  19  years  old,  receiving 
such  advantages  as  were  at  that  time  afforded  by 
the  common  schools.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he 
crossed  the  plains  to  Northern  Oregon,  and  becom- 
ing imbued  with  the  spirit  of  gain,  he  engaged  in 
mining.  From  Northern  Oregon  he  went  to  South- 
ern Oregon  and  was  there  occupied  in  mining  until 
the  summer  of  1856,  when  he  returned  to  this 
county  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  has 
resided  in  Warren  and  Henderson  Counties  since 
that  time.  In  r 87  6  he  moved  into  Hale  Township, 
and  is  at  present  following  the  vocation  of  farming 
on  section  i  9,  of  that  township. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.   Burke   was  solemnized  in 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


639 


Sumner  Township,  Feb.  12,  1857,  at  which  time  Miss 
Mary  A.  Swain  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
Ohio  Feb.  23,  1830,  and  has  borne  her  husband  six 
children,  whose  names  are  Harvey  H.,  Kate  I.,  Ra- 
chel E.,  Mary  A..  Benjamin  S.  and  Harry  E.  Kate 
I.  is  dead. 

Mr.  Burke  has  held  the  office  of  Collector  for 
three  years,  and  at  present  is  Assessor  of  the  town- 
ship. In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  and  active  Repub- 
lican. 

•»  •  if     • 


rury  B.  Boyd,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Point 
Pleasant  Township,  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Virginia,  May  10,  1780.  He  was  the 
son  of  George  and  Jemima  (Birge)  Boyd,  and 
was  early  orphaned  by  their  death.  He  was 
made  an  apprentice  to  a  trade,  and  when  still 
young  went  to  the  State  cf  Georgia.  There  he  was 
married,  Feb.  18,  1805,  to  Elizabeth,  the  daughter 
of  George  and  Nancy  (Dean)  Hurd.  She  was  born 
in  Georgia,  Sept.  n,  1867,  and  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage they  went  to  Kentucky,  where  they  located  in 
Bath  County,  and  the  husband  utilized  his  good  edu- 
cation in  teaching,  and  in  the  alternate  seasons  he 
worked  at  his  trade.  They  lived  there  until  1822, 
when  they  went  to  Pulaski  County,  in  the  same 
Slate,  and  remained  there  until  1825.  They  re- 
moved thence  to  Greene  Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  were 
among  the  earliest  of  the  pioneer  element.  They 
located  on  land  which  was  covered  with  heavy  tim- 
ber, and  their  sons  were  occupied  with  the  work  of 
clearing  the  farm,  while  the  father  worked  at  his 
trade.  After  a  time  he  purchased  a  saw-mill.  His 
wife  died  Aug.  13,  1835,  and  he  was  again  married, 
about  12  years  later,  to  Elizabeth  Kelshaw. 

The  children  of  George  and  Nancy  (Dean)  Hurd 
were  Mary,  George,  Elizabeth  and  Nancy.  Mary 
was  married  to  Joseph  Dixson,  and  died  in  Greene 
Co.,  Ind.  George  was  married  and  lived  in  Georgia. 
Elizabeth  was  the  wife  of  Drury  B.  Boyd,  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Nancy  became  the  wife  of  Sanford 
Raimy,  and  they  lived  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio. 

While  living  in  Indiana  he  was  twice  elected  to 
represent  his  District,  and  served  two  terms  in  the 
Legislature  of  that  State.  After  his  removal  to  War- 
ren County,  he  located  at  Ellison,  and  a  few  years 


later  he  settled  on  section  2,  of  Point  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, where  he  died,  Sept.  7,  r8s6.  His  wife  was 
killed  in  the  tornado  at  Ellison  in  1858.  Two  of 
their  children  are  still  living.  Mrs.  Dixson  is  repre- 
sented elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  it  is  through  her 
interest  in  the  preservation  of  the  records  of  her  fam- 
ily circle  that  these  sketches  of  the  members  of  the 
family  have  been  obtained.  Her  only  sister  was  the 
wife  of  Elisha  Hughen,  of  Point  Pleasant  Township, 
of  whom  a  sketch  is  given  in  this  work. 

Since  this  sketch  was  written,  and  since  Mr. 
Hughen's  sketch  was  printed  in  this  volume,  his  wife 
died.  Her  demise  occurred  Dec.  14,  1885,  at  her 
home  in  Point  Pleasant  Township. 

Mr.  Boyd  and  his  family  made  the  trip  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Greene  County  with  horse-teams.  They 
settled  in  a  small  log  house,  of  the  most  unpreten- 
tious style,  until  the  father  could  clear  a  place,  upon 
which  he  erected  a  double-hewed  log  house. 

The  children  of  Drury  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Hurd) 
Boyd,  were:  Eliza,  Martha,  Thomas  H.,  John,  Je- 
mima, Nancy,  Amanda,  Mary  and  Elizabeth.  Eliza 
was  born  May  25, 1807,  was  married  toiCary  O'Neall, 
Aug.  12,  1830,  died  Feb.  14,  1844.  Martha,  born  in 
1809,  died  in  infancy.  Thomas  H.,  born  June  4, 
1811,  was  married  to  Margaret  Jones,  April  3,  1838, 
died  March  i,  1877.  John,  born  June  14,  1814,  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  O'Neall,  March  n,  1840,  died 
July  5,  1865.  Jemima,  born  Jan.  28,  1817,  was 
married  to  Eli  Dixson,  March  12,  1840,  and  is  the 
only  survivor  of  the  family.  Nancy  was  born  in 
1819,  arid  died  in  18215.  Amanda,  born  April  12, 
1824,  was  married  to  Stephen  Dixson,  April  ro,i845, 
and  died  May  3,  i86t.  Mary,  born  Sept.  9,  1827, 
was  married  to  Elisha  Hughen,  April  8,  1847,  died 
Dec.  r4,  1885.  Elizabeth,  born  Sept.  9,  1827,  was 
married  to  Gary  O.  Jones,  April  5,  1847,  died  Aug. 
14,  1856. 

.  ~»U,      |L      -I.  A  •         -    ^ 


octor  William    E.    Pittman,  practicing 
physician  at  Swan  Creek  Village,  was  born 
in  this  county,  Feb.   22,  1859,  and  is  a  son 
of  James   B.  Piltman,  a    native    of   Indiana, 
where  he  was  born  in  1 830.       His  father  is  a 
farmer   by   occupation,  and    resides   in    Pt. 
Pleasant  Township.     He  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza 


640 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


A.  Simmons,  in  1841.  She  was  born  in  1839,  in 
this  county,  and  bore  her  husband  1 1  children,  Os- 
car, deceased  at  18  years;  William  E.,  S.  M.,  J.  B., 
George,  Joseph,  Charlie,  Carrie  May,  Harry,  Emma, 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Dr.  Pittman  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Zoa  Huston,  Oct.  15,  1885.  She  was  born  in 
April,  1868,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  H.  and 
Eliza  (Crabb)  Huston.  Dr.  Pittman  commenced 
reading  medicine  preparatory  to  attending  college, 
with  Doctor  William  Randall,  of  Greenbush,  and 
was  with  him  for  some  three  months.  He  then  went 
to  Nodaway  Co,,  Mo.,  where  he  read  medicine  under 
the  instruction  of  Doctor  M.  R.  Hackedorn,  of  Ma- 
ryville,  Mo.,  for  about  18  months.  He  then  matric- 
ulated at  Rush  Medical  College,  March  13,  1882, 
and  after  following  the  entire  curriculum  of  that  in- 
stitution, graduated  therefrom  Feb.  17,  1885.  He 
also  graduated  in  Dental  Pathology  and  Surgery  at 
the  Dental  College,  Chicago.  He  holds  a  certificate 

'  of  honor  from  Rush  Medical  College,  and  a  certifi- 
cate of  Clinical  Instruction  from  the  Central  Free 
Dispensary,  in  Chicago. 

He  at  present  has  a  large  and  lucrative  practice  in 
Swan  Creek  and  the  surrounding  country.  He  is  a 
thorough  practitioner,  and  by  careful  diagnosis  of 

'  disease  and  faithful  attention  to  his  patients,  he  has 
established  himself  in  the  confidence  of  his  commu- 
nity. 

In  politics  Dr.  Pittman  is  a  supporter  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party. 


Ib^riarles  H.  Pierce,  of  Berwick  Township,  is 
engaged  in  fanning  on  section  31,  where 
he  is  the  proprietor  of  160  acres  of  good 
land.  He  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Feb. 
i,  1840.  His  father,  William  H.  Pierce,  is  a 
native  of  Vermont  and  came  to  this  State  in 
1835,  locating  at  the  village  of  Greenbush,  where  he 
taught  school  for  about  a  year.  He  then  purchased 
the  tract  which  is  now  in  possession  of  his  son  and 
at  once  engaged  in  its  improvement  and  cultivation. 
'  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Angelina  Wai- 
din,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  about  1817.  They  both 
came  to  this  State  prior  to  their  marriage.  Trie 
mother  of  Mr.  Pierce  died  July  14,  1842,  and  the  fa- 


ther Feb.  23,  1880.       Of  their  union  two  children 
were  born — Almiron  G.  and  Charles  H. 

Charles  H.  Pierce,  subject  of  this  notice,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Long,  Feb.  r, 
1862.  She  was  born  June  16,  1838,  in  Jackson  Co., 
Ohio,  and  they  have  four  children  living — Maud  Z., 
Blanche  M.,  William  H.  and  Harriet  G.  Mr.  Pierce 
is  engaged  in  general  farming,  and  is  meeting  with 
success  in  his  chosen  vocation.  In  politics  he  is  a 
believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  advoca- 
ted by  the  Republican  party. 


-4= 


illiam  Adcock,  Clerk  of  Kelly  Township, 
and  a  farmer  on  section  35,  is  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  his 

3>  township  and  county  and  a  member  of  the 
local  Board  of  Education  since  1877.  He  is 

the  oldest  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Mc- 
Murtry)  Adcock,  was  born  in  the  year  1850,  in  the 
township  where  he  is  and  always  has  been  a  resU 
dent,  of  a  family  that  has  been  largely  identified  with 
the  first  settlement  and  subsequent  development  of 
the  country.  His  grandfather,  Edmund  Adcock, 
was  among  the  very  first,  if  not  the  first,  white  man 
that  settled  in  this  section  of  country,  having  been 
located  with  his  family  in  Henderson  Grove,  near 
the  Knox  and  Warren  County  line,  in  the  year  1829 
or  '30,  two  or  three  years  before  the  Black  Hawk 
War.  William  McMurtry,  his  grandfather  on  his 
mother's  side,  was  for  30  years  a  member  of  the 
State  Government,  having  held  the  offices  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor,  State  Senator,  Representative  and 
Penitentiary  Commissioner  during  the  building  of 
the  State  Penitentiary  at  Joliet,  111. ;  also  Colonel  of 
the  io2d  Reg't  of  111.  Vols.  in  the  late  war.  His  fa- 
ther, Joseph,  is  a  noted  land  surveyor  and  for  several 
years  was  County  Commissioner.  His  brothers  are 
Edmund,  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Chicago,  111.,  and 
Robert,  a  practicing  attorney  at  Monmouth.  Mr. 
Adcock  was  brought  up  to  a  full  understanding  of 
the  business  of  a  fanner,  and  after  receiving  such 
education  as  the  common  schools  afforded,  became 
a  student  at  Abingdon  College,  whence  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  in  1871.  For  some 
years  he  operated  as  a  teacher  through  the  winter 
seasons  and  gave  his  attention  to  farming  the  re- 


-sf  ^L*  // 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


641 


mainder  of  the  year.  Of  late  he  has  devoted  his 
time  exclusively  to  agriculture.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  political  belief  and  connections  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  several  County,  State  and  Congressional 
Conventions  that  have  been  held  since  he  reached 
his  majority.  He  purchased  the  farm  of  which  he  is 
the  owner  in  1877.  It  comprises  250  acres  of  good 
land,  in  first  class  condition,  and  the  proprietor  is 
occupied  in  the  business  of  mixed  husbandry. 

The  union  in  marriage  of  Mr.  Adcock  with  Mary 
J.  Henderson,  occurred  July  13,  1876.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Edmund,  David  and  Mary  S.  Mrs.  Adcock 
was  born  in  the  year  1858,  in  the  town  of  Hender- 
son, Knox  Co.,  111.  Her  parents,  David  Henderson, 
a  prominent  citizen  and  recently  member  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Knox  Co.,  111.,  and  Sophia 
(Davis)  Henderson,  were  pioneers  of  Knox  County, 
whither  they  came  soon  after  the  termination  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War.  They  were  natives  respectively 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Indiana,  and  are  still  living  in 
Knox  County. 


i 


,,on.  Isaac  L.  Pratt,  banker  and  farmer  at 
Roseville,  is  one  of  the  well  known  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Warren 
County.  We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  give  the 
following  very  interesting  record  of  the  family, 
of  which  Isaac  L.  is  a  member :  The  Pratt 
family  are  of  English  ancestry,  and  date  back  to 
Mathew  and  Elizabeth  Pratt,  who  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica prior  to  the  year  of  1625.  They  settled  in  Wey- 
mouth,  Norfolk  County,  Mass.  Their  offspring  were 
Thomas,  Matthew,  John,  Samuel,  Joseph,  Elizabeth 
and  Mary  Pratt.  Matthews'  son  Thomas  is  the 
next  in  line  of  these  descendants.  He  and  his  wife 
lived  in  Weymouth  until  he  was  killed  by  the  Indians 
in  1676.  Their  children  were  William,  Sarah,  Abi- 
gail, Hepzibah  and  Thomas.  Thomas  and  his  wife 
moved  to  Easton,  Mass.,  and  their  children  were 
Thomas,  Abigail,  James,  Mary,  Hepzibah,  Deborah 
and  Jane.  The  father  died  in  December,  1745. 
James  Pratt,  son  of  Thomas,  lived  in  Easton,  Mass., 
at  which  place  he  died  Oct.  29,1774,  aged  76  years. 
His  wife  died  Feb.  17,  1762.  Seth  Pratt,  son  of 


Thomas,  was  the  only  one  of  the  children  who  at- 
tained to  manhood.  He  married  Mindwell  Stone,  of 
Easton,  Mass.  By  this  union  there  were  four  chil- 
dren, viz. :  Jonas,  Mehitabel,  Seth,  Jr.,  and  Seaver. 
Seth,  Sr.,  died  Aug.  22,  1802,  his  wife  surviving  him 
until  May  23,  1828.  Seaver,  son  of  Seth,  was  born 
April  27,  1782,  and  died  Dec.  n,  1843,  in  the  sixty- 
second  year  of  his  age.  He  married  Charity  Lo- 
throp  in  1806.  She  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass., 
Aug.  14,  1790,  and  died  Jan.  3,  1850,  aged  sixty 
years. 

The  names  and.  births  of  the  offspring  of  Isaac 
and  Sarah  Lothrop  were  as  follows  :  Sarah,  born  Aug. 
6,  1776  ;  Catharine,  born  March  7,  1778  ;  Ruth,  Feb. 
10,  1780;  Washington,  born  March  26,  1782;  Mary, 
born  Feb.  8,  1784  ;  Isaac,  born  March  i,  1786  ;  Betsy, 
born  July  23, 1788;  Charity,  born  Aug.  14,  17 90  Abi- 
gail, born  March  15,  1793;  Anness,  born  Nov.  23, 
1795  ;  Jarvis,  born  Junes,  J798- 

The  offspring  of  Seaver  and  Charity  Pratt  were 
Laura,  born  Nov.   26,    1807;  Amos,  born  Oct.  28,! 
1809;  Isaac    L.,   born   Aug.   4,1818;  Abijah,  born  I 
June  12,  1824,  and  David,  born  July  6,  1829. 

H 

Isaac  L.  Pratt,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was,  as  j 
will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing,  the  third  in  the  fam-  I 
ily  of  Seaver  and  Charity   Pratt.     He  married  Miss  j 
Harriet  W.  Drake,  a  native  of  Easton,  Mass.,  and  a 
daughter  of  Joel  and  Lusannah  Drake,  whose  ances- 
tors were  the  first  settlers  of  Easton,  Mass.,  on  the 
mother's   side.     Their  children    were  Betsey,  born 
Nov.    i,  1813;  Harriet   W.,  born    March   29,  1816; 
Sarah  Ann,  born  Dec.  — ,  1817  ;  Nahum,  born  Sept. 
28,  1820;  Joel    S.,  born  June   8,  1823,  and  Bethnal 
F.,  born  July  13,  1825. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pratt  were  married  May  16,  1844. 
They  have  had  born  to  them  four  children,  as  fol- 
lows :  Isaac  F.  born  June  24,  1846,  died  July  27  of 
same  year;  Isaac  Seaver,  born  Aug.  13,  1848,  died, 
July  14,  1865;  Joel  Drake,  born  Oct.  2,  1851,  died 
Jan.  13,1852;  Seth  Franklin  was  born  April  20, 
•853  i  he  is  cashier  of  the  Roseville  Bank. 

Mr.  Pratt,  whose  biography  we  write,  was  born 
and  reared  in  Easton,  Mass.  He  remained  beneath 
the  parental  roof  until  he  was  a  young  man.  During 
this  time  he  attended  the  district  schools,  and  therein 
received  the  rudimentary  part  of  an  English  educa- 
tion. His  education  was  further  advanced  by 
attendance  at  the  Holliston  School,  Holliston, 


642 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Massachusetts,  and  at  the  Teachers'  Seminary  at 
Andover  for  three  years.  After  leaving  the  school 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  engaged  in  teaching, 
and  continued  in  that  profession  for  eleven  sessions, 
eight  of  which  were  taught  in  his  native  State,  and 
three  in  this  State.  His  attention  was  early  attracted 
to  the  importance  and  future  greatness  of  the  West, 
which  was  then  rapidly  filling  up  with  the  best  young 
and  energetic  blood  of  the  Eastern  States.  In  1841 
he  joined  the  great  throng  that  had  for  its  watch- 
word,"  Westward,  ho .'"  and  came  to  Illinois,  arriv- 
ing here  in  Warren  County  April  24  of  that  year. 
He  remained  here  one  year  and  a  half.  During  that 
time  he,  in  connection  with  E.  Mitchell,  purchased 
an  unimproved  tract  of  land  in  Ellison  Township  in 
this  county.  Soon  after  he  returned  East  to  his  na- 
tive town  and  was  there  variously  engaged  for  two 
years  and  a  half.  During  his  sojourn  there  he  mar- 
ried as  stated  above.  In  June,  1845,  he  and  his 
wife  returned  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Swan  Town- 
ship, on  section  6,  where  he  purchased  sixty  acres 
of  land.  He  at  once  erected  a  house,  and  went  to 
work  industriously  to  cultivate  and  improve  his  pur- 
chase. He  continued  to  reside  there  until  1852, 
when  he  moved  to  Roseville  Township,  where  he  had 
purchased  land  on  section  31.  There  he  erected  a 
substantial  building,  and  there  he  still  continues  to 
reside. 

Mr.  Pratt  has  been  more  than  ordinarily  a  success- 
ful man.  His  landed  interests  consist  of  2,000 
acres  of  good  land  in  Illinois,  775  acres  in  Arkan- 
sas, and  300  acres  in  Easton,  Mass.  The  latter 
acreage  is  a  part  of  the  land  handed  down  through 
five  generations  of  the  past.  This  land  and  wealth 
has  been  the  accumulation  of  years  of  toil,  energy, 
and  the  practice  of  economical  habits.  It  also  is 
the  result  of  wise  and  judicious  investments,  backed 
by  good  hard  common  sense  and  the  utmost  confi- 
dence in  the  future  of  the  great  State  of  Illinois. 

Religiously,  Mr.  Pratt  subscribes  to  none  of  the 
formulated  creeds,  but  believes  in  doing  unto  others 
as  you  would  have  others  do  unto  you,  and  that  in 
the  careful  observance  of  that  rule  therein  is  con- 
tained the  genuine  essence  of  true  religion. 

Politically,  Mr.  Pratt  is  a  stanch  Democrat.  He 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Martin  VanBuren  for  the  Pres- 
idency, in  1840,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present, 
through  good  as  well  as  evil  report,  he  has  remained 
firm  and  true  to  his  first  political  love. 


In  1883,  his  worth  and  standing  as  a  man,  and 
character  as  a  citizen,  received  suitable  and  honora- 
ble recognition  by  his  election  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State.  While  a 
member  of  that  body  he  proved  himself  a  valuable 
.legislator,  one  who  was  careful  and  always  present 
at  the  sessions  of  the  Legislature.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committees  on  Finance,  Drainage  and  Re- 
trenchment. He  has  been  frequently  honored  with 
offices  of  trust  in  the  township  in  which  he  resides, 
and  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  fifteen  years. 

This  in  short  is  a  brief  biography  of  Isaac  L. 
Pratt.  He  is  truly  a  representative  Western  man. 
During  his  long  residence  here  he  has  become  thor- 
oughly identified  with  and  understands  the  interests 
of  the  West.  His  success  stamps  him  as  a  man  of  in- 
domitable energy  that  brooks  no  defeat.  He  started 
in  life  poor,  and  whatever  he  has  attained  is  the  re- 
sult of  his  industry,  energy  and  great  good  common 
sense.  With  these  virtues,  aided  by  a  strong  consti- 
tution, he  has  carved  out  for  himself  and  those  de-> 
pending  upon  him,  a  comfortable  competency,  at  the 
same  time  making  and  retaining  for  himself  a  name 
for  strict  honor  and  integrity — which,  after  all,  is  the<i 
best  inheritance  to  leave  to  his  posterity. 

As  one  of  the  leading  and  truly  representative  men 
of  the  county,  and  a  gentleman  who  is  an  honor  to- 
the  community  in  which  he  has  so  long  resided,  we 
take  pleasure  in  presenting  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Pratt 
in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


.dward  D.  Alexander,  druggist  at  Alexis, 
is  a  native  of  Warren  County.  He  is  the 
only  son  of  John  E.  and  Mary  C.  (Reich- 
!?S.  ard)  Alexander,  who  are  residents  of  Mon- 
mouth.  Mr.  Alexander  was  born  in  that  city, 
j  May  10,  1860.  He  attended  the  city  schools 
until  he  had  finished  the  branches  of  primary  study, 
and  he  subsequently  was  a  student  for  a  year  at  the 
college  in  his  native  place,  where  he  made  good  pro- 
gress. When  he  decided  on  his  profession  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  passed  a  year  at  the  School  of  Phar- 
macy in  order  to  be  thoroughly  prepared  for  the  re- 
sponsible duties  of  his  chosen  vocation. 

In  1878  he  assumed  charge  of  the  drug  business 
which  he   has  since  conducted.     He  is  winning  the 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


643 


patronage  and  support  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resides  and  his  trade  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
in  the  place  in  its  comparative  relations.  We  present 
an  interior  view  in  this  volume  of  Mr.  Alexander's 
neat  and  tasteful  drug  house.  He  is  a  young  man 
of  ability  and  perseverance,  and  in  the  event  of  his 
conducting  his  affairs  in  the  same  way  in  which  he 
has  made  his  initiatory,  he  has  an  assured  future  of 
usefulness  and  activity.  His  business  principles  are 
excellent  and  he  is  amply  fitted  for  the  discharge  of 
the  duties  of  his  vocation.  In  manner  and  address 
he  is  courteous  and  affable  and  is  always  observant 
of  his  obligations  as  a  gentleman.  In  his  political 
principles  and  affiliations,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Oct.  16,  1883,  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Miss  Mina  Kobler,  and  one  child  has  been  born 
to  them.  The  latter  is  named  Theo  Marie.  Mrs. 
Alexander  was  born  in  Monmouth  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  G.  J.  and  Anna  M.  Kobler. 


ichael  S.  Rees,  a  farmer  in  the  township 
of  Kelly,  located  on  section  32,  is  the  son 
of  a  pioneer  of  Warren  County,  and  was 
born  in  the  township  in  which  he  is  now  a 
citizen  of  prominence.  Martin  Rees,  his  father, 
came  to  Warren  County  in  1836.  He  was  born 
on  Pine  Creek,  near  the  center  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
1781,  of  German  parentage.  At  the  age  of  19  he 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  divided  his  time  in  rafting  logs  and  lumber  and 
in  farming.  He  succeeded  in  accumulating  consid- 
erable property.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Davis,  at 
that  place  and  continued  to  reside  there  until  1836. 
He  then  sold  his  farm  and  personal  property,  and 
put  his  family,  which  consisted  of  himself,  wife  and 
eight  children,  on  board  a  raft,  with  three  other 
families,  and  moved  out  upon  the  waters  of  the  Alle- 
gheny River,  on  the  loth  of  May  of  that  year.  They 
floated  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  sold  his  raft  and  pur- 
chased a  keel  boat,  which  he  run  to  Rising  Sun,  Ind., 
a  small  town  on  the  Ohio  River.  In  the  meantime 
they  were  visited  with  that  terrible  disease,  the  small 
l>ox,  from  which,  however,  all  recovered.  They 
landed,  and  the  elder  Rees  purchased  three  yoke  of 
oxen  and  two  span  of  horses,  five  wagons,  some 
young  horses  and  other  necessary  articles,  and 


started  for  Monmouth,  where  he  arrived  Sept.  10, 
1836.  Here  he  remained  five  days,  when  he  moved 
to  a  house  located  about  one  mile  south  of  where 
Gerlaw  now  stands.  He  bought  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  36,  Spring  Grove  Township,  and  also 
the  north  half  of  section  32,  in  Kelly  Township. 
The  latter  had  a  log  house,  stables  and  crib  upon  it, 
and  30  acres  had  been  broken  and  fenced.  Here 
Mr.  Rees  lived  for  four  years,  and  during  the  time 
improved  the  farm  in  Spring  Grove  Township,  to 
which  he  removed,  but  after  remaining  two  years  he 
returned  to  the  Kelly  Township  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1861.  He 
owned  considerable  land  in  this  and  adjoining  coun- 
ties, which  he  divided  among  his  children. 

Mr.  Rees  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  for  over  50  years,  and  was  highly  re- 
spected for  his  strict  morality  and  the  firmness  of 
his  faith.  He  was  noted  for  strength,  energy  and 
industry.  Politically,  he  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but 
became  a  Republican  when  that  party  'was  organ- 
ized. He  served  for  many  years  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  was  a  captain  of  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers in  the  War  of  1812,  and  his  wife  was  pensioned 
as  widow  of  a  soldier  of  that  war.  Her  death  oc- 
curred Dec.  17,  1882. 

By  the  three  marriages  of  Mr.  Rees,  he  became  the 
father  of  nine  children,  seven  by  the  first  and  two 
by  the  second  wife.  Seven  of  them  are  still  living. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Rees 
was  Sarah  Smith  and  she  was  born  in  Indiana. 
The  third  wife  was  Catherine  Struthers. 

Michael  S.  Rees,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  oldest  child 
of  the  second  marriage.  His  birth  took  place  in 
Kelly  Township,  Nov.  18,  1838.  He  passed  the 
years  of  his  minority  in  labor  on  the  farm  and  in  ob- 
taining a  limited  education  in  the  pioneer  schools. 
He  was  under  the  home  roof-tree  until  the  death  of 
his  father,  and  he  managed  the  farm  for  a  year  after 
that  event.  He  became  a  soldier  in  1862,  and  en- 
listed in  August  of  that  year  in  Co.  B,  io2d  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  20th  corps,  remaining  in  the  service  until  the  war 
ended.  His  regiment  joined  the  army  in  the  field  at 
Chattanooga,  and  he  was  in  the  action  at  Resaca, 
also  at  Burnt  Hickory,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach- 
tree  Creek,  and  at  the  siege  and  capture  of  Atlanta, 
and  served  in  other  lesser  engagements. 

From  the  latter  place  the  command  proceeded  to 


644 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Savannah  and  thence  through  North  Carolina  to 
Washington  to  the  Grand  Review,  which  constituted 
the  closing  scene  of  the  most  remarkable  war  on 
record.  In  June,  1865,  the  regiment  was  discharged 
and  Mr.  Rees  returned  to  his  native  county  and 
township,  and  took  possession  of  the  homestead 
which  is  now  his  property.  The  estate  of  which  he 
is  the  proprietor  contains  325  acres  and  is  all  in  an 
advanced  agricultural  condition.  Mr.  Rees  has  put 
up  good  buildings  of  a  character  suited  to  the  pur- 
poses to  which  the  farm  is  devoted,  namely,  mixed 
husbandry.  We  present  a  view  of  the  homestead  in 
this  volume,  on  page  474. 

January  16,  1868,  Mr.  Rees  was  married  to  Mar- 
garet Low,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren— Eva,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  months,  Elsie 
R.,  Effie  E.,  Daisy  F.,  and  Bertha  A.  Mrs.  Rees  was 
born  in  the  township  of  Spring  Grove,  Aug.  3,  1844, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Rey- 
nolds) Low.  Her  parents  came  to  this  county  the 
Iyear  previous,  from  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was 
a  native  of  England  and  came  to  this  country  at  the 
age  of  1 6  years.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of  the 
*  Keystone  State,  as  were  her  maternal  grandparents. 
Mr.  Low  married  the  second  time,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Mrs.  Lenora  Stewart.  By  the  previous 
marriage  he  had  12  children  and  by  the  last,  one. 
Of  this  number,  six  are  now  living.  Mrs.  Rees  is 
the  fifth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  above  family.  She 
resided  with  her  family  on  their  farm  in  Spring  Grove 
Township  until  her  marriage.  Her  mother  died  in 
1866,  and  the  father  in  1878.  Mr.  Low's  second 
wife  is  living  in  Iowa.  Her  oldest  brother,  William 
Low,  died  in  the  service  of  his  country,  at  Paducah, 
Ky.,  in  1862. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Rees  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 


\  illiam   H.   Dawdy,  owning  260  acres  of 
land   in    Berwick  Township,  80   acres  of 
which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cul- 
tivation, and   residing   upon  section   n,  of 
the  township  named,  was  born  in  Knox  Co., 
this  State,  Oct.  2,  r845,  and  is   a  son  of  John 
Dawdy,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he  was  born  in 


1798.  The  father  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Illinois,  coming  to  this  State  in  1828,  and  locating  in 
Knox  County;  he  died  in  1874.  His  marriage  oc- 
curred in  1834,  in  this  State,  at  which  time  Miss  To- 
bitha  Boydson  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
1809,  in  Kentucky,  and  is  still  a  resident  of  Knox 
County,  this  State.  Of  her  union  with  Mr.  Dawdy, 
ten  children  were  born,  named  Benjamin  M.,  Eliza, 
Emily,  Malinda,  William  H.,  Jacob  W.,  Alexander 
C.  and  Sarah  E. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head 
of  this  notice  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  J. 
Howard,  Jan.  3,  1871.  She  was  born  Oct.  28,  1852, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Howard,  who  was  born 
in  1826,  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to  this  State  in 
1855,  locating  in  Warren  County.  Her  father  married 
Miss  Martha  Hood,  and  they  had  nine  children, 
viz. :  Lucinda  E.,  Isaac  S.,  Amanda  J.,  Mary  C., 
Sarah  A.,  Joseph,  Cora  A.,  Rosa  B.  and  John  E., 
twins. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawdy,  of  this  sketch,  are  the  par- 
ents of  six  children:  Delia  M.,  born  in  1873;  Jessie 
V.  in  1874;  Daisy  D.,  in  1875  ;  George  W.,  in  1877; 
Perley  E.,  in  i88r,  and  Bertha  R.,  in  1883.  Mr. 
Dawdy  is  pleasantly  located  and  has  a  good  resi- 
dence. He  is  turning  his  attention  to  the  raising  of 
cattle,  his  specialty  being  the  Short-horns.  He  is 
also  dealing  in  Poland-China  hogs,  and  is  meeting 
with  success  in  both  his  farming  and  breeding  in- 
terests. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  to 
which  order  he  has  belonged  for  the  last  12  years. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat. 


i illiam  M.  Pinkerton,  of  the  firm  of  Page 
&  Pinkerton,  hardware  and  furniture  deal- 
ers, at  Monmouth,  was  born  in  Preble  Co., 
5>  Ohio,  near  the  village  of  Fair  Haven,  April 
18,  1837.  His  parents,  Ebenezer  and  Mary 
(McCrary)  Pinkerton,  natives  respectively  of 
the  States  of  South  Carolina  and  Ohio,  and  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction,  reared  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  William  M.  being  the  eldest  son  and  third 
child  in  order  of  birth.  The  senior  Mr.  Pinkerton 
was  by  occupation  a  farmer  ;  came  to  Illinois  in  1854, 
and  spent  the  balance  of  his  days  in  Peoria  County, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


645 


dying  in  the  year  1863,  aged  58  years.  His  widow 
survived  him  up  to  1883,  dying  in  September  of  that 
year,  at  the  age  of  75  years. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  brought  up  to  farm- 
ing, and  followed  it  in  Peoria,  McLean  and  Mercer 
counties,  up  to  1876,  when  he  removed  to  Monmouth 
and  entered  into  the  present  business  arrange- 
ment. 

Aug.  18,  1862,  at  Peoria,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  77th 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  three  years,  participating  in 
13  battles  :  Haines  Bluff,  Arkansas  Post,  Magnolia 
Hills,  Raymond,  Champion  Hills,  Black  River,  Siege 
of  Vicksburg,  Bank's  Expedition  in  Western  Loui- 
siana, Ft.  Morgan,  on  the  Texas  Coast,  Bank's  Red 
River  Expedition,  Sabine,  Cross  Roads,  Pleasant 
Hill  and  the  siege  and  final  taking  of  Mobile.  In  all 
these  battles  he  was  wounded  once,  and  that  so  light 
he  never  left  his  command.  It  must  not  be  sup- 
posed, however,  that  the  army  life  did  him  no  injury. 
As  with  nearly  every  other  man  who  saw  service,  his 

[health  was  impaired,  his  constitution  undermined,and 
he  was  finally  forced  to  abandon  the  farm  on  account 

1  of  it. 

He  was  married  in  Peoria  County,  December, 
1868,  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Finley,  who  died  at  Mon- 
mouth, April  17,  1877.  The  children  she  bore  were 
Grace,  Fannie  and  Martha,  and  two  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Jan.  28,  i88i,Mr.  Pinkerton  was  again  married, 
to  Elizabeth  Peacock,  and  has  had  borne  to  him 
two  children,  James  H.  and  Anna  Mary. 


illiam  P.  Brent,  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county,  coming 
'n  here  in  1835,  with  his  parents,  and  pre- 
vious to  his  demise  resided  on  section 
17,  Ellison  Township.  Mr.  Brent  was  born 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  Va.,  and  came  to  this  State 
and  county  with  his  parents  when  he  was  15  years 
of  age.  He  continued  to  reside  with  his  parents, 
enduring  with  them  all  the  privations  incident  to  the 
settlement  of  a  new  country. 

His  years  prior  to  attaining  the  age  of  majority 
were  passed  on  the  parental  homestead.  Oct.  3, 
1850,  Miss  Margaret  E.,  daughter  of  James  and 


Mary  Jamison,  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  July 
!>  18331  in  the  county  in  which  she  was  married.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  was  married  in  Kentucky, 
afterwards  removing,  in  1829,  to  this  State,  and  set- 
tling in  Henderson  County.  She  bore  her  husband 
n  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased:  Batha- 
nia  is  the  wife  of  John  H.  Warfield,  who  resides  in 
Montgomery  Co.,  Iowa,  and  is  there  engaged  in  the 
occupation  of  farming ;  Velma  became  the  wife  of 
M.  B.  Jamison,  who  resides  on  a  farm  in  Ellison 
Township,  and  is  its  Supervisor;  Arthur  J.,  Scruiy- 
ler  L.,  Charles  E.,  William  W.  and  Ellen,  all  reside 
at  home  with  their  mother. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brent  settled  on  a 
farm  of  80  acres,  where  the  family  lived  for  some 
time.  By  energetic  labor  and  economy,  coupled  with 
good  judgment  and  perseverance,  he  succeeded  in 
adding  to  his  original  purchases,  until  at  the  time  of 
his  demise,  April  22,  1880,  he  was  the  owner  of  160 
acres  of  good  farm  land. 

Religiously,  Mrs.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
odist  Episcopal  Church,  and  has  been  for  several 
years.  In  politics,  Mr.  B.  was,  during  his  lifetime, 
a  strong  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party. 


i.ornelius  McNeil,  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, July  17,  1 8 10,  and  was  the  son  of 
Cornelius  and  Mary  (Allison)  McNeil, 
natives  respectively  of  counties  Antrim 
and  Kerry,  Ireland,  but  their  ancestors  were 
originally  from  Scotland.  The  senior  Corne- 
lius came  to  America,  in  1792,  and  Mary  Allison 
came  in  1800.  They  were  married  in  Philadelphia 
where  Mr.  McNeil  died,  in  1826,  and  his  widow  in 
1847. 

Cornelius  McNeil,  Jr.,  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  city  of  "Brotherly  Love,"  and 
when  1 6  years  of  age  was  indentured  "five  years 
eleven  months  and  two  weeks  to  the  trade  and  mys- 
tery of  Weavers'  Machine  Making."  Mastering  the 
"mysteries"  he  embarked  in  business  upon  his  own, 
hook,  and  followed  it  17  years,  in  Kensington,  where 
he  built  a  shop  with  the  $169  inherited  from  his 
father. 

In  company   with  John    Corkin   he    bought    the 


646 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Gloucester  Ferry  House,  an  old  building  standing  yet 
near  the  Walnut  Street  Ferry,  Philadelphia,  and  run 
it  with  great  success  about  four  years. 

He  left  Philadelphia  in  1855, having  been  swindled 
out  of  his  property  by  some  descendents  of  the  pa- 
triarch, Abraham,  and  spent  a  year  at  South  Bend, 
Ind.  The  year  following  he  came  to  Monmouth, 
where  he  has  since  been  known  as  a  first-class  me- 
chanic. We  should  not  forget  to  say,  however,  that  he 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States  Government 
awhile  during  the  war  as  a  carpenter,  and  as  such 
was  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  during  the  last  battle  at  that 
place.  His  specialty  for  some  years  past  has  been 
the  manufacture  of  washing  machines,  a  patent 
upon  which  he  controls. 

Politically,  Mr.  McNeil  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Whig  party,  then  affiliated  with  the  Democrats,  and 
is  now  an  Independent. 

July  4,  1836,  Mr.  McNeil  was  married,  in  Phila- 
delphia, to  Miss  Elizabeth  Young,  and  has  had  born 
to  him  n  children,  seven  of  whom  are  deceased. 
The  living  are  James,  Isabella  (Mrs.  Henry  Duer), 
Letitia  (Mrs.  J.  A.  Chafee)  and  Miss  Ida. 
'  Mr.  McNeil  belongs  to  no  Church,  but  his  heart  is 
jtrue  to  Masonry,  which  means,  in  the  enlightened 
(world,  the  highest  order  of  religion. 


li  Dixson.  From  an  early  history  of  Greene 
County,  Ind.,  we  get  the  following  facts  of 
the  Dixson  family:  Eli  Dixson,  who  is  the  fa- 
ther of  Mrs.  Jemima  Dixson's  husband,  referred 
to  elsewhere  in  this  work,  was  a  son  of  Solo- 
J  mon  and  Sarah  Dixson  and  was  born  in  1769, 
in  Virginia,  near  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains.  He 
emigrated  to  Georgia,  where,  near  the  city  of  Augus- 
ta, he  married  Rebecca  Hart,  in  1799,  and  moved  to 
Preble  County,  Ohio,  in  1806,  settling  in  what  is  now 
called  Dixson  Township,  being  the  first  settler  in 
that  township.  He  remained  there  about  twelve 
years,  during  which  time  he  cleared  a  farm  and  exer- 
cised a  prominent  influence  in  the  settling  of  the 
neighborhood.  He  removed  to  Greene  Co.,  Ind.,  in 
1818,  and  settled  in  Smith  Township,  where  he  im- 
proved a  farm.  He  was  noted  for  his  liberality  and 
benevolence  in  helping  such  as  were  not  able  to  help 
themselves.  He  served  two  terms  in  the  State  Leg- 


islature, from  Greene,  Owen  and  Putnam  Counties. 
He  died  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  March  9, 
1836.  He  had  six  brothers  and  three  sisters,  viz. : 
Samuel,  John,  Joseph,  Henry,  Solomon  Stephen  Ruth, 
Sarah  and  Elizabeth.  Sam'l  Dixson  died  in  Greene 
Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  30,  1850,  aged  53  years.  John 
Dixson  was  drowned  in  the  Ohio  River,  near  Shaw- 
neetown.  Joseph  Dixson  died  at  his  residence,  in 
Greene  Co.,  Ind.  Henry  Dixson  died  in  Tennessee. 
Solomon  Dixson  was  born  Oct.  4,  1771,  died  Oct.  8, 
1824,  in  Greene  Co.,  Ind.  Stephen  Dixson  was 
killed  by  the  Indians,  near  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812. 

Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Eli  Dixson,  was  the  daughter 
of  Isaac  and  Hester  Hart,  and  was  born  near  Au- 
gusta, Ga.,  Sept.  2,  1779,  and  died  Oct.  i,  1852. 
She  had  four  brothers,  viz.:  William, Isaac, Thomas 
and  Phineas  ;  and  two  half-brothers,  viz. :  Amos  and 
Jerry  Greene;  and  one  half-sister,  who  married  a  Mr. 
Jones.  Her  brother,  William,  died  in  Georgia  ; 
Isaac  and  Thomas  died  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
Phineas  in  Peoria  Co.,  111.  Her  half-brothers,  sister 
and  mother  emigrated  to  Michigan  at  an  early  day. 

Eli  and  Rebecca  Dixson's  family  consisted  of 
eight  sons  and  three  daughters,  viz. :  Samuel,  Sarah, 
Solomon,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  Eli,  Stephen,  John, 
Phineas,  William  and  Prior.  Samuel  was  born  June 
22,  1800,  died  Dec.  17,  1844;  Sarah  (Johnston)  born 
Aug.  27,  1801,  died  April  29,  1839 ;  Solomon,  born 
June  21,  1803,  died  June  20,  1851  ;  Elizabeth,  died 
in  infancy;  Rebecca  (Johnston),  born  Oct.  24, 1807, 
died  June  27,  1834;  Prior,  born  Nov.  15,  1809,  died 
Sept.  10,  1850;  Eli,  born  Mays,  1811,  died  Oct.  27, 
1857;  Stephen,  born  Dec.  21,  1814,  died  March  i, 
1879;  William,  born  1822,  died  Feb.  9,  1870.  John 
Dixson  was  born  in  1816.  He,  being  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  the  family,  still  resides  in  Greene  Co.,  Ind.; 
Samuel,  Solomon,  Eli  and  Rebecca  (seniors),  Sam- 
uel, Solomon,  Sarah,  Rebecca  Prior,  Phineas,  Eli, 
and  William  all  being  buried  in  the  Dixson  grave- 
yard, in  Greene  Co.,  Ind. 

Mrs.  Jemima  Dixson,  of  Point  Pleasant  Township, 
is  a  settler  of  Warren  County  of  1858.  She  came 
here  after  the  death  of  her  husband  with  her  four 
children,  and  located  in  the  same  township  in  which 
she  is  still  living.  She  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky., 
Jan.  28.  1817,  and  is  the  daughaer  of  Drury  B.  and 
Elizabeth  (Hurd)  Boyd,  of  whom  an  account  is  given 
on  another  page  in  this  volume.  The  latter  removed 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


647 


to  Pulaski  Co.,  Ky.,  when  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Dix- 
son,  was  a  child  of  five  years.  The  family  was  trans- 
ferred to  Greene  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1825,  when  she  was 
eight  years  of  age.  There  she  passed  the  remaining 
years  of  her  youth,  and  was  married,  March  12, 1840, 
to  Eli  Dixson.  He  was  born  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
was  the  son  of  Eli  and  Rebecca  (Hart)  Dixson,  men- 
tioned above.  At  the  time  of  their  marriage,  they 
settled  on  a  farm,  which  he  had  purchased  in  Smith 
Township,  in  White  River  Bottom,  in  Greene  Co.,  in 
the  State  of  Indiana. 

Mr.  Dixson  was  a  man  of  excellent  character  and 
a  successful  farmer.  He  improved  and  added  to  his 
acreage  to  a  considerable  extent.  He  resided  on  the 
same  place  until  1850,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  to 
prospect.  In  1855,  he  came  again,  and  at  that  time 
to  Warren  County.  He  decided  to  make  an  invest- 
ment here,  and  he  accordingly  bought  unimproved 
land  in  Point  Pleasant  Township.  He  returned  to 
the  farm  in  Indiana  with  every  intention  of  removing 
his  family  to  Illinois  and  of  settling  on  the  land  he 
had  bought.  In  1857  he  was  engaged  in  making  the 
necessary  arrangements  for  a  transfer  of  his  interests, 
and  in  the  midst  of  his  operations,  with  that  end  in 
view,  he  was  taken  sick  and  died,  Oct.  27,  of  that 
year.  His  widow  rented  the  Indiana  farm  the  fol- 
lowing year  and  removed  to  Illinois.  Her  father  and 
other  relatives  had  located  in  Warren  County,  and 
she  joined  them,  settling  on  section  12,  in  Point 
Pleasant  Township.  The  farm  on  which  she  took 
up  her  residence  was  at  the  time  unimproved,  but 
that  has  all  been  changed,  and  the  place  is  in  a 
splendid  condition  for  prosperous  management.  Mrs. 
Dixson  and  her  children  are  still  the  owners  of  the 
property  in  Indiana. 

To  her  and  her  husband  five  children  were  born. 
The  oldest,  Samuel  B.,  was  born  Jan.  10,  1841.  He 
married  Jennie  C.  Davis,  April  14,  1870,  and  they 
had  one  child,  Bertha.  He  died  Aug.  14,  1874,  in 
Point  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  had  lived  and 
managed  the  family  farm  up  to  that  time.  His  widow 
and  daughter  reside  in  Burlington,  Iowa.  Elizabeth, 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Mrs.  Dixson,  was  born  Aug. 
1 6,  1842,  and  died  in  her  infancy.  Rebecca  was 
born  May  i,  1845,  and  died  March  30,  1862.  Mary 
E.,  the  only  daughter  now  living,  was  born  April  13, 
1849,  and  is  the  wife  of  Lambert  Lester,  of  this 
township.  Eli  is  the  youngest  child  and  is  the  only 
surviving  son.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson  Township, 


Greene  County,  Ind.,  Jan.  8,  1853,  and  was  five  years 
old  when  he  accompanied  his  mother  to  Illinois, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  primarily,  and  afterwards  attended 
Abidngon  College  (Knox  County)  two  years.  Later, 
he  went  to  the  Commercial  College,  at  Monmouth. 
He  is  a  farmer  and  a  citizen  of  prominence,  and  is 
one  of  the  Directors  in  the  Roseville  Union  Bank. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Roseville. 
The  farm  of  which  he  and  his  mother  are  the  joint 
owners  contains  560  acres  and  is  one  of  the  finest 
and  most  valuable  places  in  the  township.  He  is 
also  part  owner  of  the  Indiana  homestead. 


|  obert  Moore,  owning  an  excellent  farm,  lo- 
cated on  section  15,  Tompkins  Township, 
where  he  follows  the  vocation  of  an  agri- 
culturist, is  a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been 
born  in  that  State  in  1818.  His  father,  Abra- 
ham Moore,  and  his  mother,  Margaret  Moore, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Wolverton,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  After  their  marriage,  in  1829,  they 
came  from  their  native  State  to  Hancock  Co.,  111., 
and  there  resided  until  the  father's  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1834. 

Robert  Moore,  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  biographical  notice,  was  an  inmate  of  the  paren- 
tal household  for  20  years,  receiving  during  that  time 
a  good  education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age 
named  he  left  the  parental  roof-tree  and  engaged  in 
farming,  which  occupation  he  had  followed,  more  or 
less,  up  to  the  time  of  his  leaving  home.  He  first 
farmed  in  Iowa  for  one  year,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
to  run  a  steam  ferry  across  the  Mississippi  at  Flint 
Hills,  now  Burlington, at  which  he  was  engaged  for  two 
years.  In  1837  he  came  to  this  county  and  bought 
land,  on  which  he  located  and  again  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married,  Feb.  20,  1 846,  Jane  Adams, 
who  bore  him  two  children — -Ellen  S.  and  Wilson 
M.  She  died  Feb.  22.  1848,  and  in  1852  Mr.  Moore 
married  Delilah  Stone.  In  1849,  when  the  gold  fever 
was  at  its  height,  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California 
and  Oregon  and  for  three  years  prospected  in  those 
States  for  gold,  meeting  with  signal  success.  He  then 
returned  to  Illinois  and  purchased  240  acres  of  land 
in  Ellison  Township,  which  he  successfully  cultiva- 
ted until  1855,  when  he  sold  it  and  purchased  the 


648 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


160  acres  on  which  he  is  at  present  residing.  He  has 
lived  on  the  latter  tract  of  land  for  20  years,  contin- 
uously engaged  in  its  cultivation  and  improvement, 
and  has  been  amply  rewarded  for  his  labors.  Mr. 
Moore  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  of  1832, 
but  received  no  injuries  from  the  engagements  in 
which  he  took  part.  He  has  a  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren living,  the  names  of  the  children  being — Ellen 
S.,  Marion  E.,  William  A.,  John  S.,  Willis  C.,  Grace 
B.  and  Fred  A. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Moore  coincides  with 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  is  one  of 
the  leading  representatives  of  his  vocation  in  Warren 
County. 


eorge  Bruington,  engaged  as  a  general 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  on  section  1 6,  Cold 
Brook_Township,was  born  in  Knox  County, 
near  the  Warren  County  line,  on  the  4th  of 
October,  1840.  His  father,  Thomas  Bruing- 
ton, a  fai  mer  by  occupation  and  a  native  of 
Breckenridge  Co.  Ky..  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
He  was  married  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  to  Jane 
McLaughlin,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Breckenridge 
Co.  Ky.,  and  of  the  same  parentage  and  descent. 
Before  their  emigration  West  in  1833,  when  they 
came  to  the  State  of  Illinois  and  located  in  Knox 
County,  they  had  a  family  of  three  children.  Mr. 
Thomas  Bruington  came  into  the  new  western 
country  and  found  it  an  improved,  unbroken  prairie, 
and  made  a  trade  of  his  horse  and  a  gun  for  his  first 
farm  of  160  acres.  After  improving  that  farm  and 
when  George,  of  whom  we  write,  was  but  a  small 
child,  they  removed  into  Cold  Brook  Township  and 
here  purchased  160  acres, where  the  son  now  resides, 
and  entered  actively  and  energetically  on  its  im- 
provement. While  residing  at  this  place  the  moth- 
er's demise  occurred,  in  the  year  1849.  She  was  the 
mother  of  nine  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was 
the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  The  father  then  married 
again  in  Kelly  Township,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1883.  His  second  wife  was 
Mrs.  Anna  Goff,  nee  Ingersol. 

When  18  years  of  age,  George  Bruington,  of  whom 
we  write,  set  out  to  battle  for  himself,  going  in  1858 
to  Missouri,  and  the  following  year  to  Pike's  Peak, 


Col.  To  this  latter  place  he  went  in  view  of  mining, 
but  having  no  success,  in  the  spring  of  i86r,  he  re- 
turned to  his  township  and  began  to  farm  on  his  own 
account. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Bruington  with  Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Wallace,  one  of  the  old  settlers 
in  this  county,  occurred  June  7,  1863.  The  cere- 
mony was  performed  at  the  residence  of  the  bride, 
who  was  born  Sept.  1839,  in  Cold  Brook  Township, 
and  resided  at  home  with  her  parents  until  her  mar- 
riage. Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Margaret 
Murphy.  She  now  resides  with  her  son,  John  Wal- 
lace, a  resident  of  this  township,  at  the  venerable 
age  of  85  years.  Mr.  Wallace,  her  husband,  and 
father  of  Mrs.  Bruington  of  this  notice,  died  in  this 
township,  April  9,  1861. 

Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruington  five 
children  have  been  born.  Margaret  J.,  teacher; 
Jessie  L.,  Arnold,  Elmer  and  Alma.  Margaret  and 
Jessie  have  been  educated  in  Lombard  University, 
Galesburg,  111.  After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B. 
settled  on  the  farm  where  they  now  live.  Mr.  B.  is 
the  owner  of  440  acres  of  well-improved  land,  sup- 
plied with  all  the  necessary  outbuildings,  and  a  fine"< 
residence. 

Mr.  Bruington  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  has  been  Road  Commissioner  for  15  years  and 
in  politics  is  an  active  Democrat. 


.dward  R.  Houlton,  who  resides  at  Kirk- 
wood,  and  is  extensively  engaged  as  a 
dealer  in  thoroughbred  cattle,  and  in 
agriculture,  was  born  at  Houlton,  Maine,  Au- 
gust 31,  1838.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Almira 
(Ray)  Houlton,  were  New  Englanders,  the 
former  having  been  born  in  New  Salem,  Mass.,  and 
the  latter  at  Concord,  New  Hampshire.  They  came 
from  Maine  to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  found  a  desira- 
ble location  in  Ellison  Township,  at  the  head  of 
Ellison  Creek.  Here  the  senior  Houlton  purchased 
1,000  acres  of  land.  At  that  time,  that  section  of 
the  county  was  all  new  and  the  fertile  prairie  land 
had  never  been  turned  by  the  plow.  He  was  among 
the  first  settlers  in  that  section  of  the  State,  and  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  in  1883,  was  one  of  the 
most  influential,  widely  known  and  highly  respected 


COUNTY. 


649 


citizens  of  that  section  of  the  county.  They  reared 
a  family  of  six  children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter, 
viz. ,  Joseph,  Frederick,  Edward,  Charles,  Frances 
and  Frank. 

Edward  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and 
remained  with  them  until  he  was  19  years  of  age, 
when  he  started  out  to  labor  for  himself.  His  first 
work  after  leaving  home  was  in  the  capacity  of  a 
clerk  for  Knowles,  Ray  &  Chapin,  of  the  well  known 
mercantile  firm  of  that  day,  located  at  Kirkwood.  In 
1858,  young  Houlton  bought  out  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Knowles,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Chapin, 
Creswell  &  Houlton.  Mr.  Houlton  was  connected 
with  the  firm  until  1885,  when  he  sold  out  his  inter- 
est and  turned  his  attention  to  stock  raising  and 
farming.  He  is  also  connected  with  the  Kirkwood 
Mineral  Springs  Company  and  besides  his  interests 
here,  which  are  quite  extensive,  he  owns  4,000  acres 
of  land,  adjoining  Yankton,  Dakota,  which  is  stocked 
with  Short-horn  and  Durham  cattle.  He  divides  his 
time  and  attention  between  his  farm  in  Dakota  and 
his  interests  here,  giving  considerable  attention  to 
the  Mineral  Spring  Company,  of  which  he  is  the 
President.  Mr.  Houlton  is  an  excellent  business 
man,  received  a  good  common  school  education,  and 
attended  the  Commercial  Colleee  at  Chicago  in 
-1858,  from  which  he  received  a  diploma. 

The  above  record  tells  of  his  success,  and  his 
high  standing  in  the  community  tells  of  the  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  those  who  have  known  him 
ever  since  he  began  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  at  Kirk- 
wood. 

Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 


obert  H.  Nance.  It  is  only  occasionally 
that  we  come  across  in  our  travels  a  well- 
to-do  and  active  farmer,  who  is  a  native 
of  this  county.  We  have  in  the  person  of 
Mr.  Nance,  however,  such  a  gentleman.  He 
was  born  Jan.  20,  r856,  and  is  the  son  of 
John  W.  Nance,  a  well  known  and  early  pioneer  of 
this  section,  and  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  where 
he  was  born  May  15,  1814.  He  came  to  Illinois 
about  r844,  and  for  about  fifteen  years  lived  in 
Greenbush,  when  he  located  upon  a  farm  on  section 


26,  of  Berwick  Township,  where  Robert  H.  now  re- 
sides. The  elder  Nance  at  present  lives  at  Abing- 
don,  111.  His  wife,  Nancy  Simmons,  is  a  native  of 
Tennessee  where  she  was  born  Feb.  2,  1815.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Charles  Simmons,  and  became 
Mrs.  Nance  May  24,  1826,  in  Tennessee.  To  them 
were  born  the  following  u  children,  Rufus  D.,  Fran- 
cis M.,  Susan  A.,  Sarah  E.,  Mary  J.,  William  C.. 
Nancy  C.,  Martha  W.,  John  A.,  Harriet  E.  and  Rob- 
ert H. 

Robert  H.  married  Miss  Malinda  J.  Shirley,  Aug. 
16,  1875.  She  became  the  mother  of  two  children, 
when,  Sept.  10,  1879,  her  demise  occurred.  Walter 
E.  their  only  living  child,  was  born  Dec.  26,  1878. 
Their  first,  who  died  in  infancy,  was  born  Feb.  22, 
1877,  and  died  on  the  3rd  of  the  following  March. 

Mr.  Nance  is  conducting  a  general  farming  busi- 
ness, and  is  an  active  enterprising  young  man, 
highly  respected  in  the  community.  Politically  he  is 
a  Democrat. 


?.  William  Randall,  a  member  of  the  reg-^ 
||*    ular    school    of    medicine,  practicing    at 
Greenbush,    graduated    at    the    Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  at   the  head 
of  his  class,  March  9,  1858.      He  soon  after- 
ward located  in  Greenbush,  this  county,  where 
he  has  built  up  a  good  practice  and  has  been  very 
successful.      The  Doctor  is  also  a  graduate  of  sur- 
gery, and  his  library  is  complete. 

Dr.  Randall  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  25 
miles  from  Cincinnati,  in  the  town  of  Aurora,  May 
27,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  George  Randall,  born  in 
Canterbury,  Kent  Co.,  Eng.,  in  1796.  His  father 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1819,  and  located  in 
Shawneetown,  111.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  followed  his  sacred 
calling  in  this  county  some  ten  years,  and  died  in 
1866.  He  had  located  in  Indiana,  where  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Rhoda  Ewbank,  which  took  place  in 
1826,  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  eight  children, 
namely  :  John  E.,  George  F.,  William,  Mary,  Thomas 
E.  and  Richard  R.,  twins,  Rebecca  J.  and  Elizabeth 
V.  Two  are  deceased — Mary  and  Richard.  The 
wife  and  mother  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  Eng.,  in 
1806,  and  died  in  Indiana  in  1859. 

Dr.    Randall,   of  this    sketch,  was    first   married 

-X'  , 


650 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


March  10,  1863,  to  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of  F.  G. 
and  Adeline  Snapp,  who  bore  him  four  children — 
George  S.,  born  Dec.  27,  1863;  Channing  C.,  Aug. 
5,  1865  (deceased);  Claud  C.,  Jan.  8,  1870  (de- 
ceased) ;  Clyde  W.,  Oct.  6,  1872 ;  she  died  May  20, 
1875.  The  Doctor  married  Edwina  C.,  daughter  of 
J.  W.  and  Sarah  E.  Bond,  Feb.  26,  1879,  and  by 
this  union  there  is  one  child,  William  B.,  born  April 
3,1882. 

In  politics,  the  Doctor  is  a  believer  in  the  princi- 
ples advocated  by  the  Democratic  party.  His  suc- 
cess as  a  practitioner  is  due  to  his  careful  diagnosis 
of  the  diseases  of  his  patients,  and  his  constant  at- 
tention to  his  cases. 

Dr.  Randall  is  a  gentleman  who  not  only  reflects 
honor  upon  his  profession,  but  is  a  credit  to  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lives.  His  large  and  extended 
experience,  his  deep  and  abiding  interest  in  his  pro- 
fession and  the  general  welfare  of  the  community, 
make  him  both  a  valuable  physician  and  citizen.  He 
is  as  widely  known  and  as  highly  esteemed  as  any 
practitioner  in  the  county,  and  numbers  among  his 
patrons  and  friends  many  of  the  best  people  in  War- 
«i  ren  County.  As  both  a  representative  of  his  chosen 
profession  and  a  citizen  of  the  county,  the  publishers 
take  pleasure  in  placing  Dr.  Randall's  portrait  in  this 
ALBUM  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


-i— 


Lamuel  Knox  Crawford,  M.  D.,  prominent 
physician  and  surgeon  at  Monmouth,  and 
Professor  of  Surgical  Anatomy  in  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Chicago, 
is  a  native  of  Fredericksburg,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born,  Jan.  22,  1835.  His  parents,  Hugh 
B.  and  Rebecca  (Knox)  Crawford,  were  born  in  the 
Ligonier  Valley,  Pa.,  and  traced  their  ancestry  back 
to  the  North  of  Ireland,  Protestant,  and  in  the  fe- 
male line,  to  a  direct  kindred  with  the  famous  John 
Knox.  They  reared  to  men  and  women  three  sons 
and  five  daughters,  and  buried  in  youth  and  child- 
hood, two  sons  and  a  daughter. 

The  subject  of  this  notice,  who  was  the  youngest 
of  the  family,  spent  the  first  20  years  of  his  life, 
when  not  in  school,  upon  his  father's  farm.  He 
graduated  from  Fredericksburg  (Ohio)  Academy, 
when  about  21  years  of  age,  and  three  years  later 


entered  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Ann  Arbor 
(Mich.)  University,  having  in  the  interim  completed 
a  full  course  of  the  study  of  medicine  with  Doctor 
Timothy  H.  Baker,  of  Wooster,  Ohio.  His  first 
course  of  lectures  was  attended  at  Starling  Medical 
College,  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  graduated  from  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
in  March,  1861,  and  from  Ann  Arbor  went  direct  to 
Bellevue,  (N.  Y.)  Hospital,  and  there  spent  the 
summer  under  clinical  instruction  from  the  distin- 
guished doctors,  Flint  and  Clark,  and  passed  the  fol- 
lowing winter  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadel- 
phia. 

In  May,  1862,  Dr.  Crawford  entered  the  United 
States  service  as  Surgeon,  or  Medical  Director  of  the 
Hospital  Steamer,  "Sunny  Side,"  and  made  several 
trips  between  Pittsburgh  Landing  and  Cincinnati. 
July  following,  he  became  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the 
5oth  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  promoted  to  Surgeon  of 
that  regiment  during  the  succeeding  autumn.  He 
served  in  this  position  until  March,  1864,  when  he 
was  detailed  as  chief  of  the  Operating  Board  for  the 
Second  Division,  23d  Army  Corps.  This  duty  placed 
him  in  charge  of  the  Field  Hospital,  where  we  find, 
him  in  December,  1864,  when  the  5oth  and  ggth 
Regiments  were  consolidated,  and  he  was  by  special 
order  made  Staff  Surgeon  to  Brigadier  General  J.  T. 
Cooper.  This  charge  in  nowise  relieved  him  from 
his  responsibility  as  chief  of  the  Operating  Board, 
and  he  discharged  double  duty  up  to  April  26,  1865. 
Remembering  the  facts  that  Dr.  Crawford  was  never 
absent  from  duty,  but  at  his  post  while  his  command 
fought  the  desperate  battles  of  Perryville,  Resaca, 
Goldsboro,  the  Atlanta  Campaign  with  its  100  days' 
fighting,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and  even  an  ordi- 
nary mind  can  imagine  something  approximating  his 
experience,  and  the  intelligent  can  know  that  in 
placing  him  in  the  chair  of  Surgical  Anatomy,  the 
managers  and  directors  of  the  Chicago  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  understood  what  they  were 
doing. 

July  20,  1865,  Dr.  Crawford  first  landed  at  Mon- 
mouth. He  is  a  member  of  the  Warren  County 
Military  Tract,  American  and  State  Medical  Societ- 
ies. For  10  or  12  years  he  lectured  regularly  to 
Monmouth  College  classes  upon  anatomy,  physiol- 
ogy, and  hygiene.  He  has  for  several  years  held 
commissions  from  various  life  insurance  companies 
as  Medical  Referee  of  the  State,  and,  in  1884,  he 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


651 


was  made  Professor  of  Obstetrics  in  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Wooster,  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  a  position  he  was  unable  to  fill  by  reason 
of  the  multiplicity  of  duties  already  claiming  his 
time  and  attention.  The  Doctor  is  also  a  writer  of 
repute,  as  attested  by  the  popularity  of  his  "Letters 
to  a  Young  Physician,"  in  the  Obstetrical  Gazette  (Cin- 
cinnati), 1879  and  1882;  an  article  on  "Typhoid  Fe- 
ver," Transactions  Illinois  Medical  Society,  1874,  and 
also  an  elaborate  paper  on  Obstetrics. 

Nov.  2,  1865,  Dr.  Crawford  was  united  in  marriage 
at  Fredericksburg,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Maria  Irvine, 
daughter  of  the  late  Samuel  Irvine,  D.  D.,  of  that 
place,  who  has  borne  him  eight  children — Ada  L., 
born  Oct.  8,  1866,  died  Dec.  7,  1874;  Charles,  a  stu- 
dent; Mary  I.,  Samuel  K.,  Hugh  B.,  who  died  in 
infancy  ;  Fannie  C.,  Grace  May  and  John  Jay. 


|i;  obert  A.  Elliott,  owning  160  acres  of  good 
farm  land  under  an  advanced  state  of  im- 
provement in  Lenox  Township  and  resjd- 
ing  on  section  34,  of  the  same,  is  one  of  the 
energetic  and  successful  farmers  of  Warren 
County.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Elliott,  Thomas 
H.,  and  Ellen  A.  (Helvestine)  Elliott,  were  natives 
of  England  and  Virginia  respectively.  They  were 
married  in  the  latter  State  and  removed  from  there 
to  Jackson  Co.  O.,  where  the  father  still  resides. 
His  wife  died  May  5,  1880,  leaving  to  the  care  of 
her  husband  n  children,  whose  names  were  William 
H.,  Margaret,  Mary  J.,  Eliza,  John  Q.,  George, 
Charles,  Sophia,  Thomas,  Ellen,  James  and  Rob- 
ert A. 

Robert  A.  Elliott  of  whom  we  write,  was  a  native 
of  the  Buckeye  State,  having  been  born  in  Jackson 
County,  Jan.  8,  1849.  He  lived  with  his  parents,  at- 
tending the  common  schools  and  assisting  in  the  la- 
bors on  the  farm  until  he  attained  the  age  of  1 7  years, 
in  1865,  when  he  came  to  this  county  and  since 
that  time  has  continued  to  reside  here.  His  life  to 
the  present  has  been  passed  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  which  he  has  met  with  success.  In  1869,  four 
years  after  arriving  in  this  county,  he  had  accumu- 
lated sufficient  to  enable  him  to  purchase  80  acres 
of  land  on  section  34  Lenox  Township.  On  this 
farm  he  settled  with  his  bride  and  they  unitedly  en- 


tered upon  their  separate  tasks  of  improving  and 
beautifying  their  home  and  cultivating  their  land. 
As  the  years  rolled  by,  their  savings  enabled  them 
to  purchase  an  additional  80  acres,  making  their  to- 
tal landed  interests  in  Lenox  Township  160  acres, 
all  of  which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  is  supplied  with  a  good  residence,  and  all 
necessary  farm  buildings. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Elliott  took  place  March  14, 
1869,  in  Lenox  Township,  at  which  time  Miss  Sarah, 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  John  and  Clarinda  J. 
(Ray)  Shirley,  became  his  wife.  Her  parents  were 
born  in  Kentucky  and  their  children  were  four  in 
number,  Sarah  being'the  eldest,  after  whom  Hiram, 
Malinda  and  Annie  were  born.  Sarah,  Mrs.  Elliott, 
was  born  in  Lenox  Township,  this  county,  and  re- 
sided with  her  parents  until  her  marriage  with  Mr. 
E.  They  have  become  the  parents  of  seven  child- 
ren, Nettie  A.,  Sophronia  J.,  Nora  M.,  Annie  H., 
Eletha  S.,  William  E.  and  Ethael  P.  Mr.  Elliott 
has  been  School  Trustee  and  Treasurer  in  his  town- 
ship and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to 'the  Baptist 
Church.  In  politics  he  votes  with  and  is  a  supporter 
of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Democratic 
party. 


ames  C.  Morris,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
resides  on  section  9,  Ellison  Township. 
He  was  born  in  Gloucester  County,  the 
name  it  bore  at  that  time,  but  now  known  as 
Atlantic  Co.,  N.  J.,  on  the  I4th  of  March, 
1827.  His  father,  Amos,  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey  and  married  Phcebe  Campbell,  who  was  also 
born  in  that  State.  Both  were  of  English  and  Scot- 
tish extraction.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Morris  had 
seven  children,  he  being  the  fifth  child  of  the  family. 
He  lived  at  home  and  attended  the  common  schools 
up  to  the  date  of  his  marriage,  when  he  resolved 
upon  removing  to  Madison  Co.,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  was  only  three  years  old  when  his 
parents  first  arrived  in  Madison  County.  In  the 
same  place  his  marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  26th 
of  March,  1851,  the  lady's  name  being  Miss  Mary 
C.  Moore,  a  native  of  Madison  County,  born  March 
26,  1832.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Cath- 
erine (Coon)  Moore,  of  Virginia.  The  father  was 


652 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


born  near  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  the  latter  in  Ross  Co., 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Morris  was  a  baby  of  18  months  at  the 
date  of  her  father's  death.  The  mother  and  daughter 
always  lived  together  up  to  the  date  of  the  latter's 
death.  Mrs.  Moore's  demise  took  place  at  her  res- 
idence July  28,  1884,  at  the  advanced  age  of  78 
years.  Mrs.  M.  was  the  younger  daughter  of  five 
children,  herself  being  the  mother  of  1 2  children, 
six  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  There  are  at  present 
still  living — Alice,  Emery  F., George  B.,  A.  R.,  Jesse 
E.  and  Walter  T.  Mrs.  M.  received  a  good  com- 
mon school  education,  and  before  her  marriage  was 
a  great  favorite  with  her  companions  and  school- 
mates. 

After  the  wedding  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore,  they 
took  up  their  residence  in  Madison  County,  and 
commenced  to  farm,  which  occupation  they  contin- 
ued until  1856,  when  they  came  West  to  Mercer 
County,  where  they  resided  for  four  years,  thence  to 
Warren  Co.,  111.,  where  the  parents  had  first  arrived 

I  in  1854.     In    1863,  when    Mr.  Morris  purchased  80 
acres   of  land,  he   decided  to  settle    his    residence 
where  he  at  present  lives.     Besides  this,  he  owns  160 
"  acres  of  prime  land,  which   from    time    to  time  has 

I  been  considerably  improved. 
For  more  than  ten  years  our  subject  has  filled  the 
office  of  Township   Assessor,  a  position  in  which  he 
has  shown  himself  well  fitted  not  only  for  this  office, 
but  any  other  ordinarily  falling  within  the  scope  of 
men  in  his  position.     He   is    a  consistent  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  a  warm  advocate  of  right,  no  matter 
what  cause  or  in  whatever  form  appearing. 


.apt.  Eichard  A.  Howk,  farmer,  ice 
dealer  and  general  speculator,  residing  at 
Monmouth,  is  a  son  of  Horace  and  Fanny 
(Crouch)  Howk,  natives  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  of  German  descent.  Richard  was 
born  in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,Feb.  22,  1834, 
and  was  the  eldest  of  three  sons  of  his  parents' 
family.  His  mother  died  in  1838,  and  his  father  in 
r 88 1,  both  in  Washington  County. 

The  father  of  Capt.  Howk  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1817;  the  mother  in  the  same 
county,  in  the  year  1820.  The  brothers  of  Capt. 
Howk  were  John,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  the  third 


brother  was  also  named  John,  and  now  resides  in 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  married  to  Catharine 
Whitcomb,  a  native  of  New  York  State.and  to  them 
have  been  born  five  boys,  viz. :  Leon,  Edward,  Jud- 
son,  Horace  and  Jay. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  brought  up  to 
manhood  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  educated  at  the 
common  schools  of  Granville,  N.  Y.;  came  to  Mon- 
mouth in  iS$8;  began  work  as  train  baggageman  for 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  (then  Peoria  & 
Oquawka  Railroad)  and  was  directly  appointed 
Freight  Conductor,  and  followed  the  business  alto- 
gether for  about  two  and  a-half  years.  He  then  turned 
stock  shipper  for  a  few  months  from  Peoria  and  Quin- 
cy,111.  In  April,  1 86 1,  he  enrolled  as  a  private  in 
Co.  G,  ist  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  and  with  that  command  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  at  Lexington,  Mo.  Be- 
ing at  once  retired,  he  joined  the  nth  111.  Vol.  Cav. 
as  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  K,  and  followed  the  for- 
tunes of  Col.  "Bob,"  Ingersoll's  regiment  about  a 
year  and  a  half.  Leaving  the  nth  at  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  raised  Co.  L  for 
the  1 2th  Cavalry,  and  went  out  as  its  Captain,  and 
in  1862-63  was  a  member  of  Gen.  Wallace's  staff. 

From  first  to  last  while  connected  with  his  regi- 
ment, Mr.  Howk  had  participated  in  all  its  engage- 
ments. With  the  ist  Cavalry  his  term  was  brief; 
with  the  nth  he  was  in  Tennessee  at  Ft.  Donelson, 
Donelsonville,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Stone  Ridge,  etc. ; 
with  the  1 2th  he  was  in  the  far  South  and  up  the 
Red  River,  that  stream  which  the  poet  says  "Damned 
poor  Banks  forever."  The  Captain  was  about  a 
year  and  a  half  upon  detached  service  as  a  Quar- 
ter Master  at  New  Orleans,  and  left  the  army  in 
August,  r865_ 

At  the  battle  of  Shiloh  the  Captain  received  a  bul- 
let in  his  leg,  which  still  remains  there,  through  a 
period  of  24  years,  and  continues  to  annoy  him.  He 
received  another  wound  by  his  horse  running  away 
at  Baton  Rogue,  which  almost  disabled  his  right 
arm. 

Returning  to  Monmouth  after  the  war  closed,  Mr. 
Howk  engaged  in  business,  and  has  since  been  one 
of  the  most  active  and  enterprising  men  in  the  coun- 
ty. He  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  G.  A.  R. 

Capt.  Howk  was  married  at  Monmouth,  Jan  12, 
1866,  to  Miss  Margaret  Harper,  the  daughter  of 


1 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


653 


Parker  B.  Harper.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Ohio.  She  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  of  a  fam- 
ily of  nine  children,  viz.  :  Harvey,  who  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Stone  Ridge,  Mo. ;  Eliza  J.,  Sarah, 
James,  Thomas,  Walter,  Charley,  and  one  deceased. 
Mrs.  Howk  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1848. 
The  three  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howk  are  men- 
tioned as  follows :  Albert,  a  graduate  of  Monmouth 
College,  is  now  connected  with  the  engineering  de- 
partment of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad ;  Edward  is 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Monmouth,  and 
Mamie  resides  at  home. 

Capt.  Howk  is  purely  a  self-made  man  ;  what  he 
has  of  this  world's  goods,  and  his  fortune  is  ample, 
he  has  acquired  by  his  individual  effort  and  in- 
dustry. 


McClanahan.  To  the  present  gener- 
ation of  Warren  County,  the  statement  that 
the  name  which  leads  this  biographical 
notice  was  one  of  the  most  honored  in  the 
records  of  the  county,  will  be  acknowledged  by 
all,  so  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the 
people  was  he  who  is  represented  in  this  sketch.  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he  was  born  in  1794. 
His  parents  went,  in  his  youth,  from  the  Old  Domin- 
ion to  Highland  Co.,  Ohio.  They  were  pioneers 
there  and  there  they  reared  their  family. 

John  McClanahan  passed  the  years  of  his  minor- 
ity in  Highland  County,  and  when  the  period  ar- 
rived for  him  to  take  up  in  his  own  behalf  the 
weapons  of  warfare  with  the  elements  of  fame  and 
fortune,  he  went  to  Adams  County,  in  the  same 
State,  and  there  became  identified  with  the  devel- 
opment of  the  county  by  connecting  himself  with  its 
agricultural  interests.  He  located  "  in  the  timber," 
where  he  bought  a  large  tract  of  land,  cleared  a 
patch  for  a  house,  and  settled  himself  to  carve  out  a 
home  and  fortune  as  so  many  had  already  done  in 
portions  of  the  country  now  far  advanced  in  improve- 
ment. He  was  connected  with  the  history  of  Adams 
County  until  1837,  when  he  sold  his  possessions 
there  and  went  to  Brown  County,  also  in  Ohio,  and, 
in  company  with  another  party,  bought  an  exten- 
sive tract  of  land.  It  was  a  valuable  piece  of  prop- 
erty from  the  fact  that  it  contained  a  water-power, 
grist  and  saw-mill.  The  owners  managed  their  busi- 


ness together  about  three  years,  when  they  divided 
the  proceeds  and  acreage,  and  Mr.  McClanahan 
took  his  share  in  land.  Much  of  it  was  under  par- 
tial cultivation,  and  he  devoted  himself  with  vigorous 
energy  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  until  1855.  He 
had  already  made  a  considerable  distribution  of  his 
land  among  his  children,  and,  in  the  year  named, 
sold  all  he  had  remaining  and  came  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Monmouth. 

Mr.  McClanahan  took  possession  of  the  property 
known  as  the  Thompson  farm,  which  is  situated 
about  one  mile  west  from  the  seat  of  Warren  County, 
in  the  capacity  of  a  renter.  He  continued  to  man- 
age the  estate  two  years  and  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  removed  to  Spring  Grove  Township,  where 
he  had  bought  a  farm  and  on  which  he  had  made 
some  improvements.  He  operated  there  as  a  farmer 
until  1862,  when  he  could  no  longer  resist  the  ele- 
ment that  attracted  and  overwhelmed  every  patriotic 
citizen,  and  cast  his  fate  in  with  the  contending 
elements  of  the  Civil  War.  In  July  of  that  year  he 
raised  a  company  of  soldiers,  and,  on  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  command,  was  made  its  Captain.  It  was 
attached  to  the  83d  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was 
designated  Co.  B.  The  regiment  joined  the  forces 
in  the  field  and  participated  in  the  engagement  at 
Fort  Donelson.  Capt.  McClanahan,  while  gallantly 
leading  his  men  in  a  charge,  fell  at  the  head  of  his 
command,  mortally  wounded.  He  was  taken  into 
the  hospital  and  tenderly  cared  for  during  a  severe 
suffering  of  19  days,  when,  on  the  22d  of  February, 
1863,  he  yielded  up  his  life  for  his  country's  cause. 
His  remains  were  brought  back  to  the  home  he  had 
given  his  life  to  defend.  He  sleeps  the  sleep  of  the 
just  and  fearless  man  who  saw  more  than  life  in  the 
defense  of  a  principle,  and  more  than  the  reward  of 
the  patriot  who  valued  above  all  else  an  unsullied 
flag  and  a  country  intact,  as  the  heritage  from  those 
who  had  erected  the  most  glorious  national  structure 
in  the  history  of  all  the  ages. 

John  McClanahan  was  known  all  his  life  as  pos- 
sessing the  elements  of  true  courage  and  chivalry. 
He  was  always  the  foremost  in  any  enterprise  that 
bore  even  the  smallest  promises  of  permanent  ben- 
efit to  the  general  well-being.  While  living  in  Ohio 
he  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  business 
men  of  the  Buckeye  State,  and  he  was  for  a  long 
lime  the  moving  spirit  in  the  Ripley  &  Hillsborough 
Stone  Pike  Co.npany.  He  also,  while  in  Ohio,  held 


~  + 


f 


654 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


I 


various  public  positions,  and  served  two  terms  in  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  as  a  Representative  of  Brown 
County. 

Mr.  McClanahan  married  Miss  Margaret  B. 
Wright,  of  Fall  Creek,  Highland  Co.,  Ohio,  and  of 
their  union  17  children  were  born.  The  race  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  origin  and  is  tenacious  of  life.  Of  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  John  McClanahan,  14  yet 
survive,  and  worthily  represent  the  honored  name  of 
their  sire.  The  mother  died  in  October,  1874,  aged 
74  years.  Of  her  husband  it  may  further  be  added 
that  he  was  wholly  self-educated,  and  that  means  a 
far  more  liberal  cultivation  than  that  afforded  by  the 
restricted  curriculum  of  the  schools.  But  he  was  a 
thorough  student  of  books  in  a  general  way,  and  was 
a  most  successful  teacher  for  many  winter  seasons 
in  Ohio.  In  political  connection  he  was  by  inher- 
itance a  Democrat,  but  when  the  Republican  party 
was  organized,  its  tenets  harmonized  with  his  views 
and  he  enrolled  under  its  banners.  His  brave  and 
honored  life  terminated  in  defense  of  its  fundamental 
principles,  and  "  O'er  his  sacred  dust  shall  wave  the 
tree  of  liberty." 


D.  Birdsall.  This  gentleman  is  a  farmer 
and  blacksmith,  and  resides  in  Tompkins 
Township.  He  was  born  Jan.  31 ,  1816,  in 
Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Letitia  (Fowler)  Birdsall,  both 
natives  of  New  York.  They  went  to  Canada 
in  1820,  where  '.hey  continued  to  live  until  1838,  en- 
gaging for  the  time  in  farming.  On  coming  to  War- 
ren County,  they  settled  in  Ellison  Township,  and 
purchased  320  acres  of  land.  On  this  they  remained 
15  years,  when  they  sold  the  estate  and  moved  into 
Henderson  County,  where  they  purchased  160  acres, 
on  which  the  family  lived  until  the  death  of  our 
subject's  father  in  1863.  The  death  of  the  mother 
took  place  in  1838,  an  incident  that  had  a  saddening 
effect  on  the  whole  household,  and  more  especially  to 
the  boy,  P.  IX  Birdsall. 

Up  to  his  twenty-fifth  year  Mr  Birdsall  remained 
at  home,  receiving  in  the  interim  a  common  school 
education,  and  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  Af- 
i  cr  leaving  home  he  engaged  in  the  flouring  mill  busi- 


ness at  Biggsvilk,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Oquawka, 
where  in  the  capacity  of  blacksmith  he  worked  for 
nine  years,  then  returning  to  Warren  County  he  set- 
tled in  Tompkins  Township,  and  purchased  120 
acres,  upon  which  he  still  lives,  carrying  on  general 
farming  and  the  blacksmith  trade. 

He  was  married,  in  1842,  to  Miss  Fannie  Ryder,  a 
native  of  New  York,  by  which  union  12  children  are 
living:  Charles  E.,  Alexander,  Mary,  Nancy,  John, 
George,  Jacob,  William,  Flora,  Fannie,  Clara  and 
Frank.  Of  these,  seven  are  married,  and  altogether 
he  has  15  grandchildren. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Birdsall  is  a  prominent  Green- 
backer,  and  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive men  of  Warren  County,  and  considered  a 
consistent  member  of  his  Church,  and  steadfast 
politician  in  principle. 


harles  Albert  Hebbard,  Editor  of  the 
Roseville  Times,  is  a  native  of  this  State 
having  been  born  at  Oquawka,  Hender-  • 
son  County,  September  i,  1844.  His  boyhood 
was  spent  in  this  section  and  when  a  lad  of 
1 6,  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  machin- 
ist trade  in  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  shop  at  Galesburg. 
Here  he  remained  industriously  engaged  at  the  em- 
ployment he  had  so  early  in  life  selected,  from  1860 
to  1863.  He  only  then  left  the  work-shop  to  go  to 
the  front  in  defense  of  his  country's  flag.  He  en- 
listed on  Nov.  18,  1863,  at  Springfield,  111.,  in  Co. 
F,  r  1 3th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  was  sent  to  the  front  and 
did  valiant  service  in  the  cause  he  esteemed  so  dear, 
and  on  the  lothof  June,  1864,  afGuntown;  Miss, 
received  a  gun-shot  wound  in  the  left  side.  He 
continued  in  the  service,  however,  until  Septem- 
ber of  the  following  year,  when  he  was  mustered  out 
at  Springfield,  111. 

Mr.  Hebbard,  like  many  other  enterprising  men 
of  the  North,  felt  that  there  were  good  openings  for 
various  enterprises  in  the  States  that  were  recently 
in  rebellion.  He  was  therefore  persuaded  to  return 
to  Arkansas  and  for  the  next  two  years  was  engaged 
running  a  gang  of  choppers  in  getting  out  wood  for 
steamboats.  This  not  proving  satisfactory,  he  once 
more  returned  to  Galesburg,  and  for  a  time  engaged 
at  his  trade.  Being  ambitious  and  longing  for  a  bet- 


WARREN  COUNTY 


655 


ter  education  he  made  his  arrangements  for  again 
entering  the  school-room.  He  entered  the  Grand 
River  Institute,  at  Austinburg,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  a 
year  later.  From  this  institution  he  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  B.  S.  Shortly  after  leaving  the 
school-room  as  a  student  we  find  him  in  charge  of 
the  Jefferson  High  School,  of  Jefferson,  Ohio.  For  two 
years  he  successfully,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
general  public,  managed  that  school.  We  next  find 
him  at  the  head  of  the  Madison  Seminary,  at  Madison, 
Lake  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  four  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Ashtabula  County  and  went 
into  the  service  of  the  Western  Lock  Manufacturing 
Company,  taking  charge  of  the  manufacturing  de- 
partment. This  position  he  held  for  four  years,  his 
education  as  a  machinist  proving  invaluable  to  him. 

Mr.  Hebbard  again  resumed  his  profession  as  a 
teacher,  and  in  the  early  autumn  of  1884  came  to 
Roseville  and  took  charge  of  the  schools  at  this 
place.  So  satisfactory  has  been  his  service  here 
that  he  has  been  retained  in  the  same  position  since. 
On  the  first  of  September,  1885,  he  purchased  the 
Roseville  Times.  This  he  enlarged  and  by  devoting 
to  it  his  characteristic  energy  as  a  business  man  and 
ability  as  a  writer,  has  made  it  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able and  interesting  local  papers  in  the  county.  It 
is  now  a  six-column  quarto  and  not  only  ably  edited 
but  creditably  printed.  Mr.  Hebbard  is  earnestly  en- 
gaged in  the  efforts  to  give  the  people  of  Roseville 
and  vicinity  a  good  and  valuable  newspaper. 

While  living  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Hebbard  was  united  in, 
marriage  with  Julia  A.  Williams,  of  Harpersfield, 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  The  date  of  this,  to  him  very 
important  event,  is  1871. 


C.  VanBiper,  a  retired  farmer,  on  section 
16,  Tompkins  Township,  was  born  in  Hud- 
son Co.,  N.  J.,  March  25,  1830.  His  par- 
ents were  Cornelius  and  Mary  R.  (Sickles) 
VanRiper,  also  natives  of  New  Jersey.  A.  C. 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he 
was  23  years  of  age.  During  that  time  he  received 
a  good  common  school  education.  After  leaving 
home  he  engaged  in  the  dairying  business  in  New 
Jersey,  which  occupation  he  followed  successfully  for 
five  years,  and  then  followed  other  pursuits  up  to 


1855,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  Then  he  commenced 
purchasing  and  selling  land,  but  abandoned  this  af- 
ter 1 6  months,  returned  East,  where  he  remained 
until  the  year  1861,  when  he  revisited  Illinois 
and  occupied  himself  with  the  former  business  of 
land  purchase  and  sale,  at  the  same  time  pursuing 
farming  more  or  less.  He  at  present  own  120  acres 
of  land,  40  acres  lying  in  the  corporation  of  Kirk- 
wood,  on  which  he  now  resides.  A  great  portion 
of  his  time,  however,  is  taken  up  in  visits  to  the 
East. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Cornelia  Ackerman,  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  by  whom  he  had  six  children — 
Mary  G,,  Euphemia  E.,  Cornelius,  Abraham,  Ed- 
ward and  Jeannie.  Mary  G.  married  M.  G.  John- 
son, and  by  this  union  there  are  two  children — 
Gertrude  and  Freddie.  Euphemia  E  married  New- 
ton Spence. 

By  political  persuasion,  Mr.  VanRiper  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  with  his  wife  and  two  daughters  belongs  to 
the  Presbyterian  Church.     He    has  been    elected  to. 
office   on   the   Village   Board   as  one  of  the  "City 
Fathers."    He  also  rilled  the  position  of  Captain  of  I 
the  police  force  in  Jersey  city.    He  is  one  among  the,^ 
leading,   most   thoughtful  and   substantial    men   of 
Kirk  wood. 


Lorimer,  auctioneer  and  dealer  in  car- 
riages, buggies,  etc.,  at  Monmouth,  as  well 
as  one  of  Warren  County's  prominent  bus- 
iness men,  was  born  in  Muskingum  Co.  Ohio, 
March  26,  1831.  His  parents  were  Dr.  Sam- 
uel and  Mary  (Few)  Lorimer,  natives  respect- 
ively of  old  Ireland  and  the  State  of  Ohio.  They 
both  died  before  John  was  three  years  old,  and  at  this 
writing,  he  and  his  sister  older,  are  the  only  survivors 
of  his  father's  family. 

His  youth  was  spent  principally  at  school,  supple- 
menting a  pretty  thorough  common  school  training 
by  a  course  at  New  Concord  (Ohio)  College.  Leaving 
College  he  taught  school  about  four  years  in  Ken- 
tucky, Ohio  and  Illinois  and  then  after  a  year 
or  two  spent  at  farming,  settled  down  at  Monmouth. 
He  came  here  in  1856,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
one  of  the  busiest  men  in  Warren  County.  He  be- 
gan auctioneering  in  1861  and  has  kept  it  up  stead- 
ily, notwithstanding  a  multiplicy  of  duties  of  various 


656 


WARR&N  COUNTY. 


kinds  have  necessarily  demanded  much  of  his  atten- 
tion. He  was  elected  Constable  in  1861  and  held 
the  office  19  years.  Was  elected  City  Marshal,  in 
1864,  and  held  the  office  about  three  years.  Was 
Deputy  Sheriff  of  Warren  County  several  years.  He 
ran  an  auction  store  eight  years  in  Monmouth  and 
has  been  engaged  in  the  buggy  and  carriage  business 
about  eight  years,  two  years  of  the  time  on  the  road 
carrying  with  him  a  full  line  of  vehicles. 

September  13,  1853,  he  was  married  at  New  Con- 
cord, Ohio,  to  Miss  I.  M.  Russell,  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  State,  and  daughter  of  Thomas  Russell, 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lorimer  have  had  born  to 
them  five  children,  as  follows  :  Rachel  N.,  wife  of  J. 
M.  Harvey,  of  Buena  Vista,  Colorado;  Samuel  B., 
interested  with  his  father,  in  the  carriage  and  buggy 
business  ;  John,  now  a  resident  of  Colorado;  Thomas 
and  Minnie,  in  Monmouth.  Mr.  Lorimer  is  identi- 
fied with  no  Church  or  secret  order,  and  through  life 
he  has  depended  upon  his  own  individual  effort  and 
industry  for  such  of  this  world's  goods  as  he  pos- 
sesses and  enjoys.  He  is  a  good  liver  and  a  man 
that  enjoys  life  wherever  he  is. 


,avid  Tuttle.  Prominent  among  the  num- 
erous retired  farmers  of  Roseville,  ranks 
the  subject  of  this  personal  sketch,  who  is 
spending  the  evening  of  an  active  and  use- 
ful life  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his 
toil.  David  Tutile  was  born  in  Greene  Co.  Pa., 
Oct.  13,  1800,  and  is  consequently  85  years  of  age. 
His  parents  Israel  and  Mary  (Martin)  Tuttle,  were 
natives  of  New  Jersey,  but  at  a  very  early  day  moved 
into  Pennsylvania  and  secured  farming  property.  He 
had  a  family  of  ten  children,  four  sons  and  six 
daughters.  The  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Tuttle,  died  in 
Pennsylvania  in  February,  1824,  and  Israel  Tuttle  in 
January,  1842. 

David  was  a  member  of  the  home  family  until  a 
young  man  of  24  years  of  age.  Of  course  during 
these  years  he  assisted  his  parents  on  the  farm  and 
attended  such  schools  as  the  neighborhood  afforded. 
His  first  venture  after  leaving  home  was  to  purchase 
a  farm  of  120  acres.  Here  he  lived  for  several  years, 
when  he  sold  out  and  purchased  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  lived  until  1850.  Feeling  that  the  West 


offered  superior  advantages,  he  sold  out  and  came  to 
Illinois,  finding  a  desirable  home  in  Warren  County. 
Here  on  section  28,  of  Roseville  Township,  he  se- 
cured a  valuable  80  acre  tract  of  land,  where  he 
lived  and  farmed  until  1880.  He  then  sold  out  and 
moved  into  Roseville,  buying  eight  acres  where  he 
now  resides.  Politically  Mr.  Tuttle  is  a  Prohibition- 
ist, and  together  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

In  1854,  January  24,  Mr.  Tuttle  and  Mrs.  Philena 
E.  Young,  a  native  of  Ashtabula  Co.  Ohio,  were 
united  in  marriage.  Mrs.  Tuttle  was  born  Dec.  13, 
1821,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Philena 
(Ward)  Overbaugh.  They  were  natives  of  New  York 
and  Connecticut  respectively  and  had  a  family  of  two 
daughters.  Mr.  O.  died  in  1822,  the  year  following 
the  death  of  his  wife. 


F.  Loudon,  whose  hair  is  silvered  by  the 
lapse  of  time,  is  passing  the  sunset  of  his 
life  in  peace  and  quiet  at  his  residence  in 
Kirkwood.  He  is  a  native  of  South  Caro- 
lina, having  been  born  in  that  State  in  1812. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Loudon,  George  and  Mary  J 
(Ferris)  Loudon,  were  natives  of  Ireland  and  South 
Carolina  respectively.  They  moved  to  Indiana  in 
1816,  where  the  father  purchased  80  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  moved  with  his  family  and  there  re- 
sided until  the  death  of  both  heads  of  the  house- 
hold. 

W.  F.  Loudon,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  received 
an  education  in  the  common  schools  and  from  about 
the  age  of  12  years  until  he  was  25,  he  worked  at 
various  occupations,  assisting  in  the  maintenance  of 
his  father's  family.  In  1851,  he  came  to  Henderson 
County,  this  State,  and  there  purchased  40  acres  of 
land.  On  this  land  he  located  and  entered  vigor- 
ously and  energetically  upon  the  vocation  of  an  ag- 
riculturist and  was  there  occupied  lor  two  years.  He 
then  came  to  this  county  and  for  two  years  followed 
farming  on  rented  land,  when  he  purchased  160 
acres  on  section  8,  Tompkins  Township,  and  there, 
for  25  years,  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  has  lived  in  Kirkwood  Village  for  the  past  four 
years  where  he  has  12  acres  of  land  and  a  good  res- 


f 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


657 


idence,  and  is  passing  the  evening  of  his  life  in  quiet 
retirement. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Loudon  with  Miss  Jane  Mar- 
tin was  solemized  in  1836,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  children,  Margaret, 
Nancy,  George,  Mary  A.,  and  James  H.  After  40 
years  of  married  life,  during  which  the  wife  had 
shared  the  toils  and  trials,  the  successes  and  re- 
verses, of  her  husband,  she  passed  to  the  better 
land,  the  date  of  her  death  being  1876.  Mr.  Lou- 
don in  his  political  belief  endorses  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  religiously  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church. 

j. -  _<::>  - _^. 


Ifoseph  Pine  located  in  Warren  County  in 
If-  1844.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Galesburg, 
111.  He  was  16  years  of  age  when  his  par- 
ents started  from  Ohio  for  Illinois.  They 
came  over  the  intervening  country  with  their 
own  conveyance,  and  reached  Warren  _  County 
after  a  slow,  but,  in  some  respects,  pleasant  and 
profitable  journey. 

Mr.  Pine  is  a  native  of  Somersetshire,  England. 
He  was  born  May  2,  1828,  and  is  the  son  of  Rob- 
ert and  Elizabeth  (Morris)  Pine.  His  father  emi- 
grated with  his  family  from  England  to  Amer- 
ica, sometime  in  the  year  1840.  Mr.  Pine  was  then 
12  years  old,  and  has  a  distinct  remembrance  of  the 
incidents  of  the  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  Philadel- 
phia, as  the  time  passed  on  the  ocean  was  six  entire 
weeks.  They  went  to  Lake  County,  in  the  Buckeye 
State,  and  were  there  resident  until  their  removal  at 
the  time  stated  to  Illinois.  They  started  on  their 
overland  trip  with  three  horses  and  a  pair  of  oxen. 
The  members  of  the  household  and  the  domestic 
belongings  were  accommodated  in  two  large  wagons. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Cleveland  the  father  exchanged 
the  oxen  for  horses,  and  the  distance  between  them 
and  their  destination  seemed  to  diminish  with  pro- 
portionate rapidity. 

The  senior  Pine  bought  a  claim  on  section  14,  in 
the  part  of  Warren  County  then  designated  on  the 
government  charts  as  township  12,  and  which  on  its 
organization  as  a  municipality  was  named  Kelly 
Township.  There  were  20  acres  of  the  property  in 
tillage,  and  a  log  house  had  been  erected.  The  lat- 


ter was  of  the  style  of  architecture  which  pointed 
out  a  most  primitive  condition  of  things,  and  the 
roof  was  made  of  "shakes,"  which  were  kept  in  their 
places  with  poles.  The  usual  improvements  were 
afterward  made  on  the  place  by  the  owner,  who  lived 
there  until  the  close  of  his  life.  His  death  trans- 
pired about  1870.  The  family  included  six  chil- 
dren, and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Pine  remained  a  member  of  his  father's  house- 
hold until  his  marriage  to  Letitia  Watson,  which 
event  took  place  in  1853.  His  wife  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  is  the  daughter  of  Basil  and  Matilda  Wat- 
son, who  were  members  of  the  pioneer  element  of 
Kelly  Township.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr. 
Pine  located  on  section  9,  in  the  same  township 
where  his  father  had  settled,  and  improved  the  farm 
on  which  he  fixed  his  permanent  residence,  and 
which  is  still  in  his  possession. 

In  March,  1876,  he  rented  his  farm  and  went  to 
Galesburg,  where  he  is  now  living.  He  is  manu- 
facturing brick  and  terra  cotta  articles  of  merchan- 
dise, and  is  a  member  of  the  Stock  Company  in  that 
place  which  was  incorporated  in  1885.  He  is  the 
Superintendent  and  one  of  the  Directors  of  the 
Works. 

His  son,  Edwin  A.,  lives  in  Kelly  Township,  and 
is  officiating  as  Assessor.  Frank  J.  is  a  hardware 
dealer  at  Alexis,  and  is  represented  in  this  work. 
Janet  and  Linnie  May  are  the  daughters  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pine. 

Mr.  Pine  is  a  member  of  the  denomination  known 
as  Second  Adventists. 


ohn  Tucker,  owning  the  undivided  half 
£  interest  to  450  acres  of  land  in  Swan 
Township,  and  residing  upon  section  20  of 
the  same,  was  born  in  the  township  where  he  at 
present  resides,  Nov.  21,  1846,  his  parents  both 
being  natives  of  Washington  Co.,  Pa.  Mr. 
Tucker  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss  Ida 
F.  Bostwick,  Oct.  n,  1871.  She  was  born  July  i, 
1852,  in  Roseville  Township,  this  county,  her  father's 
name  being  Alanson  Bostwick.  He  was  born  in 
Connecticut,  in  1814,  and  married  Jane  A.  Jones,  in 
1848.  She  was  born  in  1818,  and  bore  her  husband 


6s  8 


COUNTY. 


three  children  —  Ida  F.,  Ozro  P.  and  Ora  A.  Her 
father  died  Dec.  23,  1876. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Tucker,  of  this  notice,  James 
Tucker,  was  born  May  15,  1807,  in  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,  came  to  Illinois  in  1834  and  located  in  Swan 
Township,  this  county ;  removed  from  there  to  Rose- 
ville,  where  he  is  at  present  residing.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Caroline  Johnson,  April  27,  1840.  She 
was  born  July  9,  1809,  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.  They 
were  married  in  the  Keystone  State,  and  of  their  un- 
ion four  children  were  born — Daniel  J.,  Aug.  20, 
1841;  James  M.,  Feb.  24,  1844;  John,  Nov.  21, 
1846,  and  George,  Feb.  22,  1849.  Daniel  J.  died  in 
the  army,  Sept.  20,  1861,  at  Lexington,  Mo.,  of  ty- 
phoid fever,  after  an  illness  of  eight  days.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Lexington,  on  the  2oth  of 
September,  that  year,  and  died  on  the  28th  of  the 
same  month. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tucker  of  this  sketch  are  the  happy 
parents  of  two  children — Carrie  J.,  born  Sept.  9, 
1873,  and  Ora  A.,  January  n,  1877.  Mr.  Tucker 
has  a  good  residence  on  the  place,  two  stories  in 
height,  and  is  there  passing  his  life  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  a  vocation  which  he  has  followed  since  he 
was  old  enough.  In  politics  he  is  a  believer  in  and 
a  supporter  of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Re- 
publican party,  which  ticket  he  has  always  voted. 


"oshua  C.  Bay,  a  successful  farmer  owning 
150  acres  of  land  located  on  section  4, 
Greenbush  Township,  where  he  resides 
and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of 
the  labors  of  an  agriculturist,  was  born  in 
Lenox  Township,  this  county,  in  1852,  and  is 
a  son  of  Woodford  Ray,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where 
he  was  born  in  1824.  The  latter  followed  the  voca- 
tion of  a  farmer  and  died  in  September,  1865,  at  the 
age  of  45  years,  in  Missouri.  The  father  formed  a 
matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss  Nancy  Simons  in 
1850.  She  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1831,  and  died 
in  May,  1852.  Of  their  union  two  children  were 
born, — Jamess  G.  and  Joshua  C.,  our  subject.  After 
their  mother's  death,  the  father  was  a  second  time 
married,  and  by  this  wife  had  five  children,  namely  : 
Ida  J.,  Charles  C.,  Lewis  R.,  Harriet  and  Delos. 


Joshua  Ray,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  married  April  2,  1874,  to  Eliza  Morris.  She 
was  born  Jan.  25,  18155,  and  has  borne  her  husband 
three  children,  one  of  whom,  Mary  E.,  died  July  12, 
1880.  Marshal  B.  was  born  Jan.  2,  1875,  and  Wal- 
ter, Oct.  29,  1880.  Mr.  Ray  and  his  family  are 
pleasantly  situated  on  their  fine  farm  in  Greenbush 
Township,  and  in  addition  to  their  acreage  in  this 
county,  Mr.  Ray  is  the  owner  of  12  acres  in  Mc- 
Donough  County,  this  State.  In  politics,  he  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Ray,  Bethuel  Morris,  was  born 
in  Ohio,  in  1826,  and  married  Miss  Mary  Crawford 
in  1847.  She  was-born  in  Ohio  and  bore  her  hus- 
band six  children,  as  follows:  Merribah,  John  B., 
Almira,  Flora,  Eliza  E.  and  Melissa.  Mr.  Morris 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and,  in  politics,  he  votes  the  same  ticket  as  his  son- 
in-law,  Mr.  Ray. 


••0*0— 


ev.  George  W.  Hamilton,  pastor  of  Little 
York  United  Presbyterian  Church,  was 
born  in  New  Wilmington,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa., 
March  i,  1848,  and  was  the  son  of  George 
Hamilton,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  grandson  of  Thomas  Hamilton,  whose 
birthplace  was  Ulster,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and 
the  date  of  his  birth  1763.  In  belief  this  latter  gen- 
tleman was  a  staunch  Presbyterian  of  the  Old  School, 
and  came  of  a  direct  line  of  Scotch  ancestry.  He 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1784,  locating  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  for  some  time, 
then  removed  to  Beaver  County,  of  that  State,  where 
he  died.  He  had  all  his  life  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  Early  in  life  he  married  Miss  Agnes 
Mitchell,  who  was  likewise  born  in  County  Tyrone, 
March  2,  1773,  and  like  her  husband  was  of  Scotch 
descent.  They  had  13  children,  all  of  whom  reached 
maturity.  The  father  of  the  subject  was  the  nth  in 
order  of  birth  and  in  his  native  county  grew  to  man- 
hood, being  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  in  early 
life  married  Rebecca  Strain,  a  native  of  Beaver 
County,  who  was  born  in  i8rg.  Shortly  after  mar- 
riage they  removed  to  Mercer  County,  where  he 
took  up  land,  which  he  worked  until  1855,  and  in 
that  year  he  moved  into  Iowa,  settling  near  Dubuque. 
Here  he  bought  a  farm,  upon  which  his  wife  died,  in 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


the  year  i86r,  he  surviving  her  until  1876,  when  he 
followed  her  to  their  long  home. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Hamilton,  our  subject,  and  the  ninth 
child  in  the  large  circle  of  brothers  and  sisters,  was 
seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  parents'  removal 
to  Iowa.  Here  he  grew  to  the  years  of  maturity, 
receiving  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools, 
and  in  1872  graduated  from  college,  having  taken 
a  full  classical  course.  Subsequently  he  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  of  Xenia,  Ohio,  in  which  he 
continued  two  years,  and  leaving  this  he  became  a 
student  under  Dr.  Patton,  of  Chicago,  with  whom  he 
remained  one  year.  He  commenced  his  ministra- 
tion in  1875,  in  the  States  of  Michigan,  Iowa  and 
Missouri,  laboring  two  years  before  receiving  ordina- 
tion. This  event  took  place  at  Elvira,  Clinton  Co., 
Iowa,  March  27,  1877,  and  at  this  time  he  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  Church  there,  the  pulpit  of 
which  he  occupied  until  August,  1880.  Receiving  a 
,  call  to  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Little 
York,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  that  town,  in  October 
of  that  year,  which  pastorate  he  holds  at  the  present 
time.  His  marriage  occurred  Sept.  5,  1878,  to  Anna 
C.  Young,  native  of  Michigan.  Mr.  Hamilton  is  a 
man  of  large  usefulness  and  adorns  the  position  he 
occupies,  and  is,  heart  and  mind,  enlisted  in  the  work 
of  "  bringing  in  the  sheaves." 


B.  Holeman.  One  of  the  energetic  and 
jl^^S,  successful  farmers  of  Warren  County  is 
3  o""5  Mr.  D.  B.  Holeman,  who  resides  upon 
section  35,  Roseville  Township,  having  been 
born  in  this  township  Nov.  20,  1850.  He  is  a 
son  of  Reuben  and  Susannah  (Crab)  Holeman, 
who  are  natives  of  Indiana,  and  whose  biography 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  book. 

D.  B.  Holeman,  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  personal  narrative,  remained  at  home  until  he 
attained  his  2oth  year,  in  the  meantime  receiving  a 
common-school  education  and  assisting  his  parents 
with  the  labors  on  the  farm.  He  afterward  farmed 
with  his  father  on  shares  for  two  years,  and  in  1872 
thinking  he  could  better  himself  considerably,  he 
went  to  Kansas,  and  located  in  Linn  County.  Here 
he  made  a  purchase  of  80  acres  of  land  and  engaged 
s  i  tr>:k-raising,  continuing  the  same  for  two  years, 


when  he  exchanged  his  property  for  some  land  situ- 
ated about  three  miles  distant  and  entered  upon  the 
latter  tract,  of  80  acres,  where  he  engaged  in  mixed 
husbandry  for  three  years.  He  again  returned  to 
Illinois,  and  in  1881  purchased  1465^  acres  of  land, 
80  of  which  is  in  Roseville  Township  and  is  in  ex- 
cellent cultivation;  37  acres  are  prairie  land  and 
29}^  good  timber. 

Mr.  D.  B.  Holeman  was  married  in  1870  to  Miss 
Harriet  Smith,  a  native  of  Warren  County  and 
daughter  of  Allen  and  Susan  (Miller)  Smith,  natives 
of  Indiana,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1848  and 
settled  in  Warren  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holeman 
have  had  their  home  brightened  and  blessed  with 
the  birth  of  two  children — Susannah,  born  Oct.  12, 
1871  ;  and  William  B.,  Aug.  29,  1875. 

Mr.  Holeman  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  is  one  of  the  representative  and  solid  men  of 
Warren  County.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Christian  Church,  and  he  fills  the  position  of 
School  Director. 


^rederick  Heinzman,  an  agriculturist,  re- 
siding upon  section  33,  Greenbush  Town- 
ship, where,  on  his  fine  farm  of  240  acres, 
he  is  prosecuting  his  vocation,  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  Oct.  u,  1827,  and  emigrated 
to  this  country  in  1851,  landing  at  New  York, 
from  whence  he  proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where 
he  remained  one  year  and  worked  at  the  mason's 
trade,  which  he  had  learned  in  the  fatherland. 

At  the  end  of  the  time  stated,  Mr.  Heinzman 
came  to  Springfield,  this  State,  and  resided  at  that 
place  for  two  years,  engaged  in  working  at  his  trade, 
when  he  went  to  Decatur,  and,  after  remaining  there 
a  year,  moved  to  Prairie  City.  In  the  latter  place 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1874,  when  he  came  to 
this  township  and  located  on  section  33,  Greenbush 
Township,  where  he  purchased  80  acres  of  land. 
He  at  once  located  on  his  land  and  engaged  actively 
and  energetically  in  its  improvement  and  cultivation, 
and  by  economy  and  perseverance  has,  by  subse- 
quent purchases,  increased  his  landed  interests  in 
Warren  County  to  240  acres,  and  is  also  the  owner 
of  80  acres  in  McDon.ough  County.  Mr.  H.  has  a 
good  residence  upon  his  place,  35  x  45  feet  in  dimen  - 


66o 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


sions,  with  a  good  cellar,  the  walls  of  which  are  of 
his  own  work.  His  barn  is  30  x  40  feet  with  a  good 
basement. 

Mr.  Heinzman  was  united  in  marriage  with  Fred- 
rica  Behler,  March  6,  1855.  She  was  born  March 
5,  1828,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  came  to 
America  in  1854,  landing  at  New  Orleans.  From 
there  she  proceeded  to  Decatur,  111.,  where  she  re- 
mained one  year,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  she 
married  Mr.  Heinzman.  Of  their  union  ten  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  namely:  May  E.,  Jan.  16, 
1856;  Frederick,  May  25,  1857;  Frank,  Aug.  n, 
1858;  Louisa  F.,  Dec.  2,  1859;  Rudolph,  May  5, 
1861 ;  John,  Oct.  27,  '1862;  Charles  Oct.  14, 
1864;  Minnie,  born  March  30,  1866,  died  July  25, 
1881 ;  Albert,  born  May  14,  1868,  died  April  29, 
1870;  and  Lillian,  born  July  10,  1871. 

In  religion,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  H.  votes  with  the 
Democratic  party.  His  father,  Jacob,  was  born  in 
1802,  in  Germany,  and  married  Miss  Mudinger. 
who  was  born  in  that  country  in  1800.  The  father 
died  in  Nebraska,  in  1881,  and  the  mother  in  this 
county  in  1875.  They  had  nine  children,  five  of 
whom  are  deceased.  The  living  are  Frederick, 
Mary,  Jacob  and  Charles. 


ambert  Lester,  a  prominent  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 13  of  Point  Pleasant  Township,  was 
born  in  Greene  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  n,  1839. 
Thomas  C.  Lester,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  Aug.  3, 
1816.  The  latter  was  a  son  of  Peter  R.  and 
Haney  (O'Neil)  Lester.  The  families  of  both  his 
parents  were  South  Carolinians.  His  great-grand- 
father, James  Lester,  was  an  Englishman.  His  wife 
a  Deneford;  her  given  name  is  not  recollected  by 
her  descendants  of  this  generation.  She  was  reared 
in  Ireland,  came  to  America  at  an  early  day  and 
was  united  in  marriage  to  the  above  named  James. 
They  had  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  were  boys  : 
John,  Isaac,  James,  Peter,  Charles,  Abner,  Samuel 
and  the  daughter,  Joicey.  All  except  Abner  and 
Samuel  lived  to  raise  families  of  their  own.  The 
parents,  with  their  children,  moved  to  South  Caro- 
lina before  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  about  the 


year  1787,  Peter,  the  fourth  son,  married  Jane  Ru- 
ble, who  was  born  in  Newbury,  S.  C.  To  them  were 
born  n  children,  five  boys  and  six  girls,  as  follows: 
Patty,  Sally,  Peter,  James,  Mary,  Willis,  Rhoda, 
Vincent,  Simpson,  Cinderella  and  Jane.  They  all 
grew  to  maturity  and  reared  families  of  their  own ;  * 
only  three  of  the  number  are  now  living,  namely  : 
Peter,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject;  Vincent, 
who  lives  in  Greene  Co.,  Ind. ;  and  Simpson,  who 
resides  at  Batesville,  Mississippi.  Peter  Lester  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Indiana  when  his  son 
Thomas  was  but  five  years  of  age.  He  was  one  of 
the  earliest  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  the  county  of 
Greene,  and  is  still  living  there  at  the  age  of  96 
years.  The  son  just  referred  to — Thomas  C. — grew 
to  manhood  in  Greene  County,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Eliza  Hughen,  who  was  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina, Dec.  31,  1815.  His  father  presented  him  with 
80  acres  of  land  on  his  marriage,  which  was  situated 
in  the  township  of  Plummer,  on  White  River,  in  the 
same  county  in  which  the  father  resided.  As  it  was  1 
all  in  heavy  timber,  there  was  a  vast  amount  of  hard 
work  before  him  to  make  a  suitable  home  for  the  [ 
new-made  wife.  But  he  built  a  log  house  on  a  " 
small  clearing,  in  which  they  took  up  their  residence,  | 
and  the  work  of  reclamation  from  the  original  forest 
went  vigorously  on.  The  husband  was  a  man  ofJ 
energy  and  industry,  and  in  a  very  short  time  placed 
40  acres  under  good  culture.  He  was  enabled  to 
make  a  further  purchase  of  land,  which  he  thor- 
oughly improved,  and  remained  the  occupant  of  the 
farm  as  long  as  he  lived.  His  death  transpired 
in  May,  1851.  His  widow  lives  at  present  in  Clay 
Co.,  Neb.  There  were  five  children  in  the  family  of 
Thomas  Lester,  but  none  now  living  save  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Walter 
Paine,  of  Edgar,  Clay  Co.,  Neb. 

Mr.  Lester  was  12  years  old  when  his  father  was 
removed  by  death.  He  continued  to  live  in  his  na- 
tive county  until  October,  1856.  The  homestead 
was  then  rented,  his  mother  having  remarried,  to  a 
man  named  William  R.  Hindman.  The  latter  removed 
the  family  to  Warren  County,  in  the  year  named, 
and  located  in  Point  Pleasant  Township.  The  son 
accompanied  the  family  and  was  married  to  Mary  E. 
Dixon  Oct.  19,  1869.  His  wife  is  the  daughter  of 
Eli  and  Jemima  (Boyd)  Dixon,  of  whom  a  sketch  is 
given  elsewhere  in  this  book. 

Previous  to  his  marriage  he  became  the  owner  of 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


66 1 


40  acres  of  land,  which  he  had  purchased  in  1863, 
and  which  constituted  the  nucleus  of  the  splendid 
farm  upon  which  he  now  resides.  His  mother  re- 
sided with  him  on  the  4o-acre  tract  until  he  married. 
He  has  been  prosperous  and  has  added  to  his  estate 
until  he  is  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  excellent  land, 
all  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  It  includes  30 
acres  of  timber  land,  whose  value  is  appreciated  in 
a  prairie  country. 

Mr.  Lester  is  a  Democrat  in  political  views.  Mrs. 
Lester  belongs  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church.  Minnie  J.  Lester,  the  sole  daughter  of  the 
parents'  home  and  hearts,  was  born  Feb.  7,  1876. 

Among  the  views  of  farm  residences  given  in  the 
pictorial  department  of  this  ALBUM,  may  be  found 
that  of  Mr.  Lester's,  on  page  380. 


ohn  S.  Whelan,  a  well-to-do,  sturdy  tiller 
of  the  soil,  resides  in  this  county,  on  his 
farm  of  160  acres,  located  on  section  18, 
Hale  Township.     He  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Margaret  (Moore)  Whelan,  natives  of  Ireland. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven    children,  of 
whom  John  S.  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

He  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  23,  1853. 
When  John  S.  was  but  two  years  of  age  his  parents 
brought  him  to  Illinois.  They  located  in  this  county 
in  August,  1861,  in  Swan  Township,  where  his  fa- 
ther died.  His  mother  still  survives. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  received  a  good  common 
school  education  in  the  district  schools  of  this  county, 
and  continued  to  reside  here,  engaged  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming,  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to  Hen- 
derson County,  and  there  lived  for  five  years  following 
the  same  occupation.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time 
he  came  to  Hale  Township,  and  purchased  the  land 
which  he  still  owns  and  occupies.  This  land  is  all 
under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  and  in  the  vo- 
cation which  he  has  followed  the  major  portion  of  his 
life  he  is  meeting  with  success. 

The  ceremony  which  united  the  lives  of  Mr.  Whe- 
lan and  Miss  Kate  Mason,  the  accomplished  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  and  Johanna  (Shaw)  Mason,  natives 
of  Ireland,  was  solemnized  February  i,  1876,  in 
Henderson  County.  Miss  Mason  was  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  nine  children.  She 


was  born  in  Ohio  January  16,  1855,  and  has  borne 
her  husband  four  children,  Charlie  M.,  Mary  E.,  Ka- 
tie and  J.  Edgar.  Mr.  Whelan  has  held  the  office  of 
School  Director  in  his  Township,  and  in  his  politics 
is  independent.  He  and  his  wife  are  faithful  and 
active  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


homas  Meadows,  farmer  on  section  3, 
Berwick  Township,  was  born  in  this  county, 
Dec.  18,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
Meadows,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
born  March  28,  1798.  The  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  came  to  Illinois  prior  to  the 
Black  Hawk  War,  in  1832,  and  died  Jan.  13,  1851, 
in  this  county.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Coffey  March  26,  1818.  She  was  also  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  there  Sept.  6,  1799,  and  died  Aug. 
24,  1881.  They  had  14  children,  namely  :  Nancy, 
born  May  21,  1819;  Andrew,  May  10,  1820;  Jane, 
April  15,  1821;  Martin  C.,  March  12,  1822;  Eliza- 
beth, July  23,  1823;  James  and  Martha  (twins),-; 
Nov.  ti,  1825  ;  Mary,  July  3,  1827;  Sarah,  July  5, 
1829;  Henry  W..  Dec.  30,  1831;  Althea,  Jan.  5, 
1834;  John  G.,  Nov.  30,  1837  ;  Artimisia,  Feb.  20,  . 
1836;  Erastus,  April  16,  1842;  and  Thomas,  born 
as  stated  above. 

Thomas  Meadows,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Brown,  March 
9,  1865.  She  was  born  Oct.  13,  1846,  in  Indiana, 
and  her  parents  came  to  this  State  in  1854,  locating 
in  this  county.  Her  father,  Wm.  L.  Brown,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  Dec.  31,  1820,  and  was  there  married 
to  Miss  Julia  A.  Newkirk,  Jan.  i,  1846.  She  was 
born  Sept.  r,  1826,  and  was  also  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  both  are  still  living,  residing  at  present  in  Ab- 
ingdon.  They  have  been  blessed  with  eight  chil- 
dren— Mary  Jane,  bom  in  October,  1846;  Almeda 
Ann,  who  was  born  Oct.  6,  1848,  and  married  Wm. 
P.  Meadows  March  10,  1870;  Sarah  M.,  born  Sept. 

26,  1850,  (marriedGalen  P.  Meadows  Feb.  7,  1871); 
John  W.,  born  Aug.  27,  1852;  Harriet  E.,  born  Feb. 

27,  1855,  (married  Wm.  L.  Roney  Sept.   24,  1874); 
Jerusha   R.,  born  June    i,   1858  (married  Albert  J. 
Haynes  in  1879);    Alzora,   born  June  24,  1861,  is 
deceased;  and  Alvira  A.,  born   Nov.   29,   1863,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Lewis  J.  Supple  April  3,  1884. 


662 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Thomas  Meadows,  of  whom  we  write,  and  his 
wife  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children  :  El- 
mer, born  Feb.  12,  1866,  Ira  D,  Feb.  10,  1868; 
Austin  T.,  March  16,  1870;  Leonard  P..  Dec.  22, 
1874;  Charlie  L.,  Jan.  20,  1878;  Vella  Ann,  June 
17,  1885. 

Mr.  Meadows  is  the  proprietor  of  98  acres  of  good 
land,  located  on  section  3,  Berwick  Township,  and 
as  an  agriculturist  is  meeting  with  the  success  which 
energy  and  perseverance  are  sure  to  bring.  In  poli- 
tics, he  votes  with  the  Democratic  party,  and,  re- 
ligiously, he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church. 


|j:  eimer  Lahann  is  a  manufacturer  and  whole- 
sale and  retail  dealer  in  cigars  and  tobacco, 
•at  Monmouth,  the  name  of  his  establishment 
being  the  Maple  City  Cigar  Factory.  He  was 
born  Oct.  8,  1842,  at  Delmat,  Holstein,  Ger- 
many. He  came  to  America  in  1861,  four 
years  after  his  father,  who  died  suddenly  at  Palmyra, 
Mo.,  in  1868,  while  en  route  from  Hannibal,  Mo.,  to 
Monmouth.  Reimer  Lahann's  first  employment  in 
the  United  States  was  farming,  which  he  followed 
for  a  year  and  a  half  near  Troy,  N.  Y.,  after  which 
he  went  to  work  at  cabinet  making,  in  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  resided  until  1866,  during  which 
time  he  also  learned  the  cigar-maker's  trade.  While 
a  resident  of  New  York  State  he  served  a  term  as  a 
member  of  the  National  Guards,  assisting  the  organ- 
ization in  protecting  lives  and  property  at  a  time 
when  riots  and  disturbances  were  imminent. 

Immediately  upon  removing  to  Monmouth,  which 
be  did  in  1866,  Mr.  Lahann  began  the  manufacture 
of  cigars.  He  rolled  the  smokers  himself.  His  bus- 
iness was  on  a  small  scale,  but  with  slight  assistance 
from  his  estimable  wife,  a  good  start  was  being  made. 
The  fire  of  '68  completely  cleaned  out  the  business, 
but  Mr.  Lahann  was  not  discouraged.  He  began 
work  again  at  the  beginning.  By  gradual  development 
his  establishment,  which  he  has  built  up  alone  and 
unaided,  except  by  his  wife,  has  become  one  of  the 
leading  institutions  of  Monmouth.  The  Maple  City 
factory  is  Mr.  Lahann's  pride,  and  it  is  evidence  of 
!.i ;  industry  and  business  ability.  From  35  to  4omen 


are  constantly  employed  in  the  factory  and  a  num- 
ber of  salesmen  are  continually  on  the  road,  dispos- 
ing of  the  different  brands  of  cigars,  all  of  which  have 
an  excellent  reputation.  The  factory  turned  out  in 
1884  over  1,500,000  cigars.  During  the  last  four 
months  of  that  year  the  number  sold  was  440,525, 
while  during  the  corresponding  period  of  '85  the 
number  was  493,500,  a  most  gratifying  increase.  Not 
only  its  size,  but  its  prosperous  condition,  makes  the 
institution  one  of  particular  advantage  to  the  city  of 
Monmouth,  inasmuch  as  the  place  becomes  known 
throughout  the  extensive  territory  in  which  the  cigars 
are  sold.  Mr.  Lahann's  adherence  to  the  practice  of 
using  only  a  superior  quality  of  stock  has  done  much 
to  overcome  the  prejudice  for  Eastern  cigars  where- 
ever  the  products  of  the  Maple  City  factory  are  ob- 
tainable. 

Mr.  Lahann  was  married  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  24, 
1865,  to  Miss  Katie  Fougard,  of  Huhrhesse,  Ger- 
many. Their  children  are  Ida,  Andrew  and  Nina  May, 
the  first  the  wife  of  Mr.  Fred  T.  Hayden,  the  second 
a  cigar-maker  and  the  third  a  school  girl.  Mr.  Hay- 
den  and  Andrew  Lahann  are  both  employed  in  the 
factory.  Mrs.  Hayden  has  a  daughter,  born  Feb.  2, 
1886,  and  Mr.  R.  Lahann  proudly  responds  to  the 
title  of  grandfather.  Mr.  Lahann  is  a  Knight  Tem- 
plar in  Masonry,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  member  of  the 
Leiderkranz  Society,  and  in  politics,  a  Republican. 


eorge  W.  Stice  is  extensively  engaged  as 
an  agriculturist  upon  section  30,  Swan 
Township,  where  he  owns  910  acres.  It 
is  all  tillable  land  but  15  acres,  which  is  cov- 
ered with  timber.  He  has  erected  a  good, 
substantial  two-story  dwelling,  which  is  30  x  30 
feet  in  dimensions,  upon  his  farm  ;  also  a  good  barn, 
38  x  42  feet.  He  is  a  breeder  of  Short -horn  cattle, 
having  at  present  seven  head,  also  excellent  grades 
of  roadsters.  In  his  chosen  vocation,  he  has  met 
with  remarkable  success,  being  an  industrious,  per- 
severing and  economical  farmer,  and  to  himself  and 
good  helpmeet,  his  wife,  is  his  prosperity  attribut- 
able. 

Mr.  George.  W.  Stice,  of  whom  we  write,  was  born 
in  Madison  Co.,  111.,  July  8,  1832,  and  is  the  son  of 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


663 


Charles  Slice,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  where  he 
was  born  in  1795,  on  the  nth  of  February.  The 
latter  came  to  this  State  in  1814  and  located  in 
Madison  County.  The  elder  Mr.  Slice  was  a  Ranger 
during  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  under  General 
Whiteside  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  in  1832.  It  was 
while  in  that  war  that  he  came  through  this  county 
and  saw  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  was  so  well 
pleased  that  in  1833  he  came  to  what  is  now  the 
southern  part  of  Henderson  County;  but  as  that  lo- 
cality proved  unheallhful,  he  came  lo  Greinbush, 
Ihis  counly,  engaging  in  merchandising  and  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster.  After  a  residence  of  seven  years 
there,  he  exchanged  his  town  property  for  a  farm 
on  section  29,  Swan  Township,  which  he  occupied 
until  his  death.  Miss  Patsey  Whitley  was  the  lady 
chosen  to  share  his  joys  and  sorrows,  successes  and 
reverses.  She  was  born  in  1800,  in  Illinois,  and  of 
her  union  with  Mr.  Slice  1 2  children  were  born,  as 
follows :  Sarah,  Andrew,  Nancy,  Tabitha,  James 
and  Diana  (twins),  Martha,  Charles,  George  W., 
Oscar,  and  a  pair  of  twins  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Stice,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  died  in  1847,  the 
father's  demise  occurring  April  i,  1869,  in  Swan 
Township. 

George  W.  Stice  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Phoebe  King,  Jan.  19,  1860.  She  was  a  native  of 
McDonough  County,  and  the  daughter  of  R.  T. 
King,  who  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  East  Ten- 
nesse,  Nov.  28,  1817.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1835, 
and  on  Nov.  28,  1839,  was  married  to  Miss  Martha 
A.  Holden,  who  was  born  in  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio, 
July  2,  1822.  Her  father  was  a  nalive  of  Vermont, 
moved  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  and  had  a  family 
comprising  eight  children — Phebe,  born  Feb.  4, 
1841:  William  H.,  Feb.  12,  1847;  James  M.,  in 
November,  1849;  John  H.,  in  July,  1852;  Myrim 
H.,  Oct.  10,  1855  ;  Isabella  L.,  in  1857  ;  Thomas  F., 
Feb.  28,  1859;  and  Charlie,  Aug.  8,  1861.  All  the 
above  children  are  at  present  living  and  have  at- 
tained the  age  of  manhood  and  womanhood.  Mr. 
King  was  really  one  of  the  pioneers  of  McDonough 
County. 

George  W.  Stice,  whose  name  heads  this  article,  is 
the  father  of  three  children  living  and  three  deceased. 
George  F.  was  born  Oct.  29,  1864;  Freeman  S., 
Oct.  15,  1870;  Sylvia  A.,  Oct.  2,  1872;  Edith,  born 
Dec.  3,  1860,  died  in  infancy;  Charles,  born  Jan.  8, 


1862,  died  Nov.  13,  same  year;  Harry,  born  April 
30,  1876,  died  May  22,  1876.  Mr.  Stice  lived  on 
sections  26  and  27,  of  Point  Pleasant  Township  for 
16  years.  In  the  spring  of  1874  he  moved  to  sec- 
tion 30,  Swan  Township,  where  he  had  purchased 
knd  and  here  he  has  lived  to  the  present  time. 

In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  Mr.  S. 
is  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  breeding 
of  Short-horn  caltle  and  graded  roadsters.  In  pol- 
itics, he  is  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance  and  votes 
with  the  Prohibition  party.  His  wife  is  President  of 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  county  organization,  and  has  held 
the  position  for  five  years.  She  is  also  President  of 
the  Band  of  Hope  at  Swan  Creek,  and  is  a  lady  of 
most  excellent  qualities.  Mr.  Stice  is  one  of  the 
leading  representative  citizens,  not  only  of  Swan 
Township  but  also  of  Warren  County. 


rus  B.  Bristol,  Jr.,  of  the  grocery  house 
of  Bristol  &  Glendening,  at  Monmouth, 
was  born  at  Fairmount,  W.  Va.,  Feb.  13, 
1840.  His  parents,  the  Rev.  Cyrus  Beecher 
and  Maria  (Henderson)  Bristol,  were  de- 
scended respectively  from  old  English  and 
Irish  families,  and  were  born,  the  first  named  in 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  the  latler  in  Fayelte  Co., 
Pa.  They  reared  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  and 
as  if  the  figure  four  were  destined  to  play  some  con- 
spicuous part  in  his  history,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  the  fourth  child  in  order  of  birth  and  was  four 
years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Armstrong 
Co.,  Pa.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Bristol  had  charge  of  two 
churches  in  Armstrong  County  for  about  12  years, 
and  in  r856  came  to  Illinois.  He  resides  now  (Oct- 
ober, 1885)  at  Schaller,  Iowa,  with  his  son,  W.  R.  T. 
Bristol.  He  is  87  years  old;  his  wife  78. 

At  Elder's  Ridge,  Glade  Run  Academy  and  an 
institution  of  learning  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Cyrus  B. 
Bristol,  Jr.,  acquired  a  pretty  thorough  English  edu- 
cation. After  coming  lo  Illinois  he  learned  the  car- 
penter's Irade,  and  worked  al  it  for  some  years.  Feb. 
20,  1862,  he  enrolled  in  Mercer  County,  this  Slate, 
as  a  private  in  Co.  B,  651)1  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  re-en- 
lisled  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  March  30,  1864.  Soon 
after  his  first  enlistmenl  he  was  promoted  Corporal. 
He  veteranized  as  Second  Sergeant,  was  promoted  to 


664 


WARRED  COUNTY. 


Orderly  Sergeant  and  mustered  out  as  Sergeant 
Major,  July  13,  1865 ;  was  commissioned  Second 
Lieutenant,  but  did  not  muster.  He  saw  service  un- 
der Burnside  in  East  Tennessee;  was  in  the  23d 
army  corps  and  took  part  in  all  the  engagements  of 
that  army  from  Dalton  to  Atlanta.  He  smelt  gun- 
powder and  heard  the  bullets  at  Columbia,  Ga. 
Franklin,  Tenn.,  and  Nashville.  After  the  battle 
of  Nashville,  his  regiment  was  transferred  to  the 
Eastern  Army  and  took  a  hand  in  the  Wilmington 
and  Fort  Fisher  engagements.  At  Harper's  Ferry, 
Sept.  15,  1862,  the  enemy  gobbled  him  up  along  with 
the  regiment,  held  them  a  day  or  two  and  paroled 
them.  He  was  with  his  command  from  beginning 
to  end  and  never  missed  duty  but  two  days. 

Returning  from  the  war,  he  farmed  two  years  in 
Mercer  County,  and  went  to  Pennsylvania,  where, 
on  the  i6th  of  May,  1867,  at  the  town  of  Kent,  In- 
diana County,  he  was  married  to  Miss  S.  J.  McFar- 
land,  a  native  of  that  place  and  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
William  McFarland.  In  1868,  he  came  to  Mon- 
mouth,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  worked  for 
the  Weir  Plow  Company  about  nine  years,  and  has 
been  in  the  grocery  business  since  1879.  His  first 
partner  in  mercantile  business  was  W.  T.  Wiley  ; 
second,  W.  P.  Pressley ;  third,  A.  S.  Carson  ;  and 
the  present  partnership  was  formed  in  June,  1885. 
(See  biography  of  D.  D.  Dunkle). 

Mr.  Bristol  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
and  Master  Workman  in  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 


||,ol.  James  W.  Davidson,  an  attorney  and 
counsellor  at  law,  residing  at  Monmouth, 
has  practiced  at  the  Warren  County  Bar 
a  greater  number  of  years  than  any  other  man 
now  living.  He  was  born  in  Barren  County, 
Ky.,  Sept.  16,  1813,  and  was  the  third  of  six 
sons  bred  and  reared  to  manhood  by  Hezekiah  and 
Eleanor  (Wilson)  Davidson,  natives  of  the  States  of 
North  Carolina  and  Kentucky,  and  of  Irish  and 
Scotch  extraction  respectively. 


Hezekiah  Davidson  was  a  mechanic,  and  in  his 
day  was  the  most  extensive  manufacturer  of  guns 
and  cotton  gins  in  the  country  where  he  resided.  He 
came  to  Warren  County  in  1831,  and  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life  on  his  farm  near  Monmouth,  dying  in 
1841,  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  His  widow 
survived  him  up  to  the  winter  of  1857-8. 

Col,  James  W.  Davidson  was  in  his  youth  inured 
to  the  toils  of  farm  life,  and  also  learned  the  trade  of 
his  father.  He  afterwards  acquired  a  thorough  acad- 
emic education,  teaching  school  two  years  in  Logan 
and  two  years  in  Simpson  counties,  Ky.  He  went  to 
Mississippi  and  remained  there  about  one  year.  He 
returned  to  the  old  Kentucky  home  to  find  that  the 
rest  of  the  family  had  some  time  before  emigrated  to 
the  West.  He  had  traveled  from  Brandon,  Miss.,  to 
Barren  Co.,  Ky.,on  horseback,  and  without  delay  he 
pressed  forward,  and  by  the  same  conveyance  reach- 
ed Monmouth.  Remaining  there  but  a  short  time, 
he  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  at  Bowling  Green,  in 
the  office  of  W.  L.  Underwood  began  reading  law.  "I 
During  the  last  two  years  spent  under  the  instruction 
of  attorney  Underwood  he  taught  school  in  Simpson  1 
County,  going  thence  to  Logan  County,  Ky.,  where  ** 
he  taught  about  two  years.  At  Russellville,  Ky.,  he 
finished  his  course  of  study  with  lawyer  Benjamin  E. 
Gray,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  He  landed  at 
Monmouth,  May  10,  1839,  and  at  once  hung  out  his 
shingle  as  attorney-at-law. 

Something  of  the  confidence  with  which  young 
Davidson  inspired  the  people  in  his  abilities  as  a 
lawyer,  may  be  surmised  from  the  fact  that  before  the 
convening  of  the  first  term  of  Court  after  his  arrival 
in  Warren  County,  Nov.  1839,  he  was  entrusted  with 
no  less  than  83  causes.  When  Court  set,  however,  his 
early  ambition  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  The 
cold  November  day  augmented  the  decline  of  his 
young,  though  invalid  wife,  and  her  condition  became 
at  once  so  precarious  as  to  forbid'  his  absence  from 
her  bedside,  and  the  Court  convened  and  adjourned 
regularly  for  more  than  two  years  without  his  attend- 
ance, Not  that  his  young  wife  yet  required  his  at- 
tention, for  before  the  roses  bloomed  and  while  yet 
the  new  spring  time  was  just  warming  into  life  the 
little  seeds  that  were  to  shoot  forth  the  bright 
flowers  and  green  grasses,  Mary  E.  (Wickware)  Da- 
vidson, to  whom  he  was  married  in  Kentucky,  Aug. 
26,  1838,  yielded  up  her  life,  leaving  to  the  care -of 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


665 


her  husband  an  only  child,  Thaddeus    C.  Davidson 
now  a  business  man  at  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Mr.  Davidson  has  led  the  Democratic  party  of  his 
district  in  two  heated  campaigns  for  Congress,  his  last 
nomination  being  by  acclamation  at  Peoria,  in  the  fall 
of  1858.  In  the  first,  he  ran  1,271  votes  ahead  of 
Buchanan.  Senator  Douglas  publicly  complimented 
him  by  saying,  "his  campaign  was,  under  all  circum- 
stances, the  grandest  he  had  ever  witnessed."  In 
June,  1857,  James  Buchanan  appointed  Mr.  David- 
son United  States  Marshal  for  the  Northern  District 
of  Illinois,  but  because  the  influence  of  the  office 
was  not  used  against  Mr.  Douglas,  Davidson  was 
soon  afterward  replaced. 

At  the  request  of  the  members  of  the  Bar  of  his 
Judicial  District,   Mr.  Davidson  ran  for  the  Circuit 
Judgeship  in  18 — ,  but  his  Democracy  was  too  pro- 
nounced to  carry   a  majority  in   a  district  so  ultra 
radical,  and  previous  to  the  election  he  withdrew  from 
the  contest.     In  1844,  he  was  defeated  by  seven  votes 
f  for  the  Illinois  Legislature.     For  46  years  Mr.  David- 
I  son  has  devoted  his  time  to  the  practice  of  law,  and 
*  during  the  last  decade  has  been  ranked  as  the  Nestor 
.  of  the  Warren  County  Bar.  Criminal  causes  have  re- 
ceived so  much  of  his  attention  as  to  make  it  proper 
I  to  say   that    that    branch  of  his  practice  has  been 
his  specialty. 

April  4,  1843,  Mr.  Davidson  was  married  to  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Mary  E.  Coleman,  a  native  of  Hopkins- 
ville,  Ky.,  who  was  born  July  2, 1823. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Davidson  were  James  and 
Lucy  O.  (Hawkins)  Coleman.  The  father  was  of 
German  extraction  and  the  mother  of  Scotch.  The 
family  of  Mr.  Coleman  consisted  of  ten  children, 
five  brothers  and  five  sisters.  The  only  survivors  are 
Mrs.  Davidson  and  one  brother,  William  P.  Coleman, 
who  is  now  a  resident  of  Sacramento,  California, 
President  of  a  Sacramento  bank,  and  an  influential 
citizen ;  and  one  sister,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Huston,  of 
Blandinsville,  McDonough  Co.,  this  State.  One  of 
Mrs.  D.'s  brothers,  Stephen  O.  Coleman,  formerly  of 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war,  and 
in  the  late  war  was  Captain  of  the  St.  Louis  Grays 
and  with  his  company  served  until  near  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Wilson 
Creek,  near  Springfield,  Mo. 

Of  the  nine  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David- 
son, we  make  the  following  brief  memoranda 


Rosalind  O.  and  Cordelia  A.  died  in  infancy ;  Jes- 
sie P.  is  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  H.  A.  Webster ;  Lucy 
Ellen,  is  the  widow  of  Frank  Huff;  Harry  died  in  in- 
fancy; Stephen  Lee  is  a  business  man  in  Kansas  City ; 
Julius  M.  resides  at  Monmouth ;  Kate  married  a  Mr. 
Johnson  ;  and  Pearlie  was  united  in  marriage  to  a 
Mr.  Montgomery. 


illiam  P.  Pressly  was  born  near  Abbey- 
ville,  South  Carolina,  March  17,  r8n.  His 
father,  David  Pressly,  and  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Jane  Patterson,  came  from 
Ireland  in  their  early  youth.  William  was 
the  youngest  of  seven  children.  He  attended  for 
some  time  Miami  University,  at  Oxford,  Ohio. 

In  1832  he  bought  a  farm  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
engaged  in  farming  with  that  energy  and  success  that 
has  always  marked  his  busy  life.  After  about  20 
years  his  health  failed  him,  and  he  went  into  busi- 
ness for  a  time  in  Hamilton,  Ohio.  In  1859  he  came 
to  Monmouth.  For  one  year  he  farmed  west  of  the 
city  limits.  Then  he  began  mercantile  life  here  and 
from  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  been  identified 
with  Monmouth  as  one  of  the  most  successful,  un- 
tiring, energetic  and  reliable  of  the  business  men  of 
the  city.  He  dealt  finally  in  dry-goods,  and  of  late 
years  also  in  groceries. 

No  man,  far  or  near,  has  sustained  in  all  these 
years  a  more  unblemished  credit  than  Mr.  Pressly 
and  none  have  made  a  more  benevolent  use  of  money 
carefully  invested  "where  it  would  do  the  most  good." 
In  the  year  1863  he  gave  to  Monmouth  College  700 
acres  of  choice  farming  land  in  Iowa:  This  would 
have  proved  exceedingly  valuable  to  the  college  if  it 
could  have  been  held  for  a  few  years  longer.  He 
has  given,  for  the  purpose  of  educating  native  Egyp- 
tian ministers  and  teachers,  $20,000  to  missions  in 
that  sorely  troubled  land.  He  was  practical  in  this 
as  in  all  his  benevolences,  thinking  .that  a  native 
could  best  deal  with  natives. 

In  this  county  W.  P.  Pressly  will  ever  be  remem- 
bered as  the  founder  of  the  Warren  County  Library. 
To  establish  a  library  for  the  county  he  bought  an 
ample  lot  and  built  a  substantial  and  excellent  brick 


666 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


building  in  1870.  He  provided  .that  the  building 
should  be  kept  up,  and  books  constantly  purchased 
from  the  rents  of  two  large  store-rooms,  also  given 
by  him.  As  the  library  has  grown  in  usefulness  and 
other  needs  have  become  manifest,  he  has  increased 
its  power  for  good  by  increasing  his  gift.  The  $18,- 
ooo  which  he  has  expended  in  this  way  has  founded 
one  of  the  most  successful  popular  libraries  in  the 
West.  In  accordance  with  his  own  idea  it  is  a  peo- 
ple's library,  for  the  country  as  well  as  for  the  city. 
Thus  its  benefits  are  intended  for  and  enjoyed  by  a 
population  four  times  that  of  Monmouth. 

The  practical  good  sense  of  a  careful  business  man 
has  given  direction  and  insured  success  in  his  own 
life  time,  and  under  his  own  eye,  to  that  which  his 
money  founded  and  his  judgment  sanctioned. 

Mr.  Pressly  was  married  in  1833  to  Mary  Gilmore, 
of  PrebleCo.,  Ohio,  who  died  in  1836.  In  1838  he 
was  married  to  Mary  Miller,  of  Virginia.  She  died 
in  1885.  Their  four  children,  Virginia,  Sarah,  Mary 

(Jane  and  Henry  are  all  deceased. 

Henry,  a  fine,  bright,  excellent  young  man,  gave 
his  life  in  the  service  of  his  country,  before  Vicks- 
burg. 

Mr.  William  P.  Pressly  has  always  been  prominent 
as  a  devotedly  religious  man  in  Sabbath-school 
work,  in  a  devout  knowledge  and  use  of  Scripture, 
and  in  that  broad  Christian  charity  which  lives  for 
others  and  recognizes  "  One  Lord  and  One  Faith"  in 
the  Christian  world. 


W.  Jones,  the  subject  of  this  brief  per- 
sonal sketch,  is  one  of  the  leading  farm- 
ers of  Roseville  Township,  living  on 
section  12.  His  farm  comprises  297  acres 
and  is  finely  improved  and  cultivated.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  the  cereals  and  is 
also  interested  in  stock-raising,  being  succesful  in 
his  particular  line  of  labor  and  a  go-ahead,  indus- 
trious agriculturist. 

Mr.  Jones  was  born  in  Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1836, 
and  his  parents  are  Jesse  P.  and  Magdalen  (Gray) 
Jones,  both  natives  of  Kentucky.  All  their  lives 
they  followed  the  occupation  in  which  Mr.  Jones  is 
at  present  engaged.  He  remained  at  home  until  he 
reached  his  majority,  receiving  a  common-school  ed- 
ucation, and  soon  after  leaving  home  he  visited  the 


State  of  Illinois,  remaining  one  summer.  He  then 
returned  to  Kentucky,  in  which  State  he  continued 
two  years,  at  his  home.  In  1860  he  came  to  Warren 
County  and  rented  a  farm  in  Roseville  Township. 
He  then,  in  1867,  bought  a  farm  in  Fulton  County, 
which  property  he  held  two  years,  and  which  he  sold 
at  the  end  of  this  time,  and  in  1871  bought  his  pres- 
ent home.  He  has  been  active  and  energetic  and 
has  allowed  nothing  to  deter  him  from  the  discharge 
of  his  duty,  and,  as  the  result  of  this,  he  is  the  owner 
of  one  of  the  pleasantest  homes  in  the  county. 

In  the  year  1872  Mr.  Jones  was  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony  with  Mary  J.  Hiett.  To  their 
family  circle  have  been  added  four  children — Em- 
eranza,  Mary  E  ,  William  J.  and  Edith  M.  Both 
himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  He  has 
been  School  Director  for  some  length  of  time  and  is 
a  rigid  Democrat  in  belief  and  sentiment,  with  which 
party  he  also  votes.  He  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  Warren  County  and  a  desirable  friend 
and  neighbor. 


f'ohn  Flake  is  one  of  the  settlers  of  1856, 
and  a  leading  farmer  by  occupation,  resid-  , 
ing  on  section  3,  Kelly  Township.  His 
farm  includes  102  acres,  all  improved  and  cul- 
tivated, and  upon  it  stands  a  good  and  com- 
modious farm  residence.  He  also  devotes 
some  attention  to  stock-raising  and  has  proved  him- 
self successful  in  business. 

Mr.  Flake  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept. 
ir,  1830.  His  father,  Amos  Flake,  was  a  native  of 
Indiana  and  of  German  descent.  John  grew  up  from 
childhood  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  living  at  home 
on  the  farm  and  receiving  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  continued  with  his  parents  until 
his  marriage,  Oct.  28,  1852,  with  Miss  Amelia  Welhoff, 
who  was  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  23,  1833,  a"d 
was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Wilhelmina  (Steele) 
Welhoff. 

Michael  Flake,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  of 
German  descent  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.  He  "took  up  "  a  tract  of  tim- 
ber land,  upon  which  he  fixed  the  boundaries  and 
commenced  its  cultivation  and  improvement.  From 
here  he  went  to  Hawesville,  Ky.,  where  he  became 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


667 


a  slave-holder.  The  father  of  the  subject  came  to 
Mercer  County  in  1856  and  settled  in  North  Hen- 
derson Township,  where  he  bought  a  farm,  and 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1862. 

The  father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Flake  were  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  Germany,  respectively.  The 
young  people  took  up  their  abode  at  the  Flake  home- 
stead, where  they  lived  until  1856.  From  there  they 
came  to  Warren  County,  locating  in  Kelly  Township, 
where  the  husband  purchased  land  on  section  9,  and 
where  they  lived  for  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  time  he  was  confronted  with  the  old  title,  where- 
upon he  leased  the  place  for  five  years  and  bought 
the  place  which  is  now  his  present  home. 

In  1868  a  tornado  swept  over  the  country  and  de- 
stroyed his  house,  barn  and  fences.  This  was  a 
great  loss  to  him,  but  he  rallied  from  the  shock  and 
soon  after  rebuilt,  this  time  a  neat  frame  house. 

The  family  circle  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flake  has  been 
made  complete  by  the  addition  of  six  children  as  fol- 
lows :  Augustus,  Laura,  Emily,  Amos,  Hattie  and 
Albert.  The  father  and  mother  and  three  of  the 
children  of  this  happy  household  are  members  in 
regular  standing  in  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Flake 
MS  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment  and  a  useful 
man  in  the  community.  In  1863  he  added  to  his 
property  a  sorghum  mill,  which  he  has  run  ever 
since. 

-*»» 


W.  Conlee,  station  agent  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  at  Rose- 
ville,  is  one  of  the  leading  representative 
citizens  of  this  village.  He  is  President  of  the 
Village  Board  and  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  wor- 
thy men  claimed  by  the  town.  He  was  born  in 
Morgan  Co.,  111.,  in  1847.  His  parents  were  Josiah 
and  Mary  A.  (Brown)  Conlee,  natives  of  Madison 
Co.,  111.,  and  Tennessee,  respectively.  They  were 
by  occupation  farmers  and  the  father  entered  the 
better  life  in  July,  1882.  His  relict,  {he  mother,  still 
survives  him,  living  in  the  home  of  J.  W. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  lived  under  the  parental 
roof  until  he  reached  the  age  of  22  years,  receiving  a 
common-school  education,  and,  while  at  home, 
showing  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  farm,  work- 
ing with  his  father.  He  afterward  learned  telegraphy 
and  was  employed  by  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad 
in  the  years  1869-70.  He  went  from  here  into  the 
employ  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road, where  for  12  years  he  has  held  the  position  of 
station  and  express  agent. 

He  deserted  the  ranks  of  single  blessedness  on  be- 
half of  Miss  Minnie,  daughter  of  John  Powell,  of 
Roseville.  The  event  securing  his  happiness  took 


place  in  1880.  One  bud  has  blossomed  on  the  pa- 
rental stalk,  a  soli,  Grover  C.,  and  the  little  home 
circle  is  a  pleasant  and  attractive  one. 

Mr.  Conlee  is  a  man  of  keen  foresight  and  logical 
common-sense.  He  feels  an  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs and  is  Democratic  in  political  sentiment.  He 
is  Master  Mason  in  the  lodge  of  that  order,  an  Odd 
Fellow  of  the  encampment  at  Bushnell,  as  well  as 
one  of  the  Select  Knights,  A  O.  U.  W.  He  owns  a 
pleasant  residence,  on  the  corner  of  Gossett  and 
Chamberlain  Streets,  and  is  desirably  situated  and 
filling  a  wide  sphere  of  usefulness.  By  religious  pro- 
fession he  is  a  Baptist  and  an  active  worker  in  all 
philanthropic  and  worthy  enterprises,  and  may  truth- 
fully be  called  "  good,"  in  its  worthiest  sense. 


jasper  Galloway  is  a  resident  of  Little 
York  and  a  native  of  Ohio,  being  born  in 
Green  County,  Feb,  29,  1844.  He  is  the 
son  of  Anthony  and  Catherine  (Junkin)  Gal- 
loway. His  father  also  was  born  in  Ohio, 
and  his  mother  came  from  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania. When  Casper  was  nine  years  of  age,  his 
parents  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Warren 
County,  where  they  lived  for  two  years,  and  remov- 
ing from  this  place  went  to  Henderson  County, 
where  his  father  bought  a  farm,  in  Green  Bush 
Township,  close  to  the  Biggsville  line.  He,  how- 
ever, enjoyed  his  new  home  but  a  short  time,  being 
snatched  away  by  death  in  the  prime  of  manhood, 
in  the  year  1856.  Following  his  death,  his  wife 
bought  a  farm  over  the  line  in  Biggsville  Township, 
which  property  she  still  occupies  as  a  home 

Mr.  Galloway  of  this  narrative  grew  up  in  the 
home  of  his  mother,  remaining  with  the  bereaved 
widow  until  1864,  and  proving  a  valuable  assistant 
and  confidant.  At  this  date  he  entered  Monmouth 
College,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1870.  Soon  after  graduation 
he  went  to  Washington,  D  C.,  where  he  received 
an  appointment  as  clerk  in  the  Census  Bureau, 
in  which  position  he  labored  for  one  year  and 
from  which  he  came  back  to  Warren  County,  en- 
gaging as  a  teacher,  in  which  profession  he  continued 
until  1878,  when  he  formed  a  business  association 
with  G.  B.  Harvey  as  partner.  This  was  located  at 
Alexis,  and  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until 
1882,  at  which  time  he  sold  out  and  for  about  a 
year  was  idle.  He  next  took  a  trip  to  the  West  for 
the  purpose  of  seeing  the  country,  with  which  he 
was  pleased,  so  much  so  that  in  1883,  he  came  to 
Little  York,  and  bought  a  building  then  in  process 
of  construction.  On  the  completion  of  the  same  he 
formed  a  business  connection  with  Charles  Rogers 
as  associate  partner,  and  the  two  opened  a  general 


668 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


store.  This  firm  continued  with  a  large  and  gratify- 
ing trade  until  May,  1884,  at  which  date  Mr.  Gallo- 
way sold  out  to  his  partner. 

In  the  year  1873,  April  24,  he  espoused  Miss  Re- 
becca A.  Wakefield,  who  was  born  in  MifHand  Co., 
Pa.,  Dec.  3,  1844.  and  to  them  have  been  given  five 
children,  as  follows:  Horace  C.,  Mary  C.,  Edith, 
Jennie  and  Chester  A.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Galloway  are 
devoted  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which 
religious  denomination  they  strongly  support.  He 
is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  702,  Alexis,  A.  F.  &.  A. 
M.,  and  of  Little  York  Lodge,  No.  153,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  is  in  politics  a  Republican. 


D.  Patch.     Standing  prominent  among  the 
leading  merchants  of  Roseville,  and  identi- 
fied as  proprietor  of  the  Commercial  House, 
is  the  gentleman  of  whom  this  brief  personal 
sketch  is  written.     The  hotel  which  he  con- 
ducts has  been  in  active  working  order  since 

1873,  at  which  time  it  was  erected. 

Mr.  Patch  was  born  in  Eaton,  Carroll  Co.,  N.  H., 
and  his  parents,  originally  from  Maine,  were  Dennis 
and  Susan  (Drew)  Patch.  While  yet  young,  Dennis 
learned  the  carpenter  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for 
a  number  of  years,  then,  in  1857,  with  his  wife  and 
little  family,  removed  to  the  State  of  Illinois.  Here 
he  settled  in  Ellison  Township,  purchasing  80  acres 
of  land,  to  which  he  afterwards  added  40  acres. 
Making  one  or  two  changes  into  'different  parts  of 
the  township,  he  eventually  settled  down  and  there 
remained  until  his  death.  Their  family  was  un- 
usually large,  consisting  of  14  children,  of  whom  12 
grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  nine  still  sur- 
viving. 

Mr.  Patch  came  to  Illinois  in  1856,  and  stopping 
in  Ellison  Township,  began  a  teacher's  life  in  the 
schools  of  Warren  County.  At  this  profession  he 
continued,  teaching  a  large  share  of  the  time  until 

1868,  when  he  bought  a  farm  and  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.      To  this,  with  native  thrift,   he 
added   work  at   his  trade  as  a  carpenter,  until,  in 

1869,  he  went  to  Kewanee,  Henry  County,  and  there 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.     Following  this  for 
three  years,  he  closed  his  labors  in  this   direction, 
and,  coming  to   Roseville,  bought  a  lot  and  erected 
the  present  Commercial    Hotel.     In    1878,    he   en- 
gaged as  clerk  in  the  Grange  store  and  in  this  busi- 
ness he  continued  until   1882,  when  he  purchased 
the  entire  stock  from  the  company  and  has   since 
been  sole  proprietor.     To  the  original  goods  he  has 
added    agricultural    implements,    reapers,   mowers, 
plows,  wagons,  etc.     He  purchased  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Walnut  Streets,  the  Grange  stqre  and  four 


lots.  His  stock  includes  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes, 
hats  and  caps,  and  also  groceries.  In  1865,  Sept. 
21,  he  entered  into  conjugal  relations  with  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Morford,  native  of  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Morford  of  Roseville,  now  de- 
ceased. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Patch  consists  of  four  children 
— Grace  D.,  Flora  M.,  Fred.  G.  and  Gertrude,  one 
child  having  been  lost  by  death,  a  son,  named  Ralph. 
Grace  and  Flora  are  in  attendance  at  the  Hillsdale 
College,  of  Michigan.  This  is  their  second  scholas- 
tic year,  they  expecting  to  graduate  in  three  years 
from  the  date  of  their  entrance  to  the  institution. 
Mr.  Patch  is  an  active  worker  in  public  affairs.  He 
is  a  Greenbacker  in  political  sentiment,  and  belongs 
to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  Lodge,  and  is  well  known  as  a 
citizen  who  has  at  heart  the  best  interests  of  his 
home  town. 


avid  Graham,  a  citizen  of  Monmouth,  was 
born  in   Todd  Co.,  Ky.,  April    12,    1821. , 
His   parents,  Matthew  and  Janette  Gra- 
ham, were  of  Scotch  descent  and  moved  from 
South  Carolina,  their  native  State,  to  Kentucky,^ 
about  the  year  1804,  where  there  were  born  to* 
them  ten  children,  eight  sons    and  two  daughters. 
The  eldest,  Martha  Graham  McDill,  was  born  in 
1805  and  died  in  1841  ;  Andrew,  born  in  1807,  died  ' 
in  1848;  John  W.,  born  in  1809;  Robert  C.,  born  in 
1811,  died  in  1878;  William  M.,  born  in  1814,  died 
in   1863;  Margaret  Graham   Porter,  born  in    1816, 
died  in    1861  ;  Wilson  M.,  born  in    1818,    died    in 
1871  ;  James  H.,  born  in  1823;  A.  Y.,born  in  1826, 
died  in  1876. 

In  1828,  the  entire  family  moved  from  Kentucky 
to  Preble  Co.,  Ohio.  The  father  died  in  1857  and 
the  mother  in  1843. 

David  Graham  came  with  his  father  to  Henderson 
County  in  1836,  where  he  was  brought  up  to  the 
vocation  of  farming,  which  he  has  pursued  all  his 
life.  He  removed  to  Monmouth  in  1867,  where  he 
has  resided  ever  since.  Coming  from  the  old  Whig 
party  into  the  Republican  ranks,  the  latter  has  been 
the  recipient  of  his  unqualified  support  ever  since, 
though  at  no  time  has  he  been  known  as  a  politician. 
He  was  married  Nov.  3,  1846,  in  Warren  County,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Brown,  daughter  of  the  late  Hon. 
John  Brown,  of  this  county.  She  was  born  July  8, 
1826.  They  have  had  born  to  them  six  children — 
Elizabeth  (Mrs.  G.  H.  Cowden),  Clara  (Mrs.  A.  G. 
McCoy),  James  A.,  Mary  L.  (Mrs.  W.  B.  Bryson), 
Fannie,  M.,  and  Ralph  W.,  who  died  in  1861.  The 
family  are  communicants  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church. 


•I- 


J 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


665 


INTRODUCTORY 

f  c 
/ 

4$> 

f 


IME  is  ever  moving  on.  The 
deeds  and  actions  of  to-day 
form  the  subject  of  history 
to-morrow.  From  the  rec- 
ord of  these  deeds  men  form 
opinions,  and  their  actions 
in  the  present  and  future  are  gov- 
erned thereby.  Warren  County  fur- 
nishes the  world  a  record  that  is 
of  great  interest,  a  record  that  tells 
of  heroic  deeds  of  its  pioneers, 
how  that  vast  territory  was  se- 
cured from  savage  tribes  and 
made  the  home  of  civilized  man. 
In  Rock  Island  County  originated 
the  troubles,  and  from  this  county 
nearly  every  movement  was  made, 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  here  the  chiefs  gath- 
ered together  in  council,  and  treaties  were  made  re- 
sulting in  lasting  peace.  Upon  the  lovely  island 
and  magnificent  bluffs  that  overlook  the  river,  the 
red  men  were  wont  to  stray,  and  many  beautiful  and 
touching  legends  are  told  of  their  presence  here. 
The  white  men  came,  and  that  country  so  lovely  in 
nature  has  been  greatly  changed,  but  it  can  never  be 
robbed  of  its  great  beauty.  The  island  and  the 
bluffs  still  exist,  and  the  valleys  are  transformed  into 
fields  of  waving  grain.  The  trails  of  the  hunters  and 
the  wily  red  man  have  given  place  to  railroads  and 
broad  thoroughfares,  school-houses,  churches,  mills, 
postoffices,  manufactories  and  elegant  dwelling-hous- 
es are  now  to  be  seen  upon  every  hand.  The  rec- 


ord of  the  marvelous  change  is  history,  and  the  most 
important  that  can  be  written. 

It  is  but  little  more  than  half  a  century  since  the 
white  men  came  to  this  beautiful  land  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  homes,  but  in  that  time  what  great 
and  startling  events  have  transpired!  Monarchies 
since  then  have  crumbled  into  dust  and  republics 
have  been  reared  upon  their  ruins.  Inventions  that 
have  revolutionized  labor  have  been  given  to  the 
world,  and  in  much  of  what  has  been  done  the  peo- 
ple of  Warren  County  have  borne  a  leading  part. 

The  question  is  often  asked,  why  men  leave  the 
comforts  and  pleasures  of  civilized  lands  and  strike 
out  into  a  new  and  almost  unknown  country,  bearing 
the  toils  and  privations  which  are  unavoidable.  Not 
more  from  choice  than  necessity  did  the  old  pioneers 
bid  farewell  to  the  play-grounds  of  their  childhood 
and  the  graves  of  their  fathers.  One  generation 
after  another  had  worn  themselves  out  in  the  service 
of  avaricious  landlords,  or  to  eke  out  a  miserable 
existence  upon  barren  or  worn-out  land,  which  they 
called  their  own.  From  the  first  flashes  of  the  morn- 
ing light  until  the  last  glimmer  of  the  setting  sun  they 
had  toiled  unceasingly  on  from  father  to  son,  carry- 
ing home  each  day  upon  their  aching  shoulders  the 
precious  proceeds  of  their  daily  labor.  Money, 
pride  and  power  were  handed  down  in  the  line  of 
succession  from  the  rich  father  to  his  son,  while  un- 
ceasing work,  continuous  poverty  and  everlasting 
obscurity  were  the  heritage  of  the  working  man  and 
his  children.  For  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the 


666 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


poor  man  to  remain  there  was  to  follow  and  never  to 
lead — to  be  poor  forever. 

Without  money,  prestige  or  friends,  the  old  pioneers 
drifted  along  seeking  the  garden  spot,  the  place 
where  he  might  establish  a  home,  where  he  might  ed- 
ucate his  sons  and  daughters,  giving  them  privileges 
he  never  enjoyed  himself.  The  broad  prairie  and 
beautiful  groves  of  Warren  County  in  that  early 
day  were  indeed  inviting  to  those  seeking  a  home  in 
a  more  favored  land,  and  here  planted  their  stakes, 
many  of  whom  the  present  generation  have  rea- 
son to  rise  up  and  call  blessed.  To  secure  and 
adorn  the  homes  desired  by  the  pioneers,  more  than 
ordinary  ambition  was  required,  greater  than  ordina- 
nary  endurance  demanded.  How  well  they  have 
succeeded,  let  the  broad,  cultivated  fields  and  fruit- 
bearing  orchards,  the  flocks  and  the  herds,  the  pa- 
latial residences,  the  places  of  business,  the  spacious 
halls,  the  clattering  car-wheels  and  ponderous  en- 
gines all  testify. 

There  was  a  time  when  pioneers  waded  through 
deep  snows,  across  bridgeless  rivers  and  through  bot- 
tomless sloughs,  more  than  a  score  of  miles  to  mill 
.or  market,  and  when  more  time  was  required  to  reach 
and  return  from  market  than  is  now  required  to  cross 
the  continent  or  Atlantic  Ocean.  These  were  the 
times  when  their  palaces  were  constructed  of  logs 
and  covered  with  "  shakes  "  riven  from  forest  trees. 
These  were  the  times  when  children  were  stowed 
away  during  the  nights  in  the  low,  dark  attics, 
amongst  the  horns  of  the  elk  and  the  deer,  and 
where  through  the  chinks  in  the  "  shakes  "  they  could 
count  the  twyikling  stars.  These  were  the  times 
when  chairs  and  bedsteads  were  hewn  from  the  for- 
est trees,  and  tables  and  bureaus  constructed  from 
the  boxes  in  which  goods  were  brought.  These  were 
the  days  when  all  were  required  to  work  six  days  in 
the  week  and  all  the  hours  in  a  day  from  sunrise  to 
sunset.  Now  all  is  changed.  In  viewing  the  bless- 
ings which  now  surround  us,  we  should  reverence 
those  that  made  them  possible,  and  ever  fondly  cher- 
ish in  memory  the  sturdy  old  pioneer  and  his  log 
cabin. 
Generation  after  generation  comes  and  goes  like  the 


leaves  of  autumn.  Nations  have  been  born,  have 
had  their  rise  and  fall,  and  then  passed  away,  leav- 
ing scarcely  a  riffle  on  the  great  ocean  of  time  to 
show  that  they  ever  existed,  so  imperfect  and  muta- 
ble has  been  the  means  to  perpetuate  their  achieve- 
ments. It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an 
intelligent,  undecaying,  immutable  method  of  per- 
petuating this  history ;  immutable  in  that  it  is  almost 
unlimited  in  extent,  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing.  Nations  may  be- 
come disintegrated  and  pass  away,  monuments  and 
statues  may  crumble  into  dust,  but  books  will  live. 
This  art  has  been  rapidly  advancing  from  its  first  in- 
ception until  now  it  would  seem  that  there  were  no 
longer  any  further  grounds  for  improvement.  This  is 
pre-eminently  an  age  of  printing,  an  age  of  books. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  are  we  indebt- 
ed for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system  of 
local  history  and  local  biography  By  this  system 
every  man,  though  he  has  not  achieved  what  the 
world  calls  greatness,  lias  the  means  to  perpetuate 
his  life,  his  history  through  the  coming  ages  ;  so  alike 
has  every  community. 

We  come  now  to  the  work  before  us :  To  our  pat-  7" 
rons,  we  say,  that  the  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ; 
nothing  of  the  physical  man  is  left;  the  monument 
which  his  children  or  friends  may  erect  to  his  mem- 
ory in  the  cemetery  will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass 
away  ;  but  his  life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has 
accomplished,  which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is 
perpetuated  by  this  book  through  coming  ages. 
Shakespeare  has  said : 

The  evil  that  men  do  lives  after  them ; 
The  good  is  oft  Intel-red  with  their  bones. 

Our  aim  in  this  work  has  been  only  to  preserve  the 
good.  We  have  sought  to  gather  from  the  best 
sources  of  information  obtainable,  the  conditions  and 
incidents  of  early  pioneer  life,  and  to  present  them 
together  with  the  present  development  of  the  county. 
Many  of  the  pioneers  came  into  this  beautiful  coun- 
ty without  a  dollar  in  their  pockets,  but  with  the 
unflinching  determination  to  carve  out  their  fortunes 
and  build  up  a  community.  With  undaunted  hearts 
and  a  courage  equal  to  that  of  the  great  heroes  of 
our  country,  they  began  life. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


667 


way  of  preface  to  the  history 
of  Warren  County,  a  brief 
account  of  the  settlement 
and  organization  of  the  State 
of  Illinois  is  essential  to  the 
proper  understanding  of  the 
condition  of  the  country  in 
this  part  of  the  State  prior  to 
its  settlement.  The  terri- 
tory now  embraced  by  this  State  at  one 
time  belonged  to  the  Aborigines.  The 
time  of  their  settlement  here  has  never 
been  definitely  fixed  by  history.  They 
have  never,  however,  been  treated  by 
historians  in  other  than  a  nomadic  sense  ; 
never  having  been  recognized  as  citizens, 
o  r  even  occupants  of  this  continent. 
Therefore,  we  will  make  our  bow  to  the 
illustrious  precedence  that  has  been  es- 
tablished by  historians,  and  pass  on.  We  will  say, 
then,  that  this  territory  was  originally  a  part  of  Flor- 
ida and  belonged  to  the  Spanish  Government ;  that 
the  Spanish  chevalier,  Fernando  de  Soto,  with  his 
band  of  followers,  was  the  first  to  discover  this  beau- 
tiful land.  This  was  as  early  as  1541.  The  Span- 
ish, however,  never  took  possession  of  it  and  it  was 
first  occupied  by  the  French,  who,  after  having  planted 
settlements  along  the  St.  Lawrence  and  in  Canada, 
fitted  out  one  of  their  Jesuit  missionaries  and  sent 
him  westward  up  the  St.  Lawrence.  From  thence  he 
was  to  take  the  Mississippi  and  follow  its  course. 
This  explorer  was  the  famous  Father  Marquette.  He 


reached  the  great  "  Father  of  Waters  "  in  the  spring 
of  167^,  hoisted  the  sails  on  his  little  bark  canoes, 
and,  with  his  companions  and  two  Indian  guides, 
with  joy  unspeakable,  floated  down  the  majestic  river  ' 
between  the  broad  plains  of  Illinois  and  Iowa.  While 
descending  the  Mississippi,  he  discovered  an  Indian 
trail  and  immediately  moored  his  boats  and  took  the 
trail.  After  walking  about  six  miles,  they  came  to  an 
Indian  village,  when  the  inhabitants  advanced  to 
meet  them,  and  through  their  calumets,  the  pipe  of  ' 
peace  was  smoked.  In  saluting  Father  Marquette, 
they  addressed  him  in  a  language  familiar  to  him. 
"  We  are  Illinois,  "  they  said.  "  How  beautiful  is  the 
son,  O  Frenchman,  when  thou  comest  to  see  us 
Our  village  awaits  thee,  thou  shalt  enter  in  peace  all 
dwellings."  He  remained  with  these  hospitable 
people  a  few  days  and  then  descended  the  Missis- 
sippi River  until  he  was  satisfied  that  it  entered  into 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  when  he  returned  and  reaching 
the  39th  degree  of  north  latitude,  entered  the  Illinois 
River  and  followed  it  to  its  source.  He  was  cor- 
dially invited  by  the  Illinois  Indians  to  occupy  its 
banks  and  remain  with  them.  Desiring;,  however,  to 
continue  his  travels,  he  declined  their  generous  offer 
and  was  conducted  by  one  of  the  chiefs,  accompan- 
ied by  several  of  his  warriors,  to  a  point  near  Chicago, 
if  not  that  point,  where  he  remained  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  Miamis,  sending  his  companions  back 
to  Quebec  to  announce  his  discoveries.  This  may 
be  said  to  be  the  inception  of  the  settlement  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Caucasian  race. 

Father    Marquette's    discoveries    and    his    fame 


668 


WAR  REN  COUNTY. 


thrilled  the  hearts  of  many  adventurers  in  France, 
and  among  these  was  Robert  Cavalier  de  la  Salle. 
La  Salle  came  to  this  country,  remained  awhile,  and 
then  returned  to  France.  He  sought  an  interview 
at  once  with  Loais  XIV,  whom  he  inspired  with 
his  own  enthusiasm  and  from  whom  he  received  a 
commission  to  explore  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 
He  returned  with  a  number  of  mechanics,  military 
stores,  merchandise,  etc.,  in  the  year  1678.  After 
leaving  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Niagara  Rivers  and 
crossing  Lake  Erie,  he  reached  Green  Bay,  and  next 
entered  St.  Joseph  River.  At  these  places  he  es- 
tablished trading  posts.  He  then  descended  the  Il- 
linois River  as  far  as  Lake  Peoria,  where  he  was  met 
by  a  large  party  of  Illinois  Indians,  who  offered  him 
the  calumet  and  with  whom  he  formed  an  alliance. 
He  was  received  with  great  joy  and  when  they 
learned  that  he  was  to  establish  a  colony  among 
them,  their  happiness  knew  no  bounds.  Thus  began 
the  first  white  settlement  in  this  fair  Territory. 

A  long  war  arose  between  England  and  France 
over  the  possession  of  this  country.  Peace  was  con- 
cluded between  these  two  countries,  Feb.  10,  1763, 
by  virtue  of  which  France  ceded  to  England  the 
Canadas,  Nova  Scotia,  Louisiana  (east  of  the  Miss- 
issippi) and  her  possessions  on  the  Mississippi  and 
Ohio,  which  included  the  Territory  of  Illinois.  At 
this  time  the  white  population  numbered  about  3,000 
souls.  These  resided  along  the  Mississippi  and  Illi- 
nois Rivers,  the  largest  towns  being  Kaskaskia  and 
Cahokia. 

Although  Illinois  was  ceded  in  1863,  it  was  not 
taken  possession  of  by  England  until  1765,  when 
Capt.  Sterling,  sent  by  Gen.  Gage,  then  Comtnan- 
der-in-Chief  of  the  British  forces  in  America,  as- 
sumed control  in  the  name  of  Great  Britain.  Illi- 
nois remained  in  the  possession  of  the  British  until 
1778,  when  Col.  Rogers  Clarke  was  secretly  fitted 
out  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  with  seven 
companies,  money,  arms,  ammunition  and  military 
stores,  and  clothed  with  all  the  authority  he  could 
wish.  After  a  brief  resistance,  he  took  possession  in 
the  name  of  Virginia.  Reporting  his  signal  triumph 
to  the  Governor  of  that  Slate,  the  Legislature  passed 
an  act  in  October,  1778,  establishing  "  As  the  County 
of  Illinois,  all  that  part  of  Virginia  west  of  the  Ohio  " 
(which  surpassed  in  dimensions  the  whole  of  Great 
Britain),  and  appointed  Col.  John  Todd  Civil  Com- 
mander and  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  that  county.  After 


establishing  garrisons  at  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia  and  at 
the  falls  of  the  Ohio  (on  the  site  of  Louisville),  Col. 
Clarke  exerted  his  great  influence  to  bring  about  a 
good  feeling  between  the  Indians  and  the  Americans. 
After  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  and  the 
surrender  of  Cornwallis  with  his  whole  army,  Oct. 
19,  1781,  to  the  Americans,  a  treaty  of  peace  was 
signed  between  England  and  the  United  Colonies, 
by  virtue  of  which  the  independence  of  the  latter 
was  recognized  and  all  the  land  East  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  south  of  the  lakes  Ontario,  Erie,  Huron, 
Superior  and  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  which  included 
Illinois,  was  ceded  to  the  Americans.  All  this  terri- 
tory, by  virtue  of  the  conquest  through  that  renowned 
soldier,  Col.  Rogers  Clarke,  was  claimed  by  Virginia ; 
in  part,  it  was  also  claimed  by  New  York,  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut,  but  having  in  view  the  all- 
paramount  object,  a  Union  among  the  States  of  the 
Confederacy  and  the  establishment  of  a  permanent 
Government,  the  people  of  these  States,  through 
their  patriotic  influence,  ceded  all  their  rights  to  this  • 
territory,  which  was  called  the  Northwestern  Terri- 
tory, to  the  Federal  Government.  Subsequently 
Congress,  in  the  summer  of  1787,  passed  a  general 
law  for  the  government  of  the  Territories  of  the 
United  States.  This  law  provided  for  a  Governor,  a 
Secretary,  a  Court  of  three  Judges,  Representatives,  . 
and  a  legislative  Council,  which  was  to  be  appointed 
by  Congress.  The  legislature  was  authorized  to  elect 
by  joint  ballot  a  delegate  to  Congress.  Gen.  Arthur 
St.  Claire,  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  Revolution- 
ary Army,  was  appointed  to  the  Governorship  (which 
was  the  first  to  be  appointed  to  the  Northwestern 
Territory),  and  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Territory. 
The  new  Government,  however,  was  not  destined  to 
remain  in  peace,  for  the  Indians  again  commenced 
hostilities,  incited  by  English  gold  and  also  by  the 
hope  of  recovering  their  favorite  hunting  grounds. 
St.  Clair  being  feeble  in  health  and  unable  to  prop- 
erly command  his  troops,  was  disastrously  defeated 
by  the  Indians.  To  remove  the  disgrace  of  this  de- 
feat and  retrieve  the  credit  of  the  American  arms, 
the  gallant  Gen.  Wayne  was  sent  out,  who  com- 
pletely routed  the  Indians  and  once  more  restored 
peace. 

In  1803  a  new  Territory  was  formed,  called  the 
Territory  of  Indiana,  which  embraced  the  whole  of 
the  Northwestern  Territory,  with  the  exception  of 
that  part  from  which  Ohio  was  formed,  and  William 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


669 


H.  Harrison  was  appointed  Governor.  This  Gov- 
ernment remained  until  1809,  when  another  change 
was  made  and  Illinois  was  erected  into  an  independ- 
ent Territory,  with  Ninian  Edwards  as  Governor. 
Peace  had  been  made  and  the  whole  people  com- 
menced again  their  agricultural  pursuits  on  ground 
which  had  been  occupied  by  the  red  men.  This  con- 
dition remained  until  the  second  conflict  with  Eng- 
land, known  as  the  War  of  1812.  A  bold,  daring 
chief,  Tecumseh  by  name,  taking  advantage  of  this 
war  between  the  two  countries,  incited  his  people 
again  to  battle  and  joined  the  British  forces,  who 
again  occupied  a  part  of  this  Territory.  This  war  was 
carried  on  chiefly  in  the  Northwestern  Territory,  and 
Gen.  Harrison  was  one  of  the  chief  actors.  The  con- 
flict was  hot  and  decisive,  and  the  Americans  were 
again  victorious.  The  defeat  of  the  British  by  Com- 
modore Perry,  on  Lake  Erie,  and  on  land  at  the  bat- 
tle of  the  Thames  by  Gen.  Harrison  and  the  gallant 
Colonel  Johnson  (in  which  battle  Black  Hawk  took 
part),  the  killing  of  Tecumseh  and  the  rout  and 
slaughter  of  his  warriors,  terminated  this  conflict  in 
the  Norhwestern  Territory,  which  was  once  more 
united  to  the  Republic,  never  again  to  be  separated. 

In  1812,  under  the  ordinance  of  1787,  a  delegate 
was  sent  to  Congress  and  a  Territorial  Government 
established.  In  this  manner  the  Territory  existed, 
with  Ninian  Edwards  as  Governor,  until  1818.  The 
population  at  the  close  of  the  War  of  1812  did  not 
exceed  12,000  souls.  In  1818  the  inhabitants  num- 
bered 50,000.  At  the  beginning  of  this  year  the  peo- 
ple of  the  Territory  unanimously  resolved  to  enter 
the  Union  as  a  State,  and  instructed  their  delegate, 
Nathaniel  Pope,  who  was  then  in  Congress,  to  bring 
the  subject  before  that  body  and  take  such  means  as 
was  necessary  to  accomplish  this  result. 

The  bill  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  into  the 
Union  as  a  State,  was  passed  in  April,  1818.  An 
election  was  held  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act, 
for  State  officers,  and  Shadrack  Bond  was  chosen 
Governor,  and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  du- 
ties in  October,  of  the  same  year,  with  the  seat  of 
government  at  Kaskaskia.  Subsequently,  Ninian 
Edwards  and  Jesse  B.  Thomas  were  chosen  Senators. 
In  1822  Edward  Coles,  an  anti-slavery  man,  was 
elected  to  succeed  Gov.  Bond.  In  1826  Gov.  Coles' 
term  expired,  and  Ninian  Edwards  was  elected  to 
succeed  him.  This  brings  the  history  of  the  State, 
the  principal  points  of  which  have  only  been  touched, 


down  to  the  period  when  the  settlement  of  Warren 
County  begins,  and  at  this  point  the  former  is  left 
that  the  history  of  the  latter  may  be  taken  up. 


Organization  of   Warren  County. 

f 

HE  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  at 
its  session  during  the  winter  of  1822-23,  'a*d 
out  into  counties  what  is  known  as  the  Mili- 
tary Tract,  together  with  other  unorganized  ter- 
ritory. This  land  was  situated  between  the  Il- 
linois and  the  Mississippi  Rivers,  extending  as 
far  north  as  the  north  line  of  Warren  County.  At 
this  session  Pike  County  was  formed  from  this  terri- 
tory, with  a  county  seat  at  Atlas.  Subsequently  the 
counties  of  Adams,  Fulton,  Peoria  and  Schuyler  were 
organized  with  McDonough  attached  to  the  latter  for 
judicial  purposes. 

During  the  Legislative  session  of  1824  and  1825,' 
Warren  County  was  formed,  which  comprised  all 
that  part  of  the  Military  Tract  west  of  the  4th 
P.  M.,  extending  to  the  Mississippi  River,  and 
including  the  territory  now  occupied  by  Hender- 
son County.  At  this  time  it  was  attached  to  Pike 
County  for  judicial  purposes.  Subsequently  it  was"1 
attached  to  Peoria  County.  The  county  was  named 
after  Gen.  Joseph  Warren,  of  Revolutionary  fame. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  territory  now  embraced 
by  this  county,  was  made  in  1827,  by  Mrs.  Talbot, 
her  son,  John  B.,  and  her  nephew,  Allen  G.  An- 
drews. For  more  particular  information  regarding 
its  early  settlement,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  his- 
tory of  the  several  townships. 

The  first  furrow  turned  in  Warren  County  soil  was 
in  1828.  The  foundation  for  six  settlements  was 
made  during  this  and  the  following  year,  and  the  zeal 
of  the  settlers  was  only  equaled  by  their  industry, 
and  one  pioneer  was  soon  followed  by  another.  By 
the  summer  of  1830  it  was  estimated  that  there  were 
between  300  and  400  inhabitants  in  the  county,  who 
had  established  the  reputation  of  being  prosperous. 
Of  so  much  importance  had  it  become  that  Peoria 
County  deemed  it  expedient  to  send  up  an  officer 
with  the  view  of  levying. a  tax  for  her  benefit,  she 
having  previously  established  a  judicial  district 
here.  The  inhabitants  of  Warren,  as  long  as  they 


670 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


were  not  taxed  and  had  a  justice  before  whom  they 
could  transact  their  little  legal  business,  and  consum- 
mate their  matrimonial  alliances,  did  not  care  to  what 
county  they  were  attached  or  belonged.  Marriage 
licenses  were  dispensed  with  in  those  days,  and  all 
that  was  required  was  the  posting  up  of  a  notice  for 
ten  days,  announcing  the  coming  event. 

There  was  no  road  then  from  this  county  to  Peoria, 
a  distance  of  some  50  miles,  and  in  going  to  and 
from,  the  Kickapoo  and  Spoon  rivers  had  to  be  ford- 
ed, which  was  rather  dangerous  in  high  water  time. 
So  when  a  movement  was  made  to  put  a  tax  on  the 
people  of  Warren  County  for  the  small  benefits  they 
had  received,  they  rebelled  against  it  as  much  as  the 
Boston  Tea  Party  did  against  the  tax  of  Great  Brit- 
ain. 

In  the  Spring  of  1830,  therefore,  having  a  desire  to 
manage  their  own  municipal  affairs,  and  to  have 
whatever  taxes  they  might  be  called  on  to  pay  go  in- 
to their  own  exchequer;  and  believing,  also,  that  they 
had  the  requisite  population  for  a  full  county  organ- 
ization, they  petitioned  the  Hon.  Richard  M.  Young, 
Judge  of  the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit,  for  an  order  to 

:  hold  an  election  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  com- 
plete county  government.  About  this  period  the 
census  had  been  taken  by  a  commissioner  sent  on 

•  by  the  county  court  of  Peoria  County,  who  reported 
about  300  inhabitants,  which  was  not  sufficient  for  a 
county  organization  ;  nor  was  this  report  satisfactory 
to  the  people  of  Warren  County,  who  claimed  about 
400.  Subsequently  the  U.  S.  Marshal  passed  through 
the  county  and  reported  350. 

Daniel  McNeil  was  selected  to  go  with  the  petition 
and  present  it  to  Judge  Young,  who  was  then  at  Pe- 
oria. The  Judge  saw  the  justice  of  the  petition,  and 
at  once  granted  the  prayer  of  the  citizens  of  Warren, 
and  appointed  Saturday,  the  third  day  of  July,  A.D. 
1830,  for  the  election  of  three  County  Commission- 
ers, one  Sheriff  and  one  Coroner.  The  election  was 
to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Adam  Ritchey,  for  the 
purpose  of  having  this  order  carried  into  execution. 
He  appointed  John  B.  Talbot,  Adam  Ritchey,  Jr., 
and  Robert  K.  Hendricks,  Judges  of  the  said  elec- 
tion. The  election  was  to  be  held  viva  voce,  between 
the  hours  of  9  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  7  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon. 

The  third  day  of  July,  1830,  was  waited  for  with 
a  good  deal  of  anxiety  by  the  voters  of  Warren.  It 


came  as  all  things  do,  in  good  time.  It  wa  beau- 
tiful day.  A  lovely  breeze  was  wafted  over  the  prai- 
ries; a  few  clouds  flitted  above  in  the  blue  summer 
sky,  the  air  was  balmy  and  enlivened  by  the  sweet 
songs  of  wild  birds.  After  their  morning's  work  was 
done,  the  voters  wended  their  way  from  their  several 
homes  to  the  place  of  election  to  cast  their  first  vote 
in  their  new  settlement,  to  exercise  the  great  gift  of 
the  freeman.  What  a  precious  boon  is  this !  The 
right  of  self-government;  the  exercise  of  suffrage, 
holding  within  ourselves  the  power  to  regulate  and 
control  our  political  affairs.  And  yet,  how  little  is  it 
appreciated  by  some,  and  to  what  extent  are  its 
grand  and  sacred  rights  abused!  There  was  no  pol- 
itics in  this  election,  and  the  voters  cast  their  tick- 
ets for  the  men  they  deemed  most  worthy.  The  elec- 
tion passed  off  harmoniously,  and  the  hope  was 
expressed  that  in  all  future  elections  there  would  be 
the  same  good  feeling  manifested,  and  the  same  in- 
tegrity of  the  ballot-box  preserved. 

The  election  resulted  in  the  choice  of  John  Pence, 
John  B.  Talbot  and  Andrew  Ritchey,  Jr.,  for  County 
Commissioners;  John  Rust,  Sheriff;  and  John  Ritch- 
ey, Coroner. 

The  persons  named  in  Judge  Young's  order  for 
Judges  of  Election,  declined  to  serve,  and  the  peo- 
ple appointed  Robert  K.  Hendricks,  Sheldon  Lock- 
wood  and  Peter  Butler  in  their  places.  For  Clerks  of 
Election,  they  appointed  Stephen  S.  Phelps  and 
Daniel  McNeil.  There  were  37  votes  polled  at  this 
election,  three  voters  being  absent. 

The  county  was  organized,  the  Commissioners  as- 
sumed their  duties,  and  for  many  years  the  political 
government  of  the  county  was  very  nicely  conducted 
in  this  way.  For  a  brief  season  it  was  under  the 
management  of  the  County  Court,  but  for  over  thirty 
years  the  public  affairs  of  the  county  have  been  in 
the  hands  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  After  the 
organization  of  the  county, the  settlers  felt  themselves 
of  greater  importance,  and  worked  for  the  progress 
of  their  new  homes  with  renewed  zeal.  It  was  many 
years,  however,  before  the  beautiful  and  fertile  prai- 
ries were  settled.  In  fact  this  was  not  done  to  any 
considerable  extent  until  the  advent  of  the  "iron 
horse."  The  introduction  of  railroads  stimulated 
emigration,  and  increased  the  activity  in  manufac- 
tures and  agricultural  pursuits.  While  the  county 
through  its  generous  aids  to  railroad  enterprises  has 


• 


• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


671 


encumbered  itself  with  a  large  debt,  yet  it  has  been 
benefitted  by  the  rise  of  property  and  the  general 
development  and  increase  of  all  branches  of  indus- 
try. 

From  the  advent  of  the  Talbots,  its  first  settlers, 
in  1827,  it  has  moved  steadily  on,  with  few  draw- 
backs, until  it  now  has  an  estimated  population  of 
23,000,  with  an  assessment  value,  as  shown  by  the 
reports  of  1885,  of  $4,928,755  on  the  improved  lands; 
$68,655  on  unimproved  lands  ;  town  lots,  $794,872  ; 
personal  property,  $1,583,087.  Strictly  speaking, 
there  is  no  unimproved  land  in  the  county.  For  a  gen- 
eral average  of  valuation  of  lands,  the  county  ranks 
among  the  first  in  the  State,  and  by  no  means  would 
it  appear  insignificant  if  compared  with  the  counties 
of  any  of  the  Eastern  States,  and  if  the  editor  who 
wrote  the  following  stanza,  in  r847,  could  pass  over 
this  country  now,  and  through  its  broad,  cultivated 
fields  and  elegant  homes,  he  would  undoubtedly  be 
ashamed  of  his  verse : 

'•Great  western  waste  of  bottom  land. 
Flat  as  a  pancake,  rich  as  grease. 

Where  gnats  are  full  as  big  as  toads, 
And  skeeters  are  as  big  as  geese. 


O,  lonesome,  windy,  grassy  place, 

Where  buffalo  and  snakes  prevail; 
The  first  with  dreadful  looking  face, 

The  last  with  dreadful  sounding  tail. 
I'd  rather  live  ou  camel  rump, 

And  be  a  Yankee  double  beggar, 
Than  where  they  never  see  a  stump, 

And  shake  to  dea.th  with  fever'n  'ager." 

The  old  log  cabins  have  disappeared  and  in  their 
places  are  fine  dwellings  ;  ox  teams  as  a  means  of 
travel  and  transportation  are  gone,  and  the  steam 
car  now  rushes  over  the  prairie;  the  mortar  and 
corn-cracker  live  only  in  the  memory  of  the  pioneer, 
while  the  products  of  the  roller  mill  are  placed  in  his 
store  room  ;  the  dread  of  the  savage  no  longer  dis- 
turbs his  slumbers,  nor  does  the  wolf  come  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night  to  destroy  his  flocks.  With 
complacency  he  can  take  a  retrospective  view  of  the 
past  and  contemplate  the  transformations  made  dur- 
ing half  a  century.  Yes,  half  a  century  ago,  before 
the  pioneer  there  was  doubt  and  uncertainty,  priva- 
tions and  dangers;  before  him  to-day,  standing  out 
in  broad,  radiant  light,  is  a  complete  social  and  po- 
litical government,  under  American  institutions  and 
shining  resplendent  with  American  freedom. 


672 


WAR  KEN  COUNTY. 


ndia 

1M  ^ftm  >W 


HEN  this  Territory  was  first 
occupied  by  the  Aborigines 
or  Indians,  has  never  been 
definitely  ascertained. 
When  Father  Marquette, 
with  his  companions,  sailed 
down  the  Mississippi  in  their 
frail  bark  canoes,  they  discovered  a  trail 
leading  out  from  Illinois'  beautiful  shores 
and  following  it,  came,  after  a  journey  of  a 
few  miles,  to  an  Indian  village.  The 
inhabitants  of  this  primitive  village  came 
forward  to  meet  Father  Marquette  and 
party,  and  addressing  them  in  a  language 
that  was  familiar  to  Marquette,  said,  "We 
are  Illinois,"  which  translated  means, "we 
This  was  in  the  summer  of  1673.  After 
remaining  here  awhile,  Father  Marquette  and  party 
sailed  down  the  Mississippi  River  until  he  satisfied 
himself  that  this  river  emptied  into  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico. Then  he  returned  and  entered  the  Illinois 
River  and  followed  it  to  its  source.  Along  its  banks 
as  well  as  at  its  source,  he  found  Indian  settlements. 
These  Indians  desired  him  to  remain  with  them  and 
make  their  home  his  home,  but  desiring  to  pursue 
his  explorations,  he  declined  their  generous  invita- 
tion and  was  conducted  by  some  of  their  chiefs  to 
the  site  now  occupied  by  Chicago.  At  this  place  he 
also  found  an  Indian  settlement,  the  Miamis. 

When   La  Salle   visited   this   territory,  five  years 
later,  he  found  several  Indian  settlements  along  the 


are  men. 


large  water  courses,  among  which  were  the  villages 
of  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia.  The  first  people  to  set- 
tle among  the  Indians  were  the  French,  and  they 
were  most  heartily  welcomed,  and  lived  together  on 
the  most  friendly  terms  with  these  then  very  innocent 
and  warm-hearted  people.  It  is  evident  that  had  there 
been  no  conflict  between  France  and  England,  and, 
later  on,  none  between  England  and  America,  there 
never  would  have  been  any  trouble  between  the 
white  and  the  red  man. 

From  the  discovery  of  this  country  by  Columbus, 
to  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the 
white  inhabitants,  all  travelers  and  settlers  to  this 
country  were  received  with  the  greatest  cordiality. 
These  innocent  people  were  deluded  and  deceived, 
first  by  one  white  faction  and  then  by  another,  until 
they  did  not  know  who  to  believe,  nor  who,  if  any, 
were  their  real  friends.  This  much  may  be  consist- 
ently said  in  palliation  of  the  atrocities  in  after  years 
committed  by  them. 

The  Sac  tribe  of  Indians,  at  the  close  of  the  long 
war  between  England  and  France  over  the  Canadian 
Territory,  which  terminated  in  favor  of  the  former, 
were  driven  from  their  village  near  Quebec,  by  the 
united  efforts  of  the  different  tribes  of  Indians  then 
inhabiting  that  country.  They  then  settled  at  Mon- 
treal, from  which  place  they  were  subsequently 
again  driven  by  the  combined  strength  of  their  ene- 
mies to  Mackinac.  Here  they  met  the  British  troops, 
who  gave  them  provisions  and  made  them  presents. 
They  were  not  permitted  to  remain  long  here,  for 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


673 


their  remorseless  enemies  still  pursued  them,  driving 
them  from  one  place  to  another,  until  they  reached 
Green  Bay,  where  they  first  met  the  Fox  Indians. 

They  made  a  village  near  Green  Bay  on  what  was 
afterward  named  Sac  River.  They  held  a  council 
with  the  Foxes  and  a  national  alliance  was  formed 
between  them.  Subsequently  the  Foxes  abandoned 
their  village  and  joined  the  Sacs,  and  as  neither  were 
sufficiently  strong  to  meet  their  enemies  with  any 
hope  of  success,  they  soon  became  as  one  band  or 
nation  of  people.  They  were  still  driven,  however, 
by  their  enemies  to  the  Wisconsin  River,  where  they 
remained  in  peace  for  some  time.  While  here  a 
party  of  their  young  men  started  out  on  an  expedi- 
tion, and  coming  to  Rock  River,  followed  it  to  its 
mouth.  They  then  returned  to  the  village  and 
made  a  report  of  all  they  had  seen  of  the  beautiful 
country  and  large  rivers  below.  Upon  hearing  the 
reports  of  the  grand  country  south  from  the  young 
men,  these  tribes  gathered  up  their  little  possessions, 
descended  the  Rock  River,  met  the  Kaskaskias, 
drove  them  away,  and  commenced  the  building  up 
of  a  new  village,  which  they  resolved  never  to  leave. 

This  was  the  first  settlement  in  the  territory  now 
embraced  by  Illinois,  made  by  the  Indians  after  the 
whites  came  in.  With  this  settlement  was  Pyesa, 
father  of  Black  Hawk  ;  and  here  Black  Hawk,  who 
was  the  great  grandson  of  Nanamakee,  was  born,  in 
1767  ;  here,  also,  Black  Hawk  learned  the  first  les- 
sons of  war,  going  out  with  his  father,  who  had 
joined  the  Muscows,  against  the  Osages.  During 
the  war  with  the  Osages,  Black  Hawk  distinguished 
himself  as  a  fighter.  Finally  this  tribe  became  sat- 
isfied to  live  in  their  own  country.  After  peace  had 
been  established  with  the  Osages,  a  war  with  the 
Cherokees  came  on.  In  the  war  with  this  nation, 
Black  Hawk's  Qther  was  killed,  and  he  became 
chief  and  fell  heir  to  tlie  great  medicine  bag  of  his 
forefathers.  Black  Hawk,  after  a  long  and  arduous 
campaign  wilh  the  Chippewas,  Kaskaskias  and 
Osages,  delivered  his  hunting-grounds  from  these 
enemies.  He  then,  with  many  of  his  braves,  visited 
St.  Louis,  to  pay  his  respects  to  his  "  Spanish  father," 
as  he  termed  him.  It  was  while  here  that  he  was 
informed  that  the  Americans  were  coming  to  take 
charge  of  the  country.  This  made  Black  Hawk  sad, 
for  he  had  been  prejudiced  against  the  Americans 
by  the  British.  They  soon  arrived,  and  Black  Hawk 
met  them  for  the  first  time  as  he  went  to  take  leave 


of  the  Spaniards.  As  the  Americans  came  in  one 
door,  Black  Hawk  with  his  followers  went  out  the 
other  and  returned  to  their  home  on  Rock  River. 
On  arriving  home,  they  reported  what  they  had  seen 
and  the  new  people  they  had  met. 

Some  time  after,  Lieut.  Pike  with  some  soldiers 
arrived  at  their  village.  This  was  the  first  time  the 
Indians  here  met  the  Americans  on  their  own  hunt- 
ing grounds.  Lieut.  Pike  found  these  Indians  wav- 
ing the  British  colors,  and  he  gave  them  an  American 
flag,  which  they  raised. 

During  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies,  most  of  the  Indian  tribes 
took  part  with  the  former.  In  the  treaty  of  peace 
between  the  two  countries,  the  Indians  had  not  been 
included.  Several  tribes,  therefore,  stimulated  on 
by  English  gold,  continued  their  hostilities,  and  in  the 
Northwestern  Territory  several  hundred  whites  had 
been  killed,  including  men,  women  and  children,  be- 
fore the  Government  took  active  measures  to  stop 
the  slaughter.  This  work  was  delegated  to  Gen., 
Arthur  bt.  Clair,  former  Governor  of  the  Territory, 
which  was  in  1791.  The  expedition  of  Gen.  St. 
Clair,  owing  possibly  to  his  feeble  health,  was  dis-= 
astrous.  The  Americans  were  completed  routed,  a 
panic  seized  the  army  and  they  could  not  be  brought 
to  a  standstill  until  they  reached  Fort  Jefferson., 
Subsequently  a  new  and  larger  force  was  sent  out 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Wayne,  one  of  the 
heroes  of  the  Revolution,  which  proved  more  suc- 
cessful than  the  former ;  the  Indians  were  defeated 
at  every  point  and  sued  for  peace,  which  was  con- 
cluded Aug.  7,  1795.  During  these  two  conflicts, 
Little  Turtle  was  the  most  skillful  and  indefatigable 
chief  among  them.  Peace  was  restored  once  more 
and  so  remained  for  many  years,  the  >vhites  pursuing 
their  occupations  on  soil  once  the  favorite  hunting 
ground  of  the  Indians. 

Prior  to  the  War  of  1812,  there  rose  in  this  coun- 
try an  Indian  of  most  extraordinary  character,  a 
great  warrior  and  considerable  of  a  statesman.  His 
name  was  Tecumseh,  chief  of  the  Pawnees.  He 
sought  to  unite  all  the  Indian  tribes  in  one  grand  ef- 
fort against  the  Americans  to  recover  their  lost  hunt- 
ing grounds.  As  a  preliminary  step,  he  sought  to 
educate  his  people,  to  improve  their  morals  and  in- 
still into  their  hearts  a  more  ardent  love  of  country. 
He  had  several  interviews  with  Gov.  Harrison,  'who 
was  formerly  the  Governor  of  this.  Territory  and  a.t. 


674 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


this  time  was  Governor  of  Indiana  Territory,  with 
a  view  of  regaining  this  country  for  his  people.  At 
the  last  interview,  the  Governor  plainly  told  him 
"  that  the  President  would  put  his  warriors  in  petti- 
coats sooner  than  give  up  the  country  he  had  fairly 
acquired,  or  to  suffer  his  people  to  be  murdered 
with  impunity." 

The  opportunity  finally  came  for  which  Tecumseh 
had  so  long  waited,  of  avenging  what  he  conceived 
to  be  the  injury  his  people  had  sustained  at  the 
hands  of  the  Americans.  The  war  of  1812  came  on. 
Murders  continued  to  be  committed,  and  even  Gov. 
Harrison's  own  soldiers  were  fired  upon.  Gov.  Har- 
rison, indignant  at  these  outrages,  started  out  with 
a  force  of  a  thousand  men,  attacked  their  town,  Tip- 
pecanoe.  which  had  been  well  fortified,  and  after  a 
bloody  conflict,  drove  them  into  the  swamp.  Tecum- 
seh, who  was  away  at  this  time,  upon  returning  was 
greatly  exasperated  at  this  defeat.  He,  with  his  band, 
immediately  departed  to  Canada,  and  offered  his 
services  to  the  British,  not  for  any  love  he  had  for 
them,  but  because  after  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  he 
felt  that  he  could  have  no  success  against  the  Amer- 
"  icans,  unless  aided  by  British  troops.  Tecumseh 
was  killed  at  the  Tames,  where  he  led  some  1200 
Indians,  bravely  and  desperately  fighting  for  victory. 
Black  Hawk  was  also  in  this  battle. 

The  loss  of  the  battle  and  the  defeat  of  the  British 
on  L"ake  Erie  put  an  end  to  the  war,  and  the  Indians 
soon  were  brought  to  peaceful  terms.  There  was  no 
further  trouble  from  them  until  about  the  time  of  the 
settlement  of  this  county.  There  were  several  large 
villages  in  the  territory,  the  largest  being  on  Rock 
River,  near  its  confluence  with  the  Mississippi.  This 
was  Sac  Village,  the  home  of  Black  Hawk  and  his 
people,  and  at  one  time  there  was  some  1 2,000  Indians 
here.  The  Indians  were  engaged  in  hunting,  fish- 
ing, lead-mining  and  raising  corn. 

The  Black  Hawk  War. 


'HE  Black  Hawk  War,  as  a  military  exhibi- 
tion, was  not  much  of  an  affair.     From  first 
to  last  the  forces  of  the  Government,  inclu- 
ding the  Wisconsin   Volunteers,  the  friendly 
Indians  and  the  six  Artillery  companies,  sent 
out  by  Gen.  Scott,  did  not  exceed  6,000  men. 
After  the  long  peace  the  Indians  again  became  trou- 


blesome, in  the  sum-Tier  of  1827.  The  Winnebagoes, 
Sacs,  Foxes  and  other  tribes  had  been  at  war  with 
each  other  for  over  a  century,  and  although  at  times 
through  the  mediation  of  the  United  States  peice 
was  restored  between  them,  yet  a  bitter  enmity  ever 
existed.  During  this  summer  a  war  party  of  Win- 
nebagoes surprised  a  party  of  the  Chippewas,  and 
killed  eight  of  their  men.  Four  of  the  Winnebasoes 
were  arrested  by  the  commander  of  the  United  States 
troops,  at  St.  Peters,  and  delivered  to  the  Chippewas, 
by  whom  they  were  immediately  shot.  This  was  the 
first  irritation  of  the  Winnebagoes,  and  they  were 
further  aggrieved  at  seeing  the  Americans  occupying 
their  country;  for  many  of  them  had  penetrated  it 
as  far  as  the  Wisconsin,  in  search  of  lead.  Red 
Bird,  in  order  to  avenge  himself,  made  an  attack  up- 
on the  Chippewas  and  was  defeated,  but  to  satisfy 
his  desire  for  vengeance  he  surprised  and  killed  sev- 
eral whites.  On  hearing  of  this  the  miners,  who 
were  working  the  lead-mines  at  Galena,  organized  a 
company  of  volunteers,  and  being  reinforced  by  a 
company  of  United  States  troops,  marched  against 
the  Winnebagoes.  To  save  his  nation  from  war  Red 
Bird,  with  six  others  of  the  most  influential  men  of 
his  nation,  surrendered  themselves  as  prisoners  of 
war.  Part  of  them  were  executed,  and  a  part  pined 
away  in  jail.  From  this  time  to  1831,  there  were  no 
further  disturbances. 

But  to  return  to  the  causes  that  brought  on  the 
Black  Hawk  War.  In  1804  a  treaty  was  formed  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  the  chiefs  of  the  Sacs 
and  Fox  nations,  by  virtue  of  which  the  Government 
acquired,  together  with  other  territory,  the  title  to 
the  Rock  River  country.  Black  Hawk,  however,  a 
chief  of  the  Sacs  and  a  noted  warrior,  claimed  that 
this  treaty  was  obtained  through  fraud,  and  that 
whatever  had  been  done  was  without  his  knowledge 
or  consent.  Black  Hawk's  version  of  this  treaty  is 
this  :  One  of  the  Sac  Indians  killed  an  American 
and  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  the  prison  at 
St.  Louis.  The  council  was  held  at  the  Sac  Village 
to  see  what  could  be  done,  and  it  was  determined  to 
send  Quasquame  and  other  chiefs  to  St.  Louis  to 
get  the  offender  released  by  paying  for  his  crime,  this 
being  the  way  of  adjusting  such  affairs  with  the  In- 
dians. The  party  started  on  their  mission  with  the 
best  wishes  of  the  nation.  They  remained  a  long 
time,  and  when  they  returned  they  encamped  near 
the  village  but  remained  away  from  it.  They  were 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


<>75 


dressed  in  fine  clothes  and  had  valuable  medals  and 
other  ornaments.  Early  the  next  day  Quasquame 
came  into  the  Council  Lodge  and  gave  the  following 
account :  "  On  our  arrival  at  St.  Louis  we  met  our 
American  father  and  explained  to  him  our  business, 
urging  the  release  of  our  friend.  The  American  chief 
told  us  he  wanted  land.  We  agreed  to  give  him 
some  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  likewise 
more  on  the  Illinois  side  opposite  Jefferson.  When 
the  business  was  all  arranged,  we  expected  to  have 
our  friend  released  to  come  home  with  us.  About 
the  time  we  were  ready  to  start  our  brother  was  let 
out  of  the  prison.  He  started  to  run  a  short  distance 
when  he  was  shot  dead."  Black  Hawk  said  this  was 
all  they  could  remember,  and  it  subsequently  was  as- 
certained that  this  party  were  all  drunk  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  they  were  at  St.  Louis. 
This  was  all  his  nation  knew  of  the  treaty  of  1804. 
"It,"  says  Black  Hawk,  "  has  since  been  explained 
to  me.  I  find  by  that  treaty  that  all  of  the  country 
east  of  the  Mississippi  and  south  of  Jefferson  was 
ceded  to  the  United  States  for  $1,000  a  year.  I  will 
leave  it  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  to  say 
whether  our  nation  was  properly  represented  in  this 
treaty,  or  whether  we  received  a  fair  compensation 
for  the  extent  of  country  ceded  by  these  four  indi- 
viduals. I  could  say  much  more  respecting  this 
treaty  with  the  whites,  but  I  will  not  at  this  time.  It 
has  been  the  origin  of  all  our  serious  difficulties  with 
the  whites." 

Whatever  may  be  the  real  facts  regarding  this 
treaty,  however,  Black  Hawk  was  not  satisfied  with 
it,  and  he  was  determined  if  possible  to  regain  the 
territory  which  he  claimed  had  been  ceded  away 
from  his  people  without  his  knowledge.  He  pro- 
nounced the  treaty  a  fraud  and  void,  and  gathering 
his  chosen  band  of  warriors  about  him,  which  num- 
bered about  300,  he  re-crossed  the  Mississippi,  took 
possession  of  the  disputed  lands  and  ordered  the 
whites  to  leave  the  country  at  once.  The  settlers 
reported  the  matter  to  Gov.  Reynolds,  and  he  dis- 
patched Gen.  Gaines  with  a  company  of  regulars  and 
1,500  volunteers  to  the  scene  of  action.  Black  Hawk 
was  taken  by  surprise ;  the  troops  burned  their  vil- 
lages and  forced  them  to  submission.  Another 
treaty  of  peace  was  concluded,  by  which  the  Indians 
ceded  all  right  and  title  to  the  land  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  agreed  to  remain  on  the  western  side  of 
the  river  and  never  re-cross  it  without  permission 


from  the  President  of  the  United  States  or  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Seeing  such  a  large  force  arraigned  against  him, 
the  proud  spirit  of  Black  Hawk  was  compelled  to 
submit,  though  with  a  determination  to  seek  the 
first  opportunity  to  be  avenged  upon  his  enemies. 
In  the  spring  of  1832,  having  rallied  about  him  the 
braves  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations  to  the  number 
of  650,  he  re-crossed  the  Mississippi  and  directed  his 
march  into  the  Winnebago  and  Pottawattamie  coun- 
tries, hoping  to  make  them  their  allies;  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds upon  being  informed  of  the  invasion,  hastily 
collected  a  body  of  1,800  volunteers,  divided  into 
four  regiments,  and  a  spy  battallion  under  command 
of  Col.  James  B.  Henry,  all  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Samuel  Whiteside.  This  army  marched  to  the 
Mississippi,  reduced  to  ashes  the  Indian  village  of 
Prophetstown,  the  home  of  the  Prophet,  and  then 
proceeded  for  several  miles  up  the  river  to  Dixon,  to 
join  the  regular  forces  of  Gen.  Atkinson,  and  to 
await  the  arrival  of  provisions. 

It  would  seem  at  first  glance  that  the  force  mus- 
tered by  the  Government  against  Black  Hawk  was 
needlessly  large,  but  when  it  is  remembered  that  it 
was  anticipated  that  Black  Hawk  might  form  an  al- 
liance with  some  of  the  other  tribes,  it  will  be  ad- 
mitted that  the  Government  was  wise  in  its  precau- 
tionary movements.  At  Dixon,  there  were  two  full 
companies,  then  awaiting  to  achieve  immortal  fame 
in  an  encounter  with  the  dusky  warriors.  •  These 
troops  advanced  under  Maj.  Stilhnan.  They  made 
their  first  encampment  on  Rock  River  near  a  creek 
which  entered  into  it,  which  is  now  known  in  history 
as  Stillman's  Run.  They  had  been  sent  to  spy  out 
the  Indians.  While  here  in  camp  they  saw  a  party 
of  them  at  a  distance,  and  several  of  the  command 
mounted  their  horses  and  charged  after  them,  killing 
three  of  their  number.  But  the  main  body  of  the 
band  under  Black  Hawk  returned  the  charge,  which 
produced  a  panic  among  the  volunteers,  and  in  pre- 
cipitous flight  they  hurried  back  to  Dixon.  This  was 
the  first  engagement  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which 
occurred  May  i2th,  and  there  was  not  much  in  it 
for  the  white  soldiers  to  boast  of.  Had  it  occurred 
during  the  rebellion,  it  would  have  been  called  a 
"skedaddle." 

After  calling  the  roll,  1 1  men  were  found  missing. 
A  council  of  war  was  convoked  by  Gen.  Whiteside, 
when  it  was  agreed  to  march  back  the  next  day  to 


'A  — 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


the  battle-field.  Arriving  there  they  were  surprised 
at  not  finding  any  Indians,  but  they  found  the  poor 
dead  soldiers,  and  after  burying  them  and  erecting  a 
rude  monument  to  their  memory,  they  returned  to 
Dixon,  where  they  were  joined  by  Gen.  Atkinson 
with  his  regulars. 

After  this  engagement,  the  Indians  committed  many 
depredations,  massacred  the  inhabitants,  burned 
their  houses,  and  neglected  nothing  known  to  the 
peculiar  mode  of  Indian  warfare.  By  June  isth, 
about  4,000  volunteers  had  been  organized.  This 
made  a  formidable  array  against  the  small  Indian 
force,  and  it  kept  in  check  other  tribes,  who  were 
friendly  to  Black  Hawk  and  were  much  inclined  to 
join  him.  About  this  time,  Black  Hawk  with  a  part 
of  his  force  attacked  Apple  River  Fort,  near  Galena. 
This  was  a  mere  palisade  of  logs  in  the  form  of  a 
square.  This  little  garrison  of  25  men  resisted  the 
attack  from  their  savage  enemy  for  15  long  hours, 
when  they  withdrew  with  great  loss.  There  were 
several  small  engagements  and  skirmishes,  when  the 
battle  at  Kellogg's  Grove  under  Maj.  Dement  came 
off.  The  latter  had  fortified  himself  here  in  the 
midst  of  the  Indian  country.  From  here  they  sallied 
out  to  reconnoitre,  when  they  found  themselves  sud- 
denly confronted  by  some  300  Indians  under  Black 
Hawk,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  they  regained  their 
camp.  The  Indians  undertook  to  storm  it,  but  they 
were  repulsed  with  great  loss,  and  finally  retreated, 
carrying  their  dead  with  them.  Upon  hearing  of 
this  engagement,  Gen.  Atkinson  sent  a  detachment 
to  overtake  the  flying  Indians,  while  he  marched 
Northward  into  the  territory  of  the  Winnebagoes  to 
meet  the  Indians  that  were  concentrating  there. 

There  was  some  dissatisfaction  among  the  volun- 
teers about  this  time,  who  had  not  anticipated  the 
hardships  and  fatigues  of  an  Indian  war.  They  had 
also  been  wasteful  of  provisions,  and  it  became 
necessary  to  send  out  troops  to  replenish  their  stores. 
Reaching  the  Winnebago  country,  Black  Hawk  for- 
tified himself  there  near  the  four  lakes,  with  the  de- 
termination to  decide  the  fate  of  war  by  a  general 
battle.  The  troops  marched  very  slowly  and  cau- 
tiously through  the  country,  passing  through  Turtle 
Village  and  up  along  Rock  River  to  Burnt  Village. 
Here  they  were  delayed  for  a  while,  following  out 
false  trails  and  waiting  for  provisions,  when  hearing 
that  Black  Hawk  was  encamped  on  Rock  River, 
some  35  miles  distant,  they  started  in  pursuit.  They 


overtook  the  Indians  at  the  bluffs  of  the  Wisconsin 
River,  in  the  afternoon  of  July  2ist,  and  unable  any 
longer  to  escape  the  hot  pursuit  of  the  Government 
forces,  the  Indians  turned  and  fought  until  they 
were  completely  routed.  Night  having  set  in,  the 
battle  for  the  day  ended.  This  engagement  was  led 
by  Gen.  Henry.  Escaping  during  the  night  across 
the  river,  the  Indians  made  for  the  Mississippi, 
hoping  to  be  able  to  cross  to  the  western  side.  They 
reached  the  Mississippi  before  the  troops  came  up, 
but  were  prevented  from  crossing  by  the  steamboat 
"  Warrior,"  which  happened  just  at  this  time  to  come 
along.  The  Warrior  greeted  them  with  canister 
shot  and  a  brisk  fire  of  musketry,  causing  them  se- 
vere losses.  Pending  this  conflict,  the  forces  under 
Gen.  Atkinson  and  Gen.  Henry  arrived.  Atkinson 
was  decoyed  off  by  a  ruse  of  the  wily  Indians,  and 
Gen.  Henry  perceiving  this  and  discovering  the  main 
body  of  the  enemy  endeavoring  to  make  their  es- 
cape, advanced  on  them,  when  a  line  of  battle  was 
formed  and  the  engagement  became  general.  The 
Indians,  who  fought  with  desperate  valor,  were 
furiously  met  at  every  point  by  volunteer  forces, 
slaughtering  them  with  their  bayonets  and  driving 
them  into  the  river.  Hearing  the  general  engage- 
ment, Gen.  Atkinson  returned  from  his  pursuit  of 
Black  Hawk  and  with  his  force  of  20  men  joined  in 
the  fight,  which  lermin.iKd  in  a  complete  victory  for 
the  Government.  There  were  some  300  Indians 
killed  and  drowned  and  50  taken  prisoners.  Black 
Hawk,  with  20  of  his  followers,  made  his  escape  up 
the  Wisconsin  River. 

Thus  ended  the  Black  Hawk  War,  the  decisive 
and  last  battle  of  which  was  fought  Aug.  2,  1832, 
near  the  mouth  of  Bad  Axe  River.  And  thus  ended 
the  last  conflict  with  the  red  man  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Mississippi.  Black  Hawk  and  his  party  were 
pursued  by  the  Winnebagoes  and  captured  at  the 
Belles  of  the  Wisconsin,  and  turned  over  to  Gen. 
Street,  the  United  States  Indian  Agent.  Among 
the  prisoners  were  Black  Hawk,  his  son  and  the 
Prophet,  who  had  been  largely  instrumental  in  bring- 
ing about  this  war,  and  who  was  his  strong  right  arm 
to  its  close.  They  were  taken  to  Jefferson  Barracks, 
when  a  treaty  was  concluded,  by  which  the  Indians 
ceded  to  the  United  States  their  lands  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi between  the  Des  Moines  and  Turkey  Rivers. 
They  were  afterwards  taken  to  Washington  and 
from  there  made  a  tour  of  the  United  States. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


677 


In  his  interview  with  the  President,  Black  Hawk, 
in  extenuation  of  his  action  in  going  into  battle  with 
the  whites,  said :  "  I  am  a  man  and  you  are  another. 
I  took  up  the  hatchet  to  revenge  the  injuries  which 
could  no  longer  be  borne.  Had  I  borne  them  longer, 
my  people  would  have  said,  '  Black  Hawk  is  a 
squaw;  he  is  too  old  to  be  a  chief.  He  is  no  Sac? 
This  caused  me  to  raise  the  war-whoop.  I  say  no 
more  about  it;  all  is  known  to  you.  Keokuk  once 
was  here.  You  took  him  by  the  hand  and  when  he 
wanted  to  return,  you  sent  him  back  to  his  nation. 
Black  Hawk  expects  that  like  Keokuk,  he  will  be 
permitted  to  return." 

By  order  of  the  President,  Black  Hawk  and  the 
other  prisoners  were  set  free  June  4,  1833.  On  the 
3d  of  October,  1838,  Black  Hawk  passed  away  to 
the  happy  hunting  grounds  of  the  future,  at  the  age 
of  71  years,  at  his  home  in  Iowa,  surrounded  by  his 
wife  and  family.  He  had  taken  cold  on  his  way  to 
Rock  Island  to  receive  his  annuity.  He  was  buried 
near  his  home  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  2, 
Township  70,  range  12,  Davis  Co.,  Iowa.  He  was 
dressed  in  a  suit  of  military  clothes  given  to  him  in 
Washington  by  President  Jackson. 

The  overthrow  of  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  of 
followers,  the  successful  termination  of  the  war,  and 
the  capture  of  Black  Hawk  was  important  in  this, 
that  it  quenched  forever  the  last  germ  of  Indian  hos- 
tilies  between  the  red  man  in  the  Northwestern  Ter- 
ritory and  his  acknowledged  master,  and  extinguished 
all  claims  of  the  Indians  to  this  part  of  the  country. 

Engaged  in  this  war  there  were  quite  a  number  of 
persons  who  in  after  years  played  a  very  important 
and  distinguished  part  in  American  history.  Fore- 
most among  these  was  Abraham  Lincoln.  At  the 
first  call  of  Gov.  Reynolds,  he  enlisted  in  a  company 
of  volunteers  and  was  chosen  Captain.  This  com- 
pany, with  the  first  levy,  was  disbanded.  He  re- 
enlisted  as  a  private  and  served  to  the  end  of  the 
war.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Dixon  into  Capt.  He's 
Company  under  Zachary  Taylor,  then  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  by  Lieut.  Robert  Anderson,  who  so  gal- 
lantly defended  Fort  Sumter  at  the  opening  of  the 
Rebellion.  At  this  place,  too,  and  among  the  Gov- 
ernment soldiers,  was  one  also  noted  in  after  life, 
although  not  to  his  credit,  Jefferson  Davis,  then  a 
Lieutenant. 

After  Maj.  Anderson  evacuated  Fort  Sumter,  he 


called  on  President  Lincoln  and  received  his  thanks 
for  his  gallant  defense  of  the  fort.  Mr.  Lincoln 
asked  the  Major  if  he  remembered  ever  having  met 
him  before,  who  replied  that  he  did  not.  "  My  mem- 
ory is  better  than  yours,"  said  President  Lincoln ; 
"  you  mustered  me  into  the  United  States  service  as 
a  high  private  of  the  Illinois  Volunteers,  at  Dixon's 
Ferry,  in  the  Black  Hawk  War."  Another  incident 
connected  with  this  war  is  of  some  interest:  When 
Black  Hawk  was  captured  he  was  turned  over  to 
Lieut.  Jefferson  Davis,  with  instructions  to  deliver 
him  at  Jefferson  Barracks.  Black  Hawk  was  subse- 
quently for  a  while  confined  in  Fortress  Monroe, 
where,  a  generation  later,  Davis  was  confined  as  a 
traitor.  Both  made  war  against  the  United  States, 
and  were  the  cause  of  the  shedding  of  much  blood  ; 
but  if  any  extenuation  should  be  given  to  either  of 
these  men  for  their  crime,  it  should  be  given  to  the 
distinguished  Indian  warrior. 

Great  consternation  was  felt  during  the  trying  days 
of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  by  the  few  pioneers  then  liv- 
ing in  the  county.  The  winter  of  [831-32  was  a 
rather  mild  one,  and  spring  opened  with  a  fair  and 
prosperous  outlook  for  the  settlers.  The  spring  days> 
however,  had  not  half  passed  away  before  a  cloud 
arose  which  darkened  all  their  hopes,  and  sent  dis- 
may into  every  heart.  Black  Hawk  was  threatening, 
with  his  band,  to  re-cross  the  Mississippi  River  to 
recover  his  hunting  grounds,  and  another  Indian 
war,  with  its  nameless  terrors,  was  imminent.  The 
signs  were  too  true;  war  was  again  to  be  inaugurated. 
About  the  first  of  May  Gov.  Reynolds  was  at  Yellow 
Banks  with  quite  a  large  number  of  volunteers  to 
meet  and  keep  back  the  Indians.  Warren  County 
was  deficient  in  war  material,  and  had  no  war  lead- 
ers. It  was  feared  that  when  the  troops  left  Yel- 
low Banks  the  Indians  would  sweep  over  the  entire 
country. 

When  the  Governor  and  his  troops  withdrew,  the 
citizens  became  greatly  alarmed.  A  petition  was 
forwarded  to  him  representing  their  exposed  condi- 
tion, and  praying  for  aid.  Upon  receiving  the  peti- 
tion the  Governor  issued  the  following  order  : 

I  do  hereby  appoint  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  to  give 
notice  that  an  election  for  Major  of  the  Militia  Com- 
pany and  an  odd  Battalion  in  Warren  County,  will 
be  held  in  Monmouth  at  some  convenient  lime  within 
ten  days  from  the  date  of  this  order,  and  I  further 
authorize  the  said  McNeil  to  conduct  said  election 
according  to  law,  and  to  give  the  person  elected  a  Ma- 
li * 


678 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


jor's  certificate  of  the  election,  which  will  authorize 
said  Major  to  cause  elections  to  be  held  for  company 
officers,  so  that  Militia  be  organized  with  speed  to 
defend  their  lives  from  Indian  depredation  ;  and  in 
case  of  necessity  the  said  McNeil  is  authorized  to 
call  one  or  more  companies  to  range  the  frontier  for 
its  defense.  JOHN  REYNOLDS, 

Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  Illinois  Militia. 

Notice  was  given  in  accordance  with  the  above  or- 
der, an  election  was  held,  and  Peter  Butler  was  cho- 
cen  as  Major  of  the  odd  Battalion.  Maj.  Butler 
forthwith  ordered  an  election  for  company  officers  in 
the  different  districts  of  the  county,  which  completed 
the  organization  of  the  Militia. 

After  Gov.  Reynolds  withdrew  his  troops  and 
passed  on  towards  Rock  River,  the  citizens  became 
greatly  alarmed  for  their  safety  and  felt  that  they 
ought  to  have  a  patrol,  or  a  body  of  rangers.  A  pe- 
tition was  accordingly  presented  to  McNeil,  asking 
that  volunteers  be  called  in  accordance  with  the 
Governor's  order.  A  call  was  made  May  31,  1832, 
to  meet  at  Monmouth  June  4th.  At  this  time  the 
requisite  number  volunteered,  elected  their  officers, 
were  mustered  into  service  and  reported  for  duty  at 
the  war  department  at  Washington,  and  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Stale. 

For  the  benefit  of  the  readers,  a  copy  of  the  mus- 
ter-roll is  here  given  :  Peter  Butler,  Captain  ;  James 
McCammon,  ist  Lieutenant;  Solomon  Purkins,  zd 
Lieutenant;  Isaac  Walton,  ist  Sergeant;  Benj. 
Tucker,  zd  Sergeant;  M.  D.  Ritchey,  3d  Sergeant, 
and  Adam  Ritchey,  4th.  Privates,  John  Van  Atta ; 
James  C.  Caldwell,  John  Quinn,  Thomas  Ritchey, 
Andrew  Gilson,  George  Gilson,  William  Stark,  W.  H. 
Dennison,  Isaiah  Osborn,  John  Armstrong,  D.  B. 


Cartwright,  G.  Van  Atta,  Elijah  Hiltonr  James  Rea- 
son, Win.  Laswell,  P.  Vancanean,  John  D.  Richey, 
S.  L.  Hogue,  David  Russell,  C.  A.  Smith,  John 
Findley,  Amos  Williams,  Gabriel  Short,  John  McCoy, 
R.  S.  Dennison,  John  Maley,  R.  S.  Slice,  John  Hen- 
dricks,  William  Patton  and  Ezra  A.  Allen.  These 
troops  were  subsequently  disbanded  in  consequence 
of  the  Governor's  orders  calling  upon  the  counties  of 
Warren  and  McDonough  to  furnish  a  company  lo 
serve  as  mounted  rangers.  This  company  was 
quickly  raised  and  largely  made  up  of  the  volunteers 
mentioned.  Maj.  Butler  was  elected  Captain,  with 
James  McCallon  ist  Lieutenant.  These  war  prepa- 
rations, however,  proved  unnecessary.  The  Indian 
hostilities  were  not  carried  into  this  county.  Antic- 
ipating, however,  that  the  Indians  would  invade  the 
county,  the  families  throughout  had  resorted  to  the 
forts  for  safety,  and  many  had  left.  There  were  no 
depredations  committed  in  the  county  until  the  war 
was  over,  and  Black  Hawk  was  captured,  which  was 
in  the  early  part  of  August.  After  the  war  was  over  1 
the  murder  of  William  Martin,  in  Sumner  Township, 
was  committed  by  some  straggling  Indians  of  Black 
Hawk's  band,  an  account  of  which  will  be  found  in 
the  history  of  that  township,  also  in  the  legal  his- 
tory of  the  county. 

This  event  threw  the  people  again  into  consterna- 
tion. When  full  particulars  of  this  murder  was 
known,  and  they  were  assured  that  there  was  no 
further  trouble  with  the  Indians,  the  inhabitants  re- 
paired to  their  several  homes  and  to  their  peaceful 
walks  again.  Following  this  peaceful  condition  of 
things,  came  emigration,  settling  in  all  parts  of  the 
country,  and  the  future  once  more  looked  bright  and 
prosperous. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


679 


;N  Friday,  July  9,  the  first  term 
of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Alexis  Phelps.  Daniel 
McNeil,  Jr.,  was  appointed 
Clerk  of  the  Court,  this  being 
the  first  appointment  of  the 
Court.  The  first  order  made  was  that 
McNeil  should  file  his  bond.  The  first 
account  approved  and  ordered  to  be 
paid  was  that  of  Adam  Ritchey,  John  B. 
Talbot  and  John  Pence,  for  amounts 
respectively,  $3.00,  $3.00  and  $1.50. 
The  first  road  viewers  were  appointed 
on  Sept.  7,  1830,  upon  the  petition 
of  William  McCullough,  for  a  road  from  Lower 
Yellow  Banks  to  the  southeast  comer  of  section  36, 
in  town  12,  north  of  range  i  west,  Kelly  Township. 
Stephen  S.  Phelps,  David  Findley  and  Allen  G.  An- 
drews were  appointed  viewers. 

Jacob  Rust  was  licensed  to  keep  a  grocery  or  inn 
Oct.  ist,  i83r,at  Monmouth.  VVm.  Causland  was 
licensed  to  keep  an  inn  at  Yellow  Banks,  June  n, 
1831.  Stephen  S.  Phelps  was  licensed  to  keep  a  store 
at  the  same  time  and  at  the  same  place.  On  Dec.  5, 
1831,  Elijah  Davidson  was  licensed  to  keep  a  gro- 
cery at  Monmouth.  The  order  of  the  County  Com- 
missioner's Court  that  the  Circuit  Court  hold  its  next 
term  at  Monmouth,  the  permanent  seat  of  justice, 
was  made  April  12,  1831. 

Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  took  an  oath  to  faithfully  and 
impartially  discharge  all  the  duties  of  his  office,  ac- 
cording to  the  best  of  his  ability  and  understanding, 


and  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
and  State,  presented  his  bo  ~.d  to  the  Commissioners' 
Court,  which  was  accepted,  and  then  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  office. 

It  was  ordered  by  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  that  a  temporary  seat  of  justice  or  place  for 
holding  the  County  Commissioners'  and  Circuit 
Courts  for  the  county,  be  held  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Alexander  Phelps,  at  the  Yellow  Banks,  on  fractional 
section  15,  in  town  1 1  north,  of  range  5  west.  The 
Court  appointed  Stephen  S.  Phelps  Treasurer  for 
the  County,  and  required  of  him  a  bond  of  $1,000 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties,  which  bond 
was  presented  and  approved.  They  also  authorized 
him  to  purchase  a  small  "blank  book,"  for  the  pur- 
pose of  entering  county  orders  and  keeping  the  said 
Treasurer's  account  with  said  County  of  Warren. 

At  this  time  the  Court  divided  the  County  into 
two  election  precincts,  to  be  known  as  precinct  num- 
ber one  and  precinct  number  two.  Number  one  was 
laid  out  as  follows  :  Commencing  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  township  12  north,  of  range  4  west  (Kelly), 
thence  west  to  the  Mississippi  River,  thence  down 
said  river  to  the  township  line,  between  7  and  8 
north,  thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  town- 
ship 8  north  and  range  4  west,  thence  north  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

The  place  for  holding  the  election  was  ordered  to 
be  at  the  Court  House,  or  the  place  of  holding  Courts, 
and  Jeremiah  Smith,  James  Jamison  and  Thomas  D. 
Wells  were  appointed  Judges  of  the  Election  to  be 
held  in  this  precinct.  , 

Precinct  number  2  was  laid  out  as  follows  :  Com- 


6So 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


mencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  township  12, 
north  of  range  i  west  (Kelly),  thence  west  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  township  12,  north  of  range  3 
west  (Sumner),  thence  south  to  the  southwest  corner 
of  township  8  north,  of  range  3  west  (Point  Pleasant), 
thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  township  8, 
north  of  range  i  west  (Greenbush)  and  thence  north 
to  the  place  of  begianing.  The  place  of  election 
was  located  at  the  house  of  James  Hodgins,  and 
Thomas  C.  Jennings,  James  Hindley  and  James. 
Hodgins  were  appointed  Judges  of  the  Election. 

For  the  purpose  of  electing  Justices  of  the  Peace 
and  Constables,  the  county  was  divided  into  two 
districts — the  Mississippi  and  Cedar  Creek  districts. 
The  Mississippi  district  comprised  what  is  now  Hen- 
derson County.  The  place  of  election  was  fixed  at 
the  place  of  holding  courts  in  this  district,  and  Jere- 
miah Smith,  James  Jamison  and  Thomas  D.  Wells 
were  appointed  Judges  of  the  Election.  Cedar  Creek 
District  included  Warren  County.  The  place  of 
'holding  the  elections  for  Justices  of  the  Peace  and 
Constables  were  fixed  at  James  Hodgins',  and  John 
Findley,  Thomas  C.  Jennings  and  James  Hodgins 
were  appointed  Judges  of  Election  for  this  district. 

An  election  was  ordered  by  the  County  Commis- 
sioners' Court,  to  be  held  the  first  Monday  in  August, 
which  was  the  day  for  the  general  election  through- 
out the  State.  It  was  also  ordered  that  in  addition 
to  Hie  State  officers  to  be  elected,  there  should  be 
chosen  three  County  Commissioners,  one  Sheriff, 
one  Coroner,  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  two  Con- 
stables for  each  precinct. 

Anticipating  this  election  and  the  full  organization 
of  the  county,  Judge  Young,  on  the  5th  day  of  July, 
1830,  issued  the  following  order  : 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,       j 
FIFTH  JUDICIAL  DISTRICT.  )  ss' 

To  all  whom  these  presents  may  concern.  Greet- 
ing: Know  ye.  that  I,  Richard  M.  Young,  Judge  of 
the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
north  of  the  Illinois  River,  and  presiding  Judge  of 
the  Circuit  Court,  in  and  for  the  county  of  Warren, 
and  State  aforesaid,  in  pursuance  of  the  power  vested 
in  me,  by  virtue  of  the  loth  section  of  the  act  enti- 
tled "  an  act  supplementary  to  an  act  regulating  the 
Supreme  and  Circuit  Courts,"  approved  Jan.  19, 
1829,  do  hereby  order  and  appoint  that  Circuit  Court 
be  held  in  and  for  the  said  county  of  Warren,  at 
such  places  as  may  be  selected  and  provided  by  the 
County  Commissioner's  Court  of  said  county,  on  the 


fourth  Monday  in  June  and  the  first  Monday  in  Oc- 
tober, until  I  shall  make  another  order  to  the  con- 
trary. RICHARD  M.  YOUNG, 

Judge  of  the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit. 

The  Judge  gave  the  above  order  while  holding 
court  at  Galena.  Subsequently  he  made  an  order 
appointing  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  Clerk  pro  tern,  for 
the  Circuit  Court. 

At  this  general  election  47  votes  were  cast,  being 
within  three  of  the  entire  vote  of  the  county.  John 
B.  Talbot,  Peter  Butler  and  John  Pence  were  elected 
County  Commissioners;  Stephen  S.  Phelps,  Sheriff; 
and  John  Ritchey,  Coroner.  At  the  Yellow  Banks 
District,  John  Pence  and  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  were 
elected  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  James  Ryerson 
and  William  Causland,  Constables.  John  B.  Talbot 
and  Adam  Ritchey,  Jr.,  were  elected  Justices  of  the 
Peace  for  Hodgin's  Grove  District,  and  David  Find- 
ley  and  James  Hodgins  Constables. 

The  first  regular  term  of  the  Couuty  Commission- 
ers' Court  i;  et  on  the  second  Monday  in  August, 
1830.  At  this  meeting  John  Pence  and  Peter  But- 
ler only  were  present,  John  B.  Talbot,  the  other 
Commissioner  being  absent.  At  this  session  the 
Court  ordered  to  be  summoned  a  grand  and  a  petit  i 
jury  for  a  term  of  Circuit  Court  to  be  holden  the  first 
Monday  in  October.  This  term  of  court  was  not 
held,  and  consequently  the  men  who  were  summoned 
for  jurors  were  not  wanted.  The  Judge  and  Clerk 
met,  transacted  some  formulatory  business  and  then 
returned  to  their  homes. 

After  the  organization  of  the  county,  the  people 
were  a  little  anxious  to  place  themselves  on  good 
terms  with  Uncle  Sam,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  fol- 
lowing order,  which  was  indicted  by  the  County 
Commissioners: 
STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  WARREN  COUNTY. 

The  Clerk  of  the  Warren  County  Commissioners' 
Court  will  certify  to  the  Postmaster-General  of  the 
United  States,  at  Washington  city,  that  the  county  of 
\V;irren  was  organized  on  the  3<1  day  of  July,  1830, 
and  that  the  temporary  seat  of  Justice  is  and  was 
located  at  Lower  Yellow  Banks  (Oquawka),  on  the 
Mississippi  River,  on  the  gth  day  of  July,  and  about 
half  way  between  the  Des  Moines  and  Rock  River 
Rapids,  and  request  the  Postmaster-General  to  es- 
tablish a  Postoffice  at  said  County  seat,  to  be  called 
Warren  Court  House  Postoffice;  and  further  request 
the  Postmaster-General  to  forward  the  mail  immedi- 
ately to  said  office,  either  from  Fulton  and  Schuyler 
Counties,  or  from  Venus,  Hancock  County. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


681 


Given  under  our  hands  in  vacation  of  Court,  this 
loth  day  of  September,  A.  D.  1830. 

JOHN  PENCE, 
JOHN  B.  TALBOT, 
County  Commissioners. 

The  county  having  been  fully  organized,  the  ques- 
tion of  the  permanent  seat  of  Justice  came  up  for 
their  action.  Not  being  able  to  settle  this  matter 
among  themselves,  the  citizens  petitioned  the  Legis- 
lature to  make  the  location.  Upon  receiving  the  pe- 
tition, the  Legislature  took  action  at  once  by  special 
act,  approved  Jan.  27,  1831,  and  appointed  Hazen 
Bedell,  of  Hancock  County;  John  G.  Sanborn,  of 
Knox  County;  John  McNeil,  Fulipn  County,  Special 
Commissioners  to  select  the  site.  Having  duly 
qualified  themselves,  they  met  at  the  house  of  Ste- 
phen S.  Phelps,  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  and  at 
once  proceeded  to  the  work  in  hand.  There  were 
several  contestants  for  the  location,  among  which  were 
Hodgins'  Point,  Center  Grove,  Yellow  Banks,  Ellison 
Creek,  Monmouth,  and  some  other  names  were  put 
in.  From  these  each  County  Commissioner  drew 
one  name.  The  names  drawn  were  Isabella,  Kosci- 
usco  and  Monmouth.  They  were  put  together  and 

.the  drawing  again  commenced,  the  agreement  being 
that  the  first  name  drawn  should  be  the  one  selected. 
Kosciusko  was  the  lucky  name.  When  this  name 
appeared  before  them  in  all  its  un-Saxon  orthogra- 
phy, they  were  in  doubt.  They  felt  sure  that  not 
one  fourth  of  the  inhabitants  could  ever  learn  to 
spell  that  name.  Finally,  they  decided  to  draw 
again,  and  this  time  the  name  of  Monmouth  came 
out,  which  was  accepted.  They  completed  their 
work  on  the  7th  of  April,  sealed  up  their  report,  ad- 
dressed it  to  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  and 
returned  to  their  homes. 

On  the  1 1  th  of  April,  a  special  meetingof  theCourt 
was  called.  The  sealed  package  was  opened  and 
the  following  report  was  found  : 

"To  the  Honorable  County  Commissioners'  Court 
of  Warren  County  :  The  undersigned  Commission- 
ers, appointed  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  Illinois,  entitled  an  "  act  to  establish  a 
permanent  seat  of  Justice  for  Warren  County,'1  ap- 
proved Jan.  27,  1831,  respectfully  report  that  they 
located  the  seat  of  Justice  for  said  county  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  29,  in  township  n 
north,  of  range  2  west  (Monmouth  Township)  of  the 
4th  principal  meridian,  which  said  quarter  section  is 
reported,  and  we  believe  to  be,  Congress  land,  and 


they  have  given  the  said  seat  of  Justice  the  name  of 

Monmouth. 

In  witness   whereof,  we   have   hereunto   set   our 

hands  and  seal  this  yih  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1831. 

JOHN  G.  SANBORN. 
HAZEN  BEDELL, 
JOHN  MCNEIL. 

This  report  was  accepted  by  the  County  Commis- 
sioners, though  with  some  reluctance,  as  stated  in 
the  history  of  Monmouth,  and  was  ordered  to  be 
placed  on  record. 

After  the  organization  of  the  county,  Mercer 
County  was  attached  to  it  for  Judicial  and  other  pur- 
poses, until  it  should  be  organized  as  provided  by 
law. 

In  the  spring  of  183  r,  the  matter  of  laying  out  the 
county  seat  was  taken  up  by  the  County  Commis- 
sioners. Plans  were  carefully  prepared  and  furn- 
ished and  the  survey  given  to  Peter  Butler,  April  25,' 
1831,  who  received  2  i  j£  cents  per  lot  for  the  same. 
On  the  26th  the  Court  located  the  public  square. 
On  the  6th  of  June,  the  lots  were  put  up  at  public' 
sale.  There  were  46  lots  sold,  amounting  in  all  to 
$965.6254. 

At  the  April  term,  1831,  the  Commissioners' Court 
ordered  that  proposals  be  received  and  contracts 
be  entered  into  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  Court- 
House  from  plans  to  be  furnished  by  the  Court. 
From  the  plans  presented,  it  would  appear  that  these 
pioneers  did  not  think  that  expensive  halls  or  build- 
ings were  necessary  for  the  seat  of  Justice.  The 
following  were  the  specifications:  "To  be  20x22 
feet  on  the  ground,  9  feet  between  sleepers  and  the 
joists,  and  to  be  built  of  logs  hewn  down  inside  and 
out,  and  finished  as  the  County  Commissioners  shall 
direct."  The  construction  of  this  building  was  let  at 
public  vendue  to  Francis  Kendall  at  $57.  It  was 
located  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  about  a 
block  below  the  square. 

Those  early  Commissioners  were  statesmen  as 
well  as  economists,  and  the  duties  that  they  felt 
called  upon  to  discharge  were  manifold.  At  their 
June  term  1831,  we  find  them  licensing  Win.  Cans- 
land  to  keep  an  inn  at  the  Yellow  Banks,  which  was 
then  temporarily  the  seat  of  Justice,  under  some 
very  commendable  restrictions  and  provisions,  to 
wit :  "  On  his  producing  to  the  Clerk  of  this  Court, 
the  Treasurer's  receipt  for  $2.50,  and  paying  the 
Clerk  his  fee ;  and  that  the  following  rates  be  al-. 


682 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


lowed  in  said  tavern  :  Horse  keeping  per  night,  25 
cents:  single  feed  per  night  12 J/£  cents;  for  each 
meal  of  victuals,  25  cents;  lodging  per  night,  per 
bed,  12}^  cents,  but  if  two  persons  lodge  in  one  bed, 
6^  cents;  for  each  half  pint  of  brandy,  25  cents; 
for  each  half  pint  of  rum  or  wine,  18^  cents ;  for 
each  half  pint  of  whisky,  i2j£  cents.  If  any  person 
shall  call  for  a  less  quantity  than  a  half  pint  of  either 
of  said  liquors,  the  same  price  as  per  half  pint."  If 
liquors  could  be  had  at  the  present  day  at  the  above 
rates,  it  is  not  probable  that  the  good  people  of  Mon- 
mouth  could  enforce  their  prohibition  laws. 

This  inn  was  the  first  opened  in  the  county.  At 
the  same  time  a  license  was  given  to  Stephen  S. 
Phelps  to  sell  merchandise.  Viewers  were  appointed 
at  this  term  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Broadway,  in 
Mon  mouth,  to  Yellow  Banks,  now  known  as 
Oquawka. 

The  first  regular  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  was 
called  to  meet  at  Monmouth,  June,  1831.  On  ac- 
count of  threatened  Indian  troubles,  no  term  was 
held.  It  was  the  same  in  October.  In  October  of 
the  following  year,  the  first  session  of  the  Court  was 
held,  Judge  Richard  M.  Young  presiding.  For  the 
proceedings  of  this  Court,  the  reader  is  referred  to 
the  legal  history.  The  August  elections  of  1832  re- 
sulted in  the  choice  of  Peter  Butler,  Sheriff;  John 
Ritchey,  Coroner ;  Jeremiah  Smith,  John  B.  Talbot 
and  James  McCallon,  County  Commissioners ;  Wm. 
Edmundson,  Representative  of  the  District  em- 
bracing the  counties  of  Calhoun,  McDonough  and 
Warren ;  Wm.  McCreery,  Senator  of  the  District 
embracing  the  counties  of  Schuyler,  Knox,  Fulton, 
Calhoun,  McDonough  and  Warren ;  Joseph  Duncan 
for  Congress,  for  all  Northern  Illinois. 

During  the  year  1833,  the  laws  for  the  collection  of 
taxes  were  passed  and  the  land  in  the  Military  Tract 
was  no  longer  exempt.  The  Clerks  of  the  County 
Commissioners'  Court  were  made  the  collectors  from 
September  to  March,  and  if  the  taxes  were  not  then 
paid  the  non-resident  lands  were  sold  by  the  Clerks 
instead  of  the  Auditor  as  heretofore.  This  gave  the 
citizens  an  opportunity  to  become  bidders  without 
going  to  Vandalia,  then  the  seat  of  Government. 

In  1837,  under  the  act  of  the  General  Assemby 
passed  in  1837,  a  Probate  Court  was  established. 

The  residents  of  the  territory  now  embraced  by 
Henderson  County,  were  not  satisfied  with  the  loca- 


tion of  the  county  seat  at  Monmouth,  and  made  an 
effort  to  have  it  changed  to  a  more  central  location. 
Failing  in  this,  they  seceded  and  organized  them- 
selves into  a  county  which  was  called  Henderson. 

From  about  the  beginning  of  the  organization  of 
the  county,  the  County  Commissioners,  ardently 
sustained  by  the  people,  commenced  the  laying  out 
and  improvement  of  roads,  which  under  an  organ- 
ized system  they  have  continued  until  the  present 
day.  The  result  of  this  has  been  that  to-day  the 
public  roads  of  the  county  are  unexceptional. 

The  municipal  affairs  of  the  county  continued  un- 
der the  government  of  the  County  Commissioners 
until  1849,  whe^i  they  were  turned  over  to  the 
County  Court.  They  remained  in  charge  of  this 
Court  until  June,  1850,  when  they  were  for  a  brief 
period  in  the  hands  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors ; 
then  the  county  matters  were  again  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  County  Court.  (See  County  Court 
history).  In  1854  the  government  of  the  county 
was  again  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Board  of  Sup- 
ervisors. 

The  last  session   of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  was  held  Nov.  12,  1849.     Under  the  Constitu-_, 
tion  of  1848,  the  County  Judge  and  two  associates  f 
had  been  chosen  at  the  general  election,  in  1849,' 
who  were  to   supersede   the   Commissioners'  Court  j 
and   take    charge   of  the    municipal    affairs   of  the 
county.     These  officers  were  commissioned  by  the 
Governor  of  the  State,  and  after  taking  the  oath  of 
office,  duly  entered  on  the  discharge  of  their  duties. 
The  first  session  of  this  Court  was  held  Dec.  3,  1849. 
At  this  session,  the  Court  appointed   three  Commis- 
sioners,  Joseph  Paddox,   John  C.   Bond  and  Ira  F. 
M.  Butler,  to  divide  the  county  of  Warren  into  town- 
ships in  accordance  with  the  township  organization 
laws. 

Board  of  Supervisors. 

?T  the  election  held  in  November,  1849,  the 
people  had  declared  themselves  in  favor 
of  township  organization.  The  commis- 
sioners met  and  proceeded  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties,  completing  their  work  and 
making  their  report  to  the  Court.  The  Board 
of  Supervisors  chosen  at  the  spring  elections,  on  the 
8th  day  of  April,  1850,  organized  and  proceeded  to 
the  transaction  of  county  business.  They  adjourned 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


683 


on  the  5th  of  June,  to  meet  on  the  second  Monday 
of  November  following,  but  this  Board  never  met 
again.  The  Supreme  Court  had  decided  the  elec- 
tions illegal  on  account  of  the  insufficiency  of  votes 
cast.  Accordingly  the  municipal  affairs  of  the 
county  reverted  back  again  to  the  County  Court. 
This  Court  continued  to  transact  the  county  business 
until  1854,  holding  their  last  regular  session  on  April 
ist  of  this  year. 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  County  Court,  in 
session  Sept.  12,  1853,  signed  by  James  McCoy  and 
50  legal  voters  of  the  county,  praying  that  the  town- 
ship organization  be  submitted  again  to  the  people 
at  the  next  general  election,  to  be  holden  on  Tuesday 
after  the  first  Monday  in  November  next,  which  pe- 
tition was  duly  granted  by  the  Court,  and  the  Clerk 
was  ordered  to  give  the  notice  of  same  for  the  next 
general  election.  An  election  was  accordingly  held 
on  the  8th  of  November,  1853,  for  township  organi- 
zation. The  whole  number  of  votes  cast  was  1,396, 
•  for  organization  768,  being  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
cast  at  said  election.  The  County  Court  at  its  De- 
cember Term,  1853,  again  appointed  Commissioners 


to  divide  the  county  into  townships.  John  C.  Bond, 
Samuel  Holland  and  Robert  Gilmore  were  the 
appointees. 

On  June  5th  following  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
were  elected.  On  April  4,  they  met,  organized  and 
assumed  control  of  the  county  affairs.  A  vote  had 
been  taken  for  and  against  township  organization  at 
the  regular  fall  election  of  1851  and  1852,  and  at 
each  of  these  elections,  township  organization  had 
been  voted  on  and  had  been  defeated.  The  people 
seemed  to  be  very  much  adverse  to  it  at  this  time. 
At  the  November  election  of  1853,  a  vote  was  taken, 
as  stated  above,  for  township  organization,  which 
proved  successful. 

Since  then  the  affairs  of  the  county  have  been 
conducted  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  in  the 
main  with  unusual  satisfaction.  The  different  town- 
ships have  generally  sent  able  and  honest  members 
to  represent  their  interests  and  to  legislate  for  the 
county.  During  the  war  the  Board  did  much  toward 
aiding  the  cause  of  the  Union.  The  names  of  the 
men  comprising  the  Board  since  1853  are  given  in 
sketches  of  the  various  townships. 


684 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


O  country  in  the  world  is  more 
fertile  than  that  known  as  the 
Military  Tract.  Warren 
County  is  situated  in  this 
district,  near  the  Western 
\  border  of  the  State,  and 
contains  an  area  of  540 
square  miles,  divided  up  into  15  full 
townships.  It  has  no  large  water 
courses  flowing  through  its  territory, 
cutting  deep  channels,  but  several 
small  streams.  In  the  Northern 
part  it  is  intersected  from  East  to 
West  by  Middle  Henderfon  and 
Cedar  Creeks.  About  the  middle 
of  the  county  is  South  Henderson 
brai.ch,  which  rises  in  township 
10,  range  2,  section  10,  and  runs 
nearly  due  West.  In  the  southern  part  is  a  small 
stream  called  Ellison  Creek,  which  with  its  little 
tributaries  rises  in  Ellison  Township  and  runs  west- 
ward. In  the  northern  p:ut  of  Lenox  Township,  is 
Skig  Run,  which  runs  nearly  south,  forming  a  con- 
fluence with  Cedar  Fork,  near  the  eastern  line  of  the 
county.  Cedar  Fork  rises  near  the  western  bound- 
ary at  Roseville  Township,  and  meanders  southeast- 
erly. Southeast  of  this  is  Nigger  Creek  and  its 
branches,  Little  Nigger  and  Sivan  Creek,  which  run 
in  an  easterly  direction.  With  these  and  some 
smaller  streams  the  county  is  pretty  well  watered, 
and  very  good  facilities  afforded  for  drainage. 

Warren  County  presents  to  the  eye  no  scenes  of 
rugged  grandeur,  but  rather  the  quiet  beauty  of 
rounded  outlines,  of  surface  clothed  with  green  and 
far-reaching  prairies  and  beautiful  little  groves.  It 


has  no  mountain  chains  within  its  borders.  The 
mean  elevation  of  the  county  is  600  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  ocean.  Springs  are  not  abundant 
but  good  wells  can  be  obtained  from  a  depth  varying 
from  i  o  to  60  feet.  It  is  seldom  necessary  to  go  to 
the  latter  depth  ;  but  if  so,  water  is  reached  after 
passing  through  a  strata  of  blue  clay. 

The  county  is  largely  undulating  prairie,  inter-- 
spersed  with  groves  of  fine  timber.  The  soil  is  a 
dark  vegetable,  rich  loam,  uniform  in  its  general  char- 
acter, beneath  which  is  a  subsoil  of  yellow  clay.  - 
Along  the  water  courses  there  was  originally  a  liberal 
growth  of  timber,  consisting  of  the  oak  varieties, 
elm,  ash,  hickory,  black  walnut  and  the  maples.  In 
addition  to  these  can  be  found  along  the  slope  and 
the  bottom  lands,  the  sycamore,  box  elder,  linden, 
cotton  wood,  locust,  coffee  tree,  wild  cherry,  wild 
plum,  thorn,  crab  apple,  dogwood,  red  bud,  hackberry 
and  mulberry. 

The  alluvial  deposits  are  principally  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  water  courses,  and  rarely  exceed  a  half 
mile  in  width.  It  is  claimed  that  coal  measures  un- 
derlie the  greater  portion  of  the  county,  but  it  has 
not  been  found  profitable  to  mine  it  simply  for  the 
coal  only.  In  Roseville  Township,  near  the  village, 
the  coal  seam  crops  out,  and  so  along  Swan  and  Lit- 
tle Nigger  Creeks.  East  of  Monmouth,  on  the  site 
of  the  Monmouth  Mining  and  Manufacturing  Co., 
coal  was  found  at  a  depth  of  about  70  feet.  In  min- 
ing for  clay  for  the  tile  factory,  coal  was  taken  out  for 
awhile,  but  this  company  has  long  ceased  to  mine 
for  coal,  and  finds  it  cheaper  to  purchase  elsewhere. 

The  soil  in  the  county  is  remarkable  fertile,  with 
scarcely  an  acre  of  poor  ground,  and  is  adapted  for 
the  production  of  all  the  cereals  grown  in  this  latitude. 


•e- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


685 


legal  profession  occupies 
a  most  important  place  in 
our  political,  as  well  as  in 
our  social  system.  It  is  con- 
nected with  the  closest  of 
family  ties,  and  is  often 
called  upon  to  settle  the 
disputes  most  vital  to  domestic 
happiness.  To  this  profession  are 
we  indebted  for  our  constitutions 
and  our  laws,  and  in  a  great  mea- 
sure the  management  of  our  polit- 
ical system.  To  it  also  mirst  we 
look  for  the  enforcement  of  our  laws, 
the  punishment  of  its  violators  and 
the  maintenance  of  good  order  in 
society.  The  Judicial  system  of 
Warren  County,  as  at  present  constituted,  maybe  di- 
vided into  four  parts:  The  Justice  Court,  County 
Court,  Circuit  Court  and  the  Supreme  Court.  John  B. 
Talbot  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace,  receiving  his 
appointment  when  the  county  was  attached  to  Peo- 
ria  County,  and  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  was  the  first  ap- 
pointed after  the  county  was  organized.  The  first 
elected,  which  was  at  the  election  held  the  first  Mon- 
day in  August,  1830,  was  John  Pence,  and  Daniel 
McNeil,  Jr.,  for  the  Yellow  Banks  district,  and  John 
B.  Talbot  and  Andrew  (Sandy)  Ritchey,  for  Hodgin's 
Grove  district. 

When  the  county  was  organized  it  was  in  the  fifth 


judicial  circuit,  with  Judge  Richard  M.  Young  pre- 
siding. At  the  time  the  Judge  issued  his  order  for 
an  election  for  county  organization,  he  fixed  the 
terms  of  holding  the  Circuit  Court  for  the  fourth 
Monday  in  June,  and  the  first  Monday  in  October, 
which  was  to  be  held  at  such  places  as  the  County  •< 
Commissioners'  Court  might  select.  The  Commis- 
sioners, however,  for  reasons  not  known,  failed  to 
make  any  provision  for  an  October  term  of  court,  and 
there  was  none  held.  The  first  term  of  this  court 
subsequently  was  called  for  June,  1831.  There  were 
two  cases  docketed  for  this  term,  to  wit :  John  Pence, 
vs.  Joshua  Vandruff,  an  appeal  case  from  the  Justice 
Court,  and  Charles  Collins  vs.  Thomas  S.  Sublett,  an 
action  for  debt. 

The  docket  reports  that  no  court  was  held  on  ac- 
count of  Indian  disturbances.  It  was  the  same  with 
the  October  term  following.  In  October,  1832,  the 
Indian  troubles  having  been  settled,  a  term  of  court 
was  held,  which  was  the  first  regular  term  in 
the  county.  Hon.  Richard  M.  Young  presided, 
with  Thomas  Ford,  states  attorney,  Daniel  Mc- 
Neil, Jr.,  clerk,  and  Stephen  S.  Phelps,  sheriff. 
The  first  case  tried  was  an  action  for  an  assault  and 
battery  ;  the  People  vs.  William  Dennison.  The  de- 
fendant was  found  guilty  and  fined  $14  and  cost.  The 
two  first  cases  docketed  were  then  tried.  The  judg- 
ment in  the  Justice  Court  was  affirmed,  and  the 
other  case  was  non-suited  at  plaintiff's  cost.  The 
Grand  Turors  for  this  term  were  Alexander  Davidson, 
William  Russell,  Thomas  S.  Sublett,  James  Ritchey, 


•£- 


686 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


John  Caldwell,  Peter  Smith,  Thomas  Caldwell,  Field 
Jarvis,  John  Smith,  John  G.  Haley,  Elijah  Hanan, 
John  Vanaton,  John  E.  Murphy,  Wm.  R.  Jamison, 
Elijah  Davidson,  Jacob  Rust,  Robert  M.  Black  and 
Wm.  Whitman.  Davidson  was  appointed  foreman. 
After  a  few  days  of  session  the  Grand  Jury  came  into 
court  and  reported  that  they  had  not  found  any  cause 
for  indictment,  and  there  being  no  further  business 
before  them  they  were  discharged.  The  first  petit 
jury  sworn  in  for  the  trial  of  causes  were :  Sheldon 
Lockwood,  Elijah  Davidson,  Sr.,  Henry  Meadows, 
John  C.  Jamison,  Abner  Short,  Lewis  Vertrees,  Sam- 
uel Gibson,  Robert  Wallace,  George  Peckempaugh, 
James  Gibson,  Joseph  W.  Kendall  and  Thomas  Gib- 
son, Sr.  They  tried  the  assault  and  battery  case 
above  mentioned. 

The  members  of  the  Bar  were  fond  of  having  their 
little  fun  in  those  days,  probably  more  so  than  now. 
They  had  more  t.me  then  for  jecreation  and  frolic, 
and  never  failed  to  embrace  the  opportunity.  John 
Porter  had  been  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  one  of  the 
sessions  of  the  Court  during  this  term.  He  was  for- 
tunate in  securing  a  trial  case,  in  which  he  made  his 
first  plea  or  maiden  speech,  which  is  reported  to  have 
been  a  very  fair  one.  On  the  motion  docket  is  the 
following  order :  "  Members  of  the  Bar  vs.  John 
'  Porter : —  Now,  come  the  plaintiffs  and  move  the 
Court  for  an  order  on  defendant  to  '  wet '  his  maiden 
speech."  This  order  was  allowed.  The  records  do 
not  inform  us  however,  whether  the  young  attorney's 
fees  in  this  case  were  sufficient  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses necessary  to  carry  out  the  Court's  order. 


Trial  of  the  Murderers  of  William  Martin. 

VERY  novel  case  in  the  history  of  crimi- 
nal practice  came  up  in  the  June  term  of 
1833.  This  is  a  case  in  which  it  was  pro- 
posed to  try  persons  for  the  crime  of  murder 
by  proxy,  and  in  which  Indian  law  was  to  be 
introduced  into  the  state  Courts.  It  was  none 
other  than  the  case  of  the  trial  of  the  Indians  turned 
over  as  substitutes  for  the  real  murderers  of  William 
Martin.  This  was  the  first  indictment  for  murder, 
and  the  first  criminal  case  docketed.  The  grand 
jury  were  John  Humphrey,  who  was  the  foreman, 


is,  I 
t,  i 


ss. 


Jesse  W.  Bond,  James  Ryason,  David  Maurice,  Wm. 
McCoy,  Thos.  C.  Jennings,  Alex.  Davidson,  James 
Brown,  William  Russell,  R.  Black,  Robert  Wallace, 
Sr.,  James  Jenkins,  John  Vanaton,  Roland  Simmons, 
Solomon  Perkins,  Emmons  Williams,  Wm.  Baty, 
Jonathan  Tipton  and  Peter  Scott.  The  indictment 
of  the  Indians  is  given  below,  without  comment : 

At  the  June   term  of  the  Warren   County  Circuit 
Court,  in  the  year  A.  D.  1833  : 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS, 
WARREN  COUNTY, 

The  Grand  Jurors  chosen,  elected  and  sworn  in  for 
the  county  of  Warren,  in  the  name  and  by  authority 
of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  upon  their  oaths 
present:  That  Shash-quaw-a-shi,  alias  Neesh-wak- 
que,  Muck-que-che-qua,  Muck-qua-po-la-shah,  and 
Was-a-wan-a-quot,  being  Indians,  late  of  said  county, 
not  having  the  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes,  but  be- 
ing moved  and  seduced  by  the  instigations  of  the 
devil,  on  the  Qth  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1832,  with 
force  and  arms,  at  and  within  the  county  of  Warren 
aforesaid,  in  and  upon  William  Martin,  against  the  . 
peace  of  God  and  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  ' 
then  and  there,  being  unlawfully,  wilfully,  felon- 
iously and  of  their  malice  aforethought,  d;d  make  an 
assault,  and  that  the  said  Shash-quaw-a-shi,  alias 
Neesh-wakque,  a  certain  gun,  of  the  value  of$io, 
then  and  there  loaded  and  charged  with  gun  powder, 
one  leaden  bullet,  which  gun  he,  the  said  Shash- 
quaw-a-shi,  alias  Neesh-wakque,  in  his  right  hand, 
then  and  there  in  hand,  and  held  to,  against  and 
upon  the  said  William  Martin,  then  and  there,  and 
unlawfully,  wilfully,  feloniously  and  with  malice 
aforethought,  did  shoot  and  discharge,  and  that  the 
said  Shash  quaw-a-shi,  alias  Neesh-wakque,  with  the 
leaden  bullet  aforesaid,  out  of  the  gun  aforesaid,  then 
and  there  by  force  of  the  gun  powder  shot,  and  sent 
forth  as  aforesaid,  against  the  aforesaid  William  Mar- 
tin, in  and  upon  the  left  side  of  the  back 
of  him,  a  little  below  the  left  shoulder  blade,  the 
said  William  Martin,  then  and  there,  unlawfully, 
wilfully,  feloniously,  and  of  his  malice  aforethought, 
did  strike,  penetrate  and  wound,  giving  to  the  said 
William  Martin  one  mortal  wound,  of  the  deptli  of 
six  inches  and  of  the  breadth  of  one  inch,  of  which 
said  mortal  wound  the  aforesaid  William  Martin  then 
and  there  instantly  died.  And  that  the  aforesaid 
Muck-que-che-qua,  Muck-qua-po-la  shah  and  Was- 
a-wan-a-quot,  then  and  there,  unlawfully,  wilfully 
and  feloniously,  and  of  their  malice  aforethought, 
were  present,  helping,  aiding  and  abetting,  and  com- 
forting, assisting  and  maintaining  the  said  Shash- 
quaw-a-shi,  alias  Neesh-wakque,  the  felony  and  mur- 
der aforesaid,  in  manner  and  form  aforesaid,  to  do 
and  to  commit;  and  so  the  jurors  aforesaid,  upon 
their  oaths  aforesaid,  do  say  that  the  said  Shash- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


687 


quaw-a— shi,  alias  Neesh-wakque,  Muck-que-che-qua 
and  Muck-qua-po-la-shah  and  Was-a-wan-a-quot, 
then  and  there,  in  manner  and  form  aforesaid,  the 
said  William  Martin,  and  unlawfully,  wilfully  and  fe- 
loniously, and  of  their  malice  aforethought,  did  kill 
and  murder,  contrary  to  the  form  of  the  statute  in 
such  cases  made  and  provided,  and  against  the 
peace  and  dignity  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois. THOMAS  FORD, 

State's  Attorney. 

This  indictment  was  forwarded  to  the  Governor, 
with  the  request  that  the  same  be  forwarded  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  requesting  him  to 
make  a  demand,  through  the  Indian  Agent  of  the 
band  of  Indians  for  the  murderers.  The  particulars 
of  the  murder  are  as  follows  :  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  gtli  day  of  August,  1832,  William  Martin  was  out 
in  the  fields  cutting  some  grass  for  his  horses,  when 
five  Indians  rushed  out  from  the  timber  near  by,  ran 
up  to  Martin,  shot  and  killed  him,  and  then  as 
quickly  disappeared  into  the  woods  again.  This  field 
|  was  a  short  distance  south  of  the  block-house  or  fort. 
The  fort  was  east  of  Little  York  or  between  Little 
York  and  where  Hugh  Martin's  brick  house  now 
;  stands.  Mrs.  Osborn  was  living  in  this  block-house 
•  with  two  small  children  at  the  time  and  heard  the 
I  shots.  She,  with  the  two  children,  rushed  out 
i  through  a  corn  field  into  a  buckwheat  field  and  laid 
down  on  the  ground.  The  McCoy  girls  are  reported 
to  have  seen  the  shooting.  One  of  the  murderers 
was  arrested  and  confined  for  a  time  in  the  fort  at 
Rock  Island,  then  called  Fort  Armstrong,  from 
which  he  made  his  escape.  The  Indians,  who  at 
this  time  desired  to  be  on  friendly  terms  with  the 
whites,  according  to  their  custom,  delivered  up 
the  next  of  kin  to  the  real  murderers,  and  these  were 
the  ones  which  were  indicted  and  brought  into  the 
Court  for  trial.  The  Sheriff  of  the  county,  Peter 
Butler,  was  notified  to  be  at  the  Yellow  Banks  and 
receive  the  prisoners,  the  reported  murderers  of  Mar- 
tin. At  the  appointed  time,  March  20, 1833,  he  was 
at  the  Yellow  Banks,  was  there  met  by  Col.  Daven- 
port, the  Indian  Agent,  Keokuk,  and  a  number  of 
other  Indians,  who  had  in  custody  four  young  Indian 
warriors,  who  had  been  divested  of  their  weapons, 
and  who  were  turned  over  to  the  Sheriff  as  substi- 
tutes for  the  real  murderers,  and  by  the  Sheriff  taken 
to  Monmouth  and  there  confined  in  jail  to  await 
their  trial.  Their  names  were  J-o-nah,  Ka-ke-mo, 
Wau-pe-sho-kon  and  S-sa-fe-mo.  While  the  prison- 


ers were  in  jail,  they  afforded  the  people  of  Mon- 
mouth considerable  amusement  in  various  ways. 

The  case  came  up  for  trial  at  the  June  term  and 
created  a  good  deal  of  excitement.  Col.  Davenport, 
LeClair,  interpreter,  Keokuk,  and  some  50  chiefs 
and  warriors  came  from  the  Yellow  Banks  and  en- 
camped near  the  place  of  trial  with  the  United 
States  flag  waving  over  their  encampment.  They 
had,  at  the  suggestion  of  Col.  Davenport,  employed 
Messrs.  Field,  Galewood  &  Heirpstead  to  defend 
them,  for  which  they  received  large  fees.  The  pris- 
oners were  brought  into  court  under  a  writ  of  habeas 
corpus,  and  there  being  no  indictment  against  them 
for  the  supposed  crime  of  murder,  they  were,  on  mo- 
tion of  the  attorneys,  ordered  to  be  discharged  from 
their  imprisonment  and  to  go  hence  without  delay. 

With  this  order  the  Court  took  occasion  to  repri- 
mand Keokuk  and  his  chiefs  for  delivering  innocent 
persons  to  be  tried  for  the  guilty.  Keokuk  responded 
through  his  interpreter,  that  one  guilty  of  the  crime 
had  been  turned  over  to  the  Government  for  the 
murder,  but  had  made  his  escape,  and  with  the  other 
four  had  gone  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  that 
he  had,  in  accordance  with  the  Indian  custom,  turned 
over  the  next  of  kin. 

The  prisoners  were  very  joyful  at  their  deliver- 
ance, and  with  the  rest  of  the  Indians  returned  to 
their  hunting  grounds  beyond  the  Mississippi. 


Trial  of  Joe  Smith. 

'HE  next  important  case  to  come  before  the 
Court  was  that  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon 
prophet,  who,  with  several  other  Mormons, 
had  been  arrested  for  offenses  against  the 
peace  and  dignity  of  the  State  of  Missouri.  In 
the  autumn  of  1841,  the  Governor  of  Missouri 
made  the  demand  on  Gov.  Carlin,  of  Illinois,  to  de- 
liver up  to  him  Joe  Smith  for  these  offenses.  Gov. 
Carlin  issued  his  executive  order  to  this  effect,  and 
its  process  was  being  carried  out  when  the  attorneys 
of  Joe  Smith  sued  out  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  and 
the  case  came  up  for  hearing  before  Judge  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  who  was  then  on  the  Circuit,  and  hold- 
ing Court  at  Monmouth. 

The  warrant  of  the  Governor  had  been  returned 


—  A' 


688 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


once  before  its  execution.  Joe  Smith  was  under  in- 
dictment for  murder  and  at  the  time  of  his  arrest  was 
at  Nauvoo,  which  was  in  this  Judicial  Circuit. 

At  the  trial  Smith  had  many  of  his  Mormon 
friends  with  him  and  was  backed  by  plenty  of  money 
which  was  used  very  freely.  He  had  secured  the 
best  legal  talent  in  the  State  to  defend  him,  such 
men  as  O.  H.  Browning,  Walker,  Archibald,  Little 
and  Williams ;  for  the  State  was  B.  Knowlton,  Pros- 
ecuting Attorney,  Abraham  Lincoln  and  John  H. 
Mitchell.  Lincoln,  however,  was  not  present  at  the 
trial.  The  Court  House  was  packed  to  its  utmost 
capacity.  Able  aguments  were  made  on  both  sides 
and  the  excitement  became  intense.  When  the  case 
was  submitted,  the  Court  granted  the  motion  and 
quashed  the  writ,  on  the  ground  that  the  writ,  hav- 
ing been  once  returned  before  its  execution,  was 
functus  officio.  Thus  ended  one  of  the  notable  cases 
before  Warren  County  Court. 

In  1843,  Gov.  Carlin  issued  another  writ  against 
Joe  Smith,  under  which  he  was  arrested  again,  but 
discharged  by  his  own  municipal  court  at  Nauvoo, 
under  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

The  Common  Council  at  Nauvoo,  of  which  Smith 
was  the  presiding  member,  had  passed  an  ordinance 
empowering  the  municipal  court  of  that  town  with 
jurisdiction  in  all  cases  of  arrests  made  in  that  city, 
by  any  process  whatever,  notwithstanding  the  charter 
granted  to  the  municipal  court  gave  jurisdiction  only 
in  cases  of  arrests  for  breach  of  some  ordinance. 

=,  . ^   <.>•   - j. 


John  Baxter. 

*NE  of  the  most  exciting  murder  trials  in  this 
county  was  that  of  John  Baxter,  as  acces- 
sory before  the  fact  of  the  murder  of  Col. 
'"  George  Davenport,  July  4,  1845.  Young  Bax- 
ter had  been  almost  raised  in  the  family  of 
Davenport,  and  had  been  always  treated  with 
kindness  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  fam- 
ily. Col.  Davenport,  who  was  Indian  Agent,  had 
received  a  large  amount  of  silver  from  the  Govern- 
ment, a  part  of  which  was  for  the  Indians,  and  the 
gang  of  robbers  called  the  "  Banditti  of  the  Prairies" 
were  anxious  to  get  hold  of  it.  Baxter,  being  aware 
of  the  reception  of  this  silver,  furnished  information, 


it  was  claimed,  about  this  money,  and  it  was  for  this 
that  Baxter  was  indicted  and  tried. 

The  case  was  brought  to  Warren  County  under  a 
change  of  venue,  for  trial  at  the  June  term  of  1846. 
Baxter  had  been  tried  for  this  crime  at  Rock  Island 
and  was  sentenced  to  be  hung.  A  stay  of  execution 
had  been  granted  and  finally  a  new  trial  with  a 
change  of  venue.  Judge  N.  H.  Purple  was  then  the 
presiding  Justice,  |and  William  Elliott,  the  State's 
Attorney.  He  was  assisted  in  the  case  by  Joseph 
Knox,  an  able  lawyer.  Messrs.  Wells,  Wilkenson, 
Manning,  Davidson  and  Ralston  were  for  the  de- 
fense. The  case  was  continued  until  the  November 
term.  The  jail  of  Warren  County  not  being  a  very 
safe  place  for  the  confinement  of  prisoners,  Baxter 
was  committed  by  order  of  the  Court  to  the  jail  of 
Adams  County,  and  to  the  custody  of  the  Sheriff  of 
that  county  for  safe  keeping.  He  was  tried  at  the 
November  term,  1846.  Some  of  the  ablest  jurists  in 
the  State  were  in  this  case,  especially  in  the  defense, 
and  every  point  was  contested  with  marked  ability.  . 
After  the  arguments  were  closed,  the  Judge  charged 
the  jury.  His  charge  was  able,  clear,  emphatic  and 
impressive,  causing  many  persons  in  the  court-room 
to  shed  tears  ;  even  His  Honor  himself  was  seen  to 
weep. 

The  jury  retired  with  the  case  late  Saturday  night.  . 
On  Sunday  morning  they  sent  word  that  they  had 
arrived  at  a  decision.  The  Judge  came  in  and  the 
jury  was  brought  into  Court,  when  they  rendered  a 
verdict  of  "  guilty."  On  being  polled,  one  of  the 
jurors  stated  he  did  not  believe  the  prisoner  guilty 
as  charged  under  the  indictment.  They  were  di- 
rected by  the  Court  to  again  retire.  In  a  short  time 
they  again  came  into  Court  and  rendered  the  follow- 
ing verdict :  "  We  the  jury  find  the  defendant  guilty 
in  manner  and  form  as  charged  in  the  indictment." 
A  motion  was  made  for  a  new  trial  and  arrest  of 
judgment,  which  was  overruled.  The  Court  then 
pronounced  the  sentence,  which  was  that  the  pris- 
oner be  hanged  on  Wednesday,  Dec.  9,  1846. 

The  case  was  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court  and 
came  back  in  due  course,  with  the  sentence  of  the 
lower  court  affirmed,  together  with  the  instructions 
that  the  sentence  be  pronounced  on  any  day  but 
Sunday,  and  that  the  prisoner  be  executed  as  a  mur- 
derer. Pending  the  delivery  of  the  second  sentence, 
he  Legislature  had  passed  an  Act  for  Baxter's  indi- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


689 


vidual  benefit,  commuting  the  sentence  to  life  im- 
prisonment or  making  optional  with  the  defendant, 
the  choice  between  imprisonment  and  hanging.  This 
Act  also  made  it  obligatory  on  the  Judge  to  request 
in  open  Court  the  prisoner's  wishes  in  the  matter;  thus 
was  presented  Tn  Court  the  anomly  of  a  prisoner  be- 
coming the  Judge  in  his  own  case.  This  was  virtu- 
ally introducing  an  ex-post-facto  law,  or  making  an 
act  punishable  in  a  manner  which  was  not  provided 
for  at  the  time  it  was  committed.  The  case  was 
brought  into  Court,  May  5,  1847,  and  the  Court- 
room was  packed  to  its  utmost.  The  prisoner  for 
the  third  time  was  called  to  the  Bar,  to  receive  the 
sentence  of  death.  The  Act  of  the  Legislature  was 
read  to  him  and  then  the  Judge  pronounced  the  sen- 
tence of  death,  fixing  the  day  of  the  execution,  May 
a8th.  He  explained  to  the  prisoner  that  although 
the  law  required  him  to  pronounce  the  sentence  of 
death  for  the  crime  of  which  he  had  been  found 
guilty,  yet  he  was  not  to  be  executed  unless  he  pre- 
ferred execution  to  a  life  in  the  State  Penitentiary. 
The  prisoner  was  then  asked  in  open  court,  which 
mode  of  punishment  he  would  prefer,  the  Legislative 
provision  or  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He 
eagerly  replied,  that  he  would  prefer  the  Legislative 
provision. 

As  the  sentence  of  the  Judge  is  rather  a  remark- 
able document  and  may  be  of  interest  to  the  new 
generation  of  people  in  Warren  County,  it  is  given 
in  full.  The  sentence  is  as  follows  : 

"  John  Baxter,  a  jury  of  the  country  has  found  you 
guilty  of  murder,  the  highest  and  most  aggravated 
offense  known  to  the  laws,  and  in  your  case  ingrati- 
tude, and  the  ties  of  friendship  severed  and  confi- 
dence betrayed,  have  tinged  your  guilt  with  a  deeper 
and  darker  strain.  The  murdered  man  had  been 
your  friend  and  patron.  You  had  once  been  an  in- 
mate of  his  family,  and  but  a  short  period  of  time 
before  his  melancholy  and  tragical  end,  you  had  en- 
joyed the  hospitality  of  his  house,  and  under  the  pre- 
tence of  the  partiality  of  a  friend  had  wound  and 
wound  yourself  into  his  confidence  and  affection. 
The  time  also  which  was  selected  for  the  commission 
of  your  purpose  marks  its  commission  with  more  than 
ordinary  turpitude.  You  had  no  cause  of  hatred,  or 
even  complaint  against  the  deceased.  Money  ap- 
peared to  have  been  your  only  incentive.  No  sud- 
den impulse,  no  injury  inflicted  at  the  moment,  no  in- 
ward, long  concealed  and  pent  up  malignity  of  heart 
arising  from  wrongs  and  injustice  inflicted  and  often 
repeated,  impels  you  to  the  commission  of  the  crime. 
But  without  any  apparent  motive  other  than  that  of 


' 


gain,  on  the  fourth  day  of  July — a  day  hallowed  and 
sacred  to  National  devotion  and  festivity — while  a 
race  of  freemen  rejoicing  and  rendering  thanks  to 
heaven  for  the  blessings  of  free  Government,  and  the 
fancied  security  of  their  property  and  persons  under 
the  benign  and  salutary  influences  of  just  laws  and 
equal  rights,  you  and  your  confederates  in  crime,  in- 
vaded the  sanctuary  of  home,  and  coolly,  relentlessly, 
slaughtered  an  aged  and  venerable  man,  without  one 
emotion  of  compunction  or  remorse. 

A  just  and  righteous  retribution  for  blood  thus 
shed  demands  the  life  of  the  offender.  Not  alone  by 
way  of  punishment  for  the  offense  or  expiation  of  the 
crime,  but  also  as  a  salutary  example  to  those  who 
may  come  after. 

Remember  then,  that  although  the  law  demands 
your  death,  that  death  is  no  atonement  for  your 
crime  ;  nor  does  it  subtract  one  tithe  from  the  over- 
whelming amount  of  moral  guilt  which  rests  upon 
your  soul.  When  the  penalties  of  the  law  shall  have 
consigned  you  to  a  premature  and  untimely  death, 
there  is  a  higher  power  to  which  you  must  answer 
for  this  act  as  well  as  for  the  conduct  of  your  whole 
life.  Let  then  the  short  space  of  time  allotted  to 
you  here  be  spent  in  deep  contrition  and  repentance. 
Prepare  yourself  to  die !  Your  time  of  life  is  short 
and  much  remains  to  be  accomplished.  Expect  not, 
hope  not,  for  the  interference  of  the  Executive  in 
your  behalf,  or  that  chance  or  accident  may  aid  you 
to  escape  from  your  impending  doom.  Such  hopes 
and  expectations  will  be  idle  and  visionary,  and  will 
only  tend  to  retard  the  work  of  repentance  and  re- 
form which  is  so  indispensable  to  your  future  and 
eternal  state  of  being. 

Your  life  is  forfeited  to  the  laws  of  your  country, 
and  you  must  die  a  disgraceful  and  ignominious 
death.  It  was  not  in  the  power  of  an  impartial  jury, 
or  of  able  or  zealous  counsel  who  have  stood  up 
most  manfully  in  your  defense  ;  it  is  not  in  the 
power  of  the  court  to  avert  the  sentence  of  the  law 
and  save  you  from  your  impending  fate.  To  Heaven 
alone,  you  must  address  your  prayers  for  mercy  and 
forgiveness.  As  you  must  die,  die  penitent  and  like 
a  Christian,  and  though  the  forgiveness  of  the  world 
cannot  restore  you  to  life  and  the  endearments  of 
society  and  friends,  yet  the  tears  of  sympathy  will 
sometimes  be  shed  over  your  early  and  ignoble  doom  ; 
and  those  who  have  known  you  here  may  not  wholly 
curse  your  memory. 

Black  and  unmitigated  as  your  crime  may  be,  how- 
ever much  you  may  have  scoffed  and  derided  the 
laws  of  God  and  man,  you  may,  if  sincerely  penitent 
and  humble,  still  hope  for  pardon  and  salvation 
through  the  redeeming  power  and  stainless  purity  of 
the  Redeemer's,  blood. 

To  that  Beneficent  Power  and  Mercy,  with  the 
deepest  emotions  of  pity  and  compassion,  I  corn- 
mend  you  and  your  eternal  destiny.  The  sentence 
of  the  law  and  the  sentence  of  t,he  cqurt  is,  that  you. 


690 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


should  be  taken  from  this  place  to  the  jail  of  the 
County  of  Warren,  and  from  thence  to  the  place  of 
execution ;  and  that  on  Wednesday,  the  gth  day  of 
December,  next,  (1847),  between  the  hours  of  i  and 
4  o'clock  p.  m.  of  said  day,  you  be  hanged  by  the 
neck  until  you  be  dead,  and  may  God  Almighty  have 
mercy  on  your  soul." 

As  the  act  of  the  Legislature  above  referred  to 
stands  out  alone  and  almost  unprecedented  in  the 
annals  of  Legislation,  it  is  made  a  part  of  this  his- 
tory, and  is  as  follows  :  Whereas,  John  Baxter,  late 
of  the  county  of  Rock  Island,  was  convicted  of  the 
murder  of  George  Davenport,  at  the  November  term 
of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Warren  County,  1846,  and  is 
now  confined  in  the  jail  of  said  county  of  Warren, 
to  await  the  sentence  of  death  to  be  pronounced  upon 
him  at  the  next  term  of  Circuit  Court  of  said  county: 
Section  i ,  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  general  assembly, 
That  the  punishment  of  John  Baxter  be,  and  the  same 
is  hereby  commuted  from  that  of  death  to  imprison- 
ment in  the  Illinois  Penitentiary  during  the  term  of 
his  natural  life,  and  the  Sheriff  or  other  officer,  after 

•  the  sentence  of  death  shall  be  pronounced  against 
said  Baxter,  instead  of  executing  said  sentence  of 
death,  shall,  within  20  days  after  such  sentence,  re- 

'  move  said  Baxter  to  the  Penitentiary  at  Alton,  and 

\  the  Warden  or  keeper  of  said  Penitentiary  shall  re- 
ceive said  Baxter,  and  detain  him  in  his  custody,  and 
subject  him  to  the  same  rules  and  regulations  as 

_  other  convicts  are,  who  are  sentenced  to  said  Pen- 
itentiary for  life. 

Section  2.  The  Secretary  of  State  shall  furnish  a 
certified  copy  of  this  act  to  the  Sheriff  of  Warren 
County  or  other  proper  legal  officer,  upon  whom  de- 
volves the  duty  by  law  of  executing  said  sentence 
upon  said  Baxter,  and  also  shall  furnish  a  certified 
copy  of  the  act  to  the  Warden  or  keeper  of  said  Pen- 
itentiary; Provided,  this  act  shall  not  be  enforced 
unless  said  Baxter  shall  at  the  time  his  sentence  is 
pronounced,  consent  or  agree  in  open  court,  to  the 
provisions  of  this  act. 

John  Baxter  remained  in  prison  for  many  years  ; 
becoming  so  weak  and  emaciated  that  his  longer  con- 
finement in  the  penitentiary  would  be  certain  death, 
he  was  pardoned  out  by  the  Governor  and  died  a 
short  time  afterward,  in  the  Northern  part  of  the 
State. 

Joseph  Knox,  the  prosecuting  attorney,  admitted 
to  Col.  Davidson,  of  the  defense,  some  years  after 
the  trial,  that  he  believed  the  State  had  hung  two  in- 
nocent men,  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary  a  third.  He 
said  he  believed  that  Fox  and  Birch  were  the  guilty 
parties  in  the  murder  of  Col.  Davenport,  and  that 
the  Longs  were  innocent. 


Brockner    and    McMahill. 

ANOTHER  exciting  murder  trial  was  held  in 
Monmoutrrjust  before  the    war.      In  this 
case  Ferdinand  Brockner  and  Pickney  H.  Mc- 
Mahill,   were    indicted   and   brought    to   trial 

• 

for  the  murder  of  Thomas  Traylor,  at  his  home 
in  Greenbush  Township.  Mr.  Traylor  was  sitting  in 
his  house  reading  one  evening,  when  a  shot  was  fired 
through  the  ,window,  inflicting  upon  him  a  mortal 
wound.  The  persons  mentioned  above,  being  sus- 
pected, were  arrested,  indicted  and  finally  brought  to 
trial.  The  prosecuting  attorney  was  James  A.  Mc- 
Kenzie,  and  they  were  defended  by  that  distinguished 
criminal  lawyer,  the  late  W.  W.  O'Brien,  and  one  of 
•Monmouth's  not  less  distinguished  attorneys,  Col.  J. 
W.  Davidson.  The  prisoners  were  acquitted. 

In  early  days  there  was  a  good  deal  of  land  litiga- 
tion in  Monmouth,  and  some  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in 
the  state  were  before  the  Monmouth  bar  ;  and  on  this 
bench  some  of  the  ablest  judges  of  the  state  have 
presided,  men  who  have  been  distinguished  in  polit- 
ical life  and  in  the  halls  of  the  Legislature. 

This  County  was  first  in  the  Fifth  Judicial  District, 
then  in  the  Tenth  and  the  Eighth,  and  under  reorgan- 
ization it  was  again  placed  in  the  Tenth. 

Probate   Court. 

HE  Probate  Court  was  established  in  1837, 
which  provides  for  a  Probate  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  who  shall  have  charge  of  all  Pro- 
bate  matters,  and  be  also  vested  with  the  same 
power  and  jurisdiction  in  civil  cases  as  were 
given  to  Justices  of  the  Peace.  W.  F.  Smith 
was  the  first  Probate  Justice.  This  law  remained  in 
force  until  1849,  when  a  County  Court  was  estab- 
lished. 

County  Court. 

N  r849  the  General  Assembly,   under  the 
constitution  of  1848,  passed  an  act  approved 
Feb.  1 2th,  providing  for  a  Court  of  Record 
to  be  styled  the  County  Court,  and  to  be  pre- 
sided over  by  a  County   Judge.     Under  this 
act  the  County  Court  was  vested  with  all  the 
powers  and  jurisdiction  heretofore  resting  in  the  Pro- 


I 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


691 


bate  Court.  In  addition  thereto  it  was  further  pro- 
vided that  the  County  Judge,  with  two  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  to  be  known  as  Associate  Justices,  should 
sit  as  a  County  Court  and  have  all  the  powers  that 
were  vested  in  the  Commissioners'  Court,  the  latter, 
under  this  act,  being  abolished.  The  first  session  of 
this  Court  was  held  Dec.  3,  1849,  with  Judge  Ivory 
Quinby  presiding. 

This  Court  had  charge  of  County  matters  until 
the  township-organization  system  was  adopted,  and 
the  power  was  vested  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors, 
which  was  permanently  done  in  1854.  In  1872  the 
General  Assembly  passed  an  act  giving  it  concurrent 
jurisdiction  with  the  Circuit  Court  in  all  civil  cases 
where  the  value  of  property  in  controversy  should 
not  exceed  $500,  and  in  criminal  cases,  where  the 
punishment  was  not  imprisonment  in  the  peniten- 
tiary or  death.  The  names  of  the  officers  of  the 
Courts  will  be  found  in  the  list  of  County  officials. 


Judges   and   Members  of    the  Bar. 

"N  this  connection  only  a  brief  history  of  the 
Judges  that  have  presided  at  Monmouth 
can  be  given.  Hon.  Richard  M.  Young, 
who  presided  at  Galena,  was  the  first  Judge 
to  preside  in  the  Circuit  who  had  jurisdiction 
here  from  the  organization  of  the  County  un- 
til 1837,  when  he  resigned  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
United  States  Senate,  to  which  place  he  had  been 
elected.  Judge  Young  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
was  among  the  first  settlers  in  Northern  Illinois.  He 
was  of  unimpeachable  character,  a  good  jurist  and 
did  much  to  give  tone  and  dignity  to  the  Bench  and 
Bar  in  the  Circuit  over  which  he  presided. 

He  was  of  a  social  nature;  gentle,  courteous,  en- 
tertaining, and  refined  in  his  manner.  Though  in 
the  Senate  during  its  palmiest  days,  when  the  most 
noted  men  of  the  country  were  members,  yet  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  for  his  ability,  and  was  brought 
into  general  notice.  After  serving  out  his  term  in 
the  United  States  Senate,  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Polk,  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Of- 
fice. He  has  been  dead  many  years. 

Hon.  James  H.  Ralston  succeeded  Judge  Young, 
filling  out  an  unexpired  term.  Mr.  Ralston  was  orig- 


inally from  Kentucky.  His  health  being  poor,  he 
resigned  after  remaining  on  the  bench  about  a  year. 
In  1840,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1846, 
President  Polk  appointed  him  Assistant  Quartermas- 
ter of  the  United  States  Army,  and  he  was  ordered 
to  report  for  duty  to  the  Commander  of  the  Illinois 
Volunteers,  then  en  route  for  Mexico.  He  served 
in  this  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war. 
After  the  Mexican  war,  he  emigrated  to  California, 
where  he  died. 

Hon.  Peter  Lott,  formerly  of  New  York,  was  the 
next  to  serve  on  this  bench.  Mr.  Lott,  before  his 
promotion  to  the  Bench,  had  practiced  at  this  Bar. 
He  was  only  a  fair  lawyer,  but  quite  a  politician,  and 
after  leaving  the  Bench  was  appointed  Circuit  Clerk 
of  Adams  County.  In  1852,  he  went  to  California, 
having  been  appointed  by  President  Pierce,  Super- 
intendent of  the  United  States  Mint  at  San  Fran- 
cisco. He  was  removed  by  President  Buchanan,  and 
subsequently  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  died. 

Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  served  in  this  Circuit, 
from  1841  to  1843.  The  life  and  career  of  this  dis- 
tinguished American  is  too  well  known  to  need  an 
extensive  notice  here.  He  resigned  to  take  his  seat 
in  the  United  States  Congress,  from  the  Fifth  Con- 
gressional District. 

Judge  Douglas'  familiarity  with  cases  and  author- 
ities, the  readiness  with  which  he  dispatched  busi- 
ness, his  acute  and  judicial  mind,  were  the  astonish- 
ment of  all.  There  had  been  cases  on  the  docket 
for  years,  and  it  was  loaded  down  with  unfinished 
business,  but  Judge  Douglas  cleaned  out  the  docket 
and  when  he  left  the  Bench  there  were  only  new 
cases  for  his  successor.  The  ability  which  he  showed 
as  a  Judge,  and  his  popularity  on  the  Bench,  were 
accessories  to  his  political  elevation.  His  sociability 
also  made  him  popular;  while  a  suit  was  pending, 
he  watched  every  point  of  law,  kept  track  of  all  the 
proceedings,  while  at  the  same  time  he  would  leave 
the  Bench,  go  back  among  the  spectators — "the 
boys,"  as  he  would  call  them— and  talk  familiarly 
with  Tom,  Dick  or  Bill,  take  or  give  a  cigar,  enjoy  a 
social  smoke  with  them,  and  often  sitting  on  their 
lap,  while  at  the  same  time  he  would  closely  follow 
the  case  on  trial. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  served  in  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, until  1847,  when  he  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate.  In  1860,  he  was  nominated 


692 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


by  a  faction  of  the  Democratic  party  for  the  Presi- 
dency. Upon  the  election  of  President  Lincoln  and 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  he,  true  to  his 
country,  visited  President  Lincoln  before  leaving 
Washington  for  the  camps  of  Illinois,  and  gave  him 
his  heartiest  support. 

Arriving  at  Springfield,  he  was  publicly  received 
by  Gov.  Yates,  to  whom  he  gave  the  same  assurance 
of  his  entire  co-operation  in  putting  down  the  Re- 
bellion. Springfield  and  the  camps  were  full  of 
volunteers  for  the  war.  He  was  asked  by  the  Leg- 
islature and  the  leading  citizens  to  give  a  public 
address.  Here  he  made  one  of  the  greatest  and 
most  noted  speeches  of  his  life,  denouncing  the  se- 
cession movement  as  a  wide-spread  conspiracy  to 
overthrow  the  best  Government  that  the  sun  ever 
shone  on.  The  next  day  he  rode  through  the  camp 
with  his  beautiful  and  accomplished  wife,  making 
short  speeches  to  the  soldiers.  His  action  at  this 
particular  time  was  a  great  service  to  the  Union.  It 
was  heralded  throughout  the  country  that  "Douglas 
sustains  Lincoln."  From  Springfield  he  hastened  to 
Chicago,  where  he  delivered  in  the  "Wigwam"  his 
great  and  last  speech,  pleading,  even  at  the  threshold 
of  death,  for  the  cause  of  the  Republic. 

His  exhaustive  labors,  together  with  the  severe 
cold  already  contracted,  were  too  much  for  his  over- 
taxed constitution,  and  after  the  speech,  he  returned 
to  the  Tremont  House  and  laid  down  to  rise  no  more 
in  this  life. 

Hon.  Jesse  B.  Thomas  was  the  next  on  the  Bench 
following  the  lamented  Douglas.  He  had  a  very 
difficult  position  to  fill.  He  had,  however,  a  judicial 
mind,  and  made  an  excellent  Judge,  discharging  the 
duties  of  the  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  satis- 
faction to  the  people.  He  was  subsequently  appointed 
to  another  district,  and  soon  after  he  died. 

Hon.  Norman  H.  Purple  served  from  1845  to  1849, 
when  he  resigned.  He  was  distinguished  for  his 
legal  attainments  and  executive  ability,  and  retired 
shedding  lustre  over  the  ermine.  He  was  a  good 
criminal  lawyer  and  a  fine  advocate,  and  had  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best  attorneys  at  this 
Bar;  with  this  he  had  also  the  reputation  of  being  a 
great  wag.  He  died  at  Peoria  years  ago. 

Hon.  William  A.  Minchall,  formerly  from  Tennes- 
see, and  at  this  time  from  Rushville,  succeeded  Mr. 
Purple,  serving  from  1849  to  1851.  He  had  been 


prominent  in  politics  before  he  was  elected  to  the 
Bench. 

He  was  a  good  lawyer  and  an  excellent  Judge.  His 
specialty  as  a  lawyer  was  on  the  trial  of  land  cases. 
He  was  trying  an  important  case  at  one  time,  when 
Judge  Purple  was  presiding,  and  was  making  a  long 
and  exhaustive  argument  for  his  client.  Finally, 
the  Judge  asked  him  which  side  of  the  case  he  was 
on,  anyway.  Minchall  stopped  and  looked  around 
for  some  moments,  and  then  turning  to  the  Clerk, 
said,  "Mr.  Clerk,  will  you  please  tell  me  which  side 
of  the  easel  am  on?"  He  has  been  dead  some 
years. 

Hon.  William  Kellogg,  from  Canton,  served  after 
Minchall.  He  was  a  good  lawyer  and  had  an  ex- 
tensive practice  before  his  elevation  to  the  Bench. 
As  a  Judge  he  gave  general  satisfaction.  He  has 
been  dead  some  years. 

Hon.  H.  M.  Weed,  presided  from  1852  to  1855. 
He  was  a  fair  lawyer,  but  did  not  achieve  much  of  a 
reputation  as  a  Judge.  He  died  in  Peoria  many 
years  ago. 

Hon.  John  S.  Thompson,  from  Mercer  County, 
served  five  years  from  1855  to  1860.  He  was  hot 
brilliant,  but  a  careful  Judge,  and  gave  general  sat- 
isfaction. After  leaving  the  Bench,  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  accumulated  a  large  fortune.  He 
is  now  living  in  Southern  California. 

Hon.  Aaron  Tyler,  of  Knoxville,  was  the  next 
Judge  to  preside,  only  one  year.  He  was  only  a 
medium  lawyer,  but  a  conscientious  man.  He  died 
at  Knoxville. 

Hon.  Charles  B.  Lawrence,  was  the  presiding 
Judge  here,  from  1861  to  1864.  As  a  lawyer  he  was 
good  in  all  branches  of  the  profession  except  crim- 
inal, and  was  an  ornament  to  the  Bench.  He  was 
one  of  the  ablest  jurists  that  ever  presided  in  this 
Circuit.  From  the  Circuit  he  was  promoted  to  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  where  he  remained 
several  years  adding  new  laurels  to  his  judicial  fame. 
His  health  giving  away,  he  made  a  trip  south  in 
1884,  with  the  hope  that  change  of  air  and  rest 
would  restore  his  physical  power  and  renew  his  vital 
energies.  But  it  was  too  late.  He  died  before  he 
reached  home,  and  his  remains  were  brought  back 
and  interred  in  the  Galesburg  Cemetery. 

Hon.  John  J.  Glenn  was  elected,  in  1877,  and  is 
still  presiding.  He  had.  distinguished  himself  as  a. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


693 


lawyer  and  advocate  before  his  promotion  to  the 
Bench.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  executive  ability,  very 
quick  and  clear  in  his  solution  of  law  points,  sound 
in  his  judicial  decisions,  and  irreproachable  in  char- 
acter. He  is  distinguished  also  for  the  large  amount 
of  judicial  business  which  he  dispatches  during  his 
term  of  court.  During  his  long  incumbency  he  has 
added  new  lustre  to  the  Monmouth  Bench.  (See 
Biography). 

Hon.  Arthur  A.  Smith.  In  the  fall  of  1867, 
Arthur  A.  Smith  assumed  the  ermine,  and  is  still  one 
of  the  Judges  of  this  Circuit,  residing  at  Galesburg. 
He  is  a  good  sound  lawyer,  a  man  of  strict  integrity, 
and  during  his  long  service  has  reflected  credit  upon 
the  legal  profession. 

Hon.  George  W.  Pleasants  was  elected  to  this 
Circuit  in  1879,  but  seldom  presides  at  Monmouth. 
He  is  well  read  in  his  profession,  a  man  of  fine 
ability,  and  is  a  good  presiding  officer,  and  conscien- 
tious in  the  discharge  of  his  judicial  duties. 

In  1877,  this  Circuit  was  changed  from  the  Eighth 
to  the  Tenth,  the  Eighth  Circuit  comprising  Knox, 
Warren  and  Henderson  Counties  was  consolidated 
with  the  Circuit  North,  consisting  of  the  counties  of 
Mercer,  Henry  and  Rock  Island,  and  is  now  called 
the  Tenth  Judicial  District.  There  are  three  Judges 
elected  represented  at  present,  as  follows  :  Arthur 
A.  Smith,  of  Galesburg;  John  J.  Glenn,  of  Mon- 
mouth ;  and  George  W.  Pleasants,  of  Rock  Island. 
These  Judges  arrange  their  work  usually  so  as  to  en- 
able them  to  preside  in  their  respective  courrties. 


State's  Attorneys. 

J.  THOMAS  FORD,  was  the  first  gen- 
tleman to  hold  this  position  for  this  county, 
and  was  in  this  office  when  the  Indians 
^  were  brought  up  for  trial.  He  was  a  man  of 
"considerable  learning,  of  noble  manhood,  strict 
integrity,  a  good  lawyer,  and  very  prepossessing. 
As  a  Prosecuting  Attorney,  he  was  thorough,  forci- 
ble, and  very  successful.  He  served  until  1835, 
when  he  was  elected  Judge  four  terms  by  the  Legis- 
lature, twice  a  Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  in  Chi- 
cago, and  an  Associated  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  He  was  assigned  to  the  Ninth  Judicial  Dis- 


trict,  and  while  holding  this  office  was  nominated  by 
the  Democrats  for  Governor,  and  elected  by  a  large 
majority.  He  died  at  Peoria,  Nov.  2,  1850. 

Hon.  William  A.  Richardson  succeeded  Gov.  Ford, 
serving  until  1837.  He  was  a  man  of  great  moral 
courage  and  strong  will  power.  He  was  a  good  law- 
yer and  a  successful  Prosecuting  Attorney.  When 
the  Mexican  War  broke  out  he  enlisted  and  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  a  regiment,  and  served 
with  distinction.  Returning  home  after  the  termin- 
ation of  the  war,  he  received  the  nomination  by  the 
Democrats  for  Congress,  and  was  elected  five  times 
serving  until  1860.  During  the  latter  part  of  Presi- 
dent Buchanan's  term  he  was  appointed  Governor  of 
Nebraska,  which  position  he  resigned  after  a  service 
of  a  few  months. 

Hon.  Henry  L.  Bryant,  served  from  1837  until 
1839.  He  was  a  good  lawyer  and  made  a  fair  Pros- 
ecuting Attorney. 

Hon.  William  Elliott  followed  Mr.  Bryant,  serving 
from  1839  to  1848.  He  was  an  excellent  lawyer  and 
also  a  good  fighter,  serving  with  distinction  in  the 
Black  Hawk  War,  where  he  was  wounded  in  a  hand- 
to-hand  encounter  with  one  of  the  red  braves  whom 
he  killed.  He  also  served  in  the  Mexican  War.  He 
died  soon  after  the  close  of  this  war,  at  his  home  in 
Louisville. 

Hon.  R.  S.  Blackwell,  from  Rushville,  filled  the 
office  from  1848  to  1852,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  and  successful  Prosecuting  Attorneys  that 
ever  presided  in  this  Circuit.  He  was  a  splendid 
criminal  lawyer,  a  good  advocate  and  very  forcible 
before  a  jury.  He  was  also  a  thorough  law  student, 
well  versed  in  all  the  intricacies  of  the  profession. 
Subsequently  he  located  in  Chicago,  where  he  prac- 
ticed many  years  and  distinguished  himself  before 
the  Chicago  Bar.  He  was  a  lecturer  at  one  time  be- 
fore one  of  the  law  colleges.  He  has  been  dead  sev- 
eral years. 

Hon.  H.  G.  Reynolds  from  Rock  Island,  was 
Prosecuting  Attorney  from  1850  to  1854.  He  was  a 
good  attorney  and  a  successful  prosecutor.  He  was 
also  an  active  man  in  all  public  enterprises  and  quite 
a  politician.  While  in  this  office  he  moved  to  Knox- 
ville.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term,  he  moved  to 
Springfield,  where  at  one  time  he  was  Grand  Secre- 
tary of  the  Masonic  Order.  From  Springfield  he 
emigrated  to  Kansas. 


f  » 


-3- 


694 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Hon.  William  C.  Gowdy  succeeded  Mr.  Reynolds 
from  1854  to  1855.  Before  assuming  this  office,  he 
had  built  up  an  extensive  practice  and  had  estab- 
lished a  fair  reputation  as  a  lawyer;  also  as  a  politi- 
cian,being  very  active  in  the  Democratic  Conventions. 
He  moved  to  Chicago  in  1859,  where  he  is  still  en- 
gaged in  the  profession. 

Hon.  A.  M.  Craig  served  from   1855   to  '56. 

James  H.  Stewart  succeeded  Mr.  Craig,  serving 
about  nine  years.  He  was  a  good  lawyer  and  a 
careful  and  painstaking  Prosecuting  Attorney.  There 
were  very  few  escaped  punishment  while  he  held  the 
office.  His  long  service  showed  that  he  was  appre- 
ciated by  the  people  he  served.  (See  biography). 

Hon.  James  A.  McKinzie,  of  Galesburg,  served 
from  1864  to  1872,  succeeding  Mr.  Stewart.  He 
made  a  good  Prosecuting  Attorney  and  filled  the  of- 
fice with  credit  to  himself  and  the  people  who  elected 
him.  His  specialty  was  in  the  criminal  practice. 

Hon.  William  Marshall  succeeded  Mr.  McKinzie 
serving  four  years  and  with  marked  ability.  He 
studied  his  cases  well  and  was  a  good  prosecutor. 

Hon.  George  Snyder  succeeded  Mr.  Marshall, 
holding  the  office  from  1876  to  1880,  discharging  his 
duties  in  an  able  manner. 

Hon.  John  W.  Matthews,  of  Monmouth,  the  pres- 
ent incumbent,  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  in  1880,  and  was  re-elected  in  1884.  Mr. 
Matthews  is  a  good  lawyer  and  is  very  zealous  in  his 
application  to  the  duties  of  the  office.  He  has  been 
successful  as  a  prosecutor  and  is  very  popular.  He 
is  yet  young  and  bids  fair  to  achieve  distinction  in 
the  profession.  (See  biography,  on  page  357.) 

Members  of  the  Bar. 

MONG  the  lawyers  who  have  practiced  at 
the   Monmouth    Bar  and  who  have    died 
TO  or  moved  away,  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing :     O.  H.  Browning,  of  Quincy,  111.,  was 
a  fine  orator  and  a  good  advocate,  and  proba- 
bly one  of  the  best  land  lawyers   that  ever 
pleaded  at  this  Bar.     He  was  a  member  of  the  Leg- 


islature several  years  and  was  also  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Senate.  His  reputation  as  an  at- 
torney extended  throughout  the  State. 

Ivory  Quinby  was  one  of  the  first  lawyers  to  locate 
at  Monmouth.  He  was  also  the  first  County  Judge 
under  the  act  of  1849.  Judge  Quinby  was  a  sound 
lawyer  and  active  in  all  matters  that  tended  to  de- 
velop and  improve  the  county,  and  was  ever  ready 
to  aid  the  deserving  and  needy.  He  died  Oct.  23, 
1869.  (See  biography,  page  375.) 

Julius  Manning,  who  resided  at  Knoxville,  was 
one  of  the  finest  pleaders  at  this  Bar.  He  was  an 
eloquent  speaker  and  almost  unrivaled  before  a  jury. 
He  was  very  methodical  in  his  work,  was  a  close 
student,  and  would  never  accept  office,  though  he 
took  a  deep  interest  in  politics.  He  was  a  man  of 
social  habits  and  fond  of  good  society.  He  died  July 
4,  1862. 

Cyrus   Walker,  from  Macomb,  practiced    at  this 
Bar.     He  was  a  fine  criminal  lawyer  and  one  of  the 
best  that  ever  appeared  before  the  Warren  County  • 
Bar.     He  died  a  few  years  ago. 

J.  H.  Mitchell  was  an  ornament  to  the  profession. 
He  is  reported  to  have  been  a  man  of  extraordinary 
memory  and  of  remarkable  character.  He  was  a 
fine  counsellor  and  good  in  all  branches  of  the  pro- 
fession. 

A.  C.  Harding  was  one  of  the  prominent  members 
of  this  Bar,  and  a  very  successful  practitioner.  He 
had  an  extensive  practice  up  to  the  time  of  his  de- 
mise. (See  biography,  page  541.) 

Wyatt  B.  Stapp  was  for  a  long  time  a  member  of 
this  Bar  and  a  good  general  lawyer  and  successful 
practitioner.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  pub- 
lic affairs  of  the  county  and  was  a  much  esteemed 
citizen.  He  died  some  years  ago. 

The  Bar  of  Warren  County  is  still  ably  represented 
by  J.  W.  Davidson,  who  is  now  the  oldest  represent- 
ative of  the  profession  in  the  county  ;  also  by  James 
H.  Stewart,  an  old  timer ;  and  others,  whose  names 
will  be  found  in  the  biographical  department  of 
this  work. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


695 


BOUNTY  Commissioners' 
Court,  the  April  term,  1831. 
It  was  ordered  that  propos- 
als should  be  received  and 
contracts  be  entered  into  for 
the  building  of  aCourt  House, 
on  plans  to  be  furnished  by 
the  Court.  The  plans  were  not  intri- 
cate, nor  did  they  require  in  carrying 
them  out  much  architectural  skill.  A 
marble  or  frescoed  hall  was  not  needed 
in  those  days  for  the  dispensation  of 
Justice.  The  building  was  to  be  20  x 
22  feet  on  the  ground,  9  feet  between 
floors,  and  to  be  built  of  logs,  hewn  on 
the  outside  and  inside.  The  construction  of  this 
building,  within  the  walls  of  which  Justice  was  to  be 
meted  out  to  the  people  of  Warren  County,  was  let 
at  public  venue  to  Francis  Kendall,  at  $57.  It  was 
located  on  Main  Street,  a  little  north  of  Garden 
Street.  This  crude  building  served  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  erected  for  several  years,  and  after  it 
was  superseded  by  a  new  one  was  sold  for  $21,  to 
James  Hodgin,  September,  1835. 

At  the  March  term  of  the  Court,  in  1835,  it  was 
decided  to  have  a  new  Court  House,  and  a  commit- 
tee of  three  was  appointed  to  prepare  plans  for  the 
same.  It  was  decided  to  have  a  frame  building,  the 
dimensions  of  which  were  to  be  20x30  feet  on  the 
ground  and  one  story  and  a  half  high.  The  contracts 
were  let  separately,  to  different  persons,  the  entire 
cost  to  be  $773.  It  was  located  on  block  33,  lots  5 
and  eight.  Daniel  McNeil,  junior,  was  appointed  to 
superintend  its  construction.  It  was  never  fully 


completed,  and  was  only  used  about  two  years,  or 
only  until  another  building  was  erected.  In  June, 
1837,  the  County  Commissioners  made  an  order  for 
a  new  Court  House,  had  plans  and  specifications 
made,  and  closed  the  contract  for  its  erection  to 
Cornelius  Tunnicliff,  for  $8,998,  who  was  the  lowest 
bidder.  It  was  located  in  the  Court-House  block. 
Tunnicliff,  after  commencing  the  work,  drew  $1,000 
as  his  first  installment,  and  then  absconded.  The 
contract  was  turned  over  to  his  sureties,  Daniel  Mc- 
Neil, Jr.,  Justus  Woodworth,  Mordica  McBride  and 
George  H.  Wright,  who  completed  the  work.  It  was 
received  from  their  hands  March  14,  1841,  when 
they  were  relieved  from  their  bonds.  This  building 
is  still  used  by  the  county.  Its  dimensions  are  40 
x  50  feet,  two  stories  high,  with  a  stone  foundation 
and  brick  walls.  A  large  vault  has  been  added  to 
the  building  since  it  was  completed,  for  the  deposi- 
tory of  records.  The  building  is  inadequate  to  meet 
the  demands  of  the  county  and  the  advanced  condi- 
tion of  the  people  ,and  it  is  expected  that  in  a  few 
years  it  will  give  place  to  a  large,  handsome  and 
modern  structure. 


County  Jail. 

N    the  5th   day    of    September,    1832,    the 
County  Commissioners  made  an  order  ap- 
propriating  lot   No.    15,  Block    6,   for  the 
purpose   of    having    constructed  upon   it    a 
jail.    Some  crude  plans  were  drawn  containing 
the  size  and  material    for   the  jail,  and  bids 
called  for.     The  construction  was  let   to  Jacob 


were 


696 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Rust,  the  lowest  bidder,  for  $300.  It  was  completed 
and  accepted  by  the  Commissioners,  March  4, 1833, 
and  the  Treasurer  of  the  county  was  directed  to  pay 
Mr.  Rust  the  money.  This  jail  was  rather  remarka- 
ble for  its  construction,  and  its  builder  received  much 
praise  for  the  ingennity  of  his  work.  It  was  thought 
in  those  days  that  once  a  prisoner  was  inside  its 
walls,  there  was  but  one  way  for  him  to  get  out,  and 
that  was  through  the  door,  with  the  aid  of  the  jailer's 
key.  In  the  first  place  an  excavation  of  two  feet 
was  made  in  the  ground,  and  floor  laid  at  the  bot- 
tom. This  floor  was  composed  of  two  layers  of  hewn 
logs,  one  foot  square,  one  layer  crossing  the  other. 
The  walls  of  the  first  floor  were  of  the  same  thick- 
ness, and  constructed  of  the  same  material,  the  ends 
of  which  were  dove  tailed  into  each  other.  The 
upper  story  was  built  of  one  thickness  of  logs,  closely 
joined  and  fastened  with  bolts.  In  the  center 
was  a  heavy  trap-door,  which  was  secured  by  strong 
iron  hinges  and  a  padlock.  A  substantial  solid  roof 

(was  built  over  this.  A  window  6x12  inches  was 
cut  in  the  lower  story,  which  was.  crossed  by  iron 
bars  laid  between  the  logs.  A  stairway  led  up  from 
the  outside  into  the  upper  floor,  through  a  heavy 
oaken  door.  The  prisoner  was  conducted  through  a 
trap-door  into  the  room  below  by  a  portable  stairway, 
which  was  drawn  up  after  his  descent.  This  jail, 
though  strong  in  its  capacity  for  holding  prisoners, 
was  not  large  enough  to  meet  the  demands  of  the 
rapidly  increasing  population  of  the  county,  and  on 
March  22,  1839,  the  County  Commissioners  decided 
to  build  a  new  one.  Specifications  and  plans  were 
made  out  and  submitted,  and  the  contract  was  let 
to  the  lowest  bidders,  Messrs.  Woodworth  &  Mer- 
rill, July  19,  1839,  f°r  $8,495-  I'  was  built  on  lot  6, 
block  10,  and  was  completed  and  accepted  by  the 
County  Commissioners,  March  27,  1841.  The  foun- 
dation was  of  stone,  and  the  superstructure  of  brick. 
It  was  two  stories  high,  containing  four  cells  and  two 
dungeons,  and  for  those  days  was  regarded  as  a  good 
building  for  jail  purposes.  At  the  December  term, 
1856,  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  the  jail  question 
was  again  brought  up.  The  building  upon  which 
so  much  money  had  been  expended  had  not  proved 
satisfactory  as  it  was  expected.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  investigate  the  matter,  who  reported  the 
nsuflficien  cy  of  the  jail  facilities,  and  the  inferior 
structure  of  the  building,  but  stated  also  that  the 
county  finances  would  not  warrant  the  building  of  a 


new  one.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  another  committee  was  appointed  to  in- 
vestigate the  jail  matter,  and  vested  with  the  power 
to  sell  the  old  jail.  It  was  decided  at  this  time  to 
repair  and  enlarge  the  jail.  This  was  done  at  an  ex- 
pense of  something  over  $2,000.  The  great  increase 
of  population  in  the  county,  of  latter  years,  brought 
with  it  also  an  increase  in  the  criminal  list.  With 
the  advancement  of  civilization  and  science,  came 
also  an  advancement  in  the  skill  and  devices  of  the 
burglar  and  jail  breaker,  and  a  new,  larger  and  safer 
place  for  the  confinement  of  criminals  was  demanded. 
At  the  June  term  of  1882,  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of  C.  A.  Dunn, 
J.  T.  Hartman  and  T.  A.  Dilley,  to  examine  into 
the  matter  of  construction  of  the  new  jail,  and  to 
devise  plans  for  the  same.  They  were  also  empow- 
ered to  visit  other  counties,  if  necessrry,  in  order  to 
post  themselves  in  regard  to  the  construction  of 
places  of  confinement.  The  committee  received 
specifications  and  plans  from  P.  J.  Pauly  &  Bro.,  of 
St.  Louis,  among  others,  which  they  upon  examina- 
tion found  to  be  advisable,  and  reported  that  they  be 
adopted.  The  committee  was  further  authorized  to 
investigate  the  matter,  to  receive  bids  and  to  re- 
port at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board,  December 
term. 

P.  J.  Pauly  &  Bro.'s  proposition  was  to  put  in  the 
steel  cell  work  for  $12,500,  or  to  build  the  jail  com- 
plete for  $25,000.  The  committee  made  the  report 
at  the  December  term,  recommending  tne  adoption 
of  the  Pauly  proposition,  so  far,  at  least,  as  the  cell 
work.  This  report  was  accepted  by  the  Board,  and 
the  committee  were  authorized  to  contract  with  Pauly 
&  Bro.,  according  to  the  plans,  specifications  and 
propositions  submitted  by  them,  providing  the  cost 
did  not  exceed  $25,000. 

The  site  selected  for  the  jail  was  the  north  part 
of  the  Court  House  block.  The  committee  finally 
closed  the  contract  with  William  F.  Hayden  for  the 
construction  of  the  jail  complete  for  $12,437,  and 
with  P.  J.  Pauly  &  Bio.  for  the  cell  work,  at  $12,500. 
The  building  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1883,  and 
was  accepted  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

The  foundation  of  the  entire  building  is  of  stone; 
the  walls  of  the  superstructure  of  brick,  trimmed 
with  stone.  In  front  is  the  Sheriffs  residence,  which 
is  two  stories  high,  with  a  hall  extending  through  the 
center.  There  are  four  rooms  below  and  four  rooms 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


697 


above,  and  all  are  well  finished.  Opening  from  the 
residence  part  is  a  large  vestibule,  at  one  side  of  which 
there  are  four  cells,  two  below  and  two  above,  for 
female  prisoners  or  for  the  insane.  From  the  vesti- 
bule you  enter  the  jail  proper.  In  this  there  are  six 
cells,  7x11  feet,  three  on  the  first  floor  and  three  on 
the  second,  with  bathrooms  at  the  end.  Around 
these  cells  is  a  corrider.  In  front  of  them  is  a  hall 
for  the  prisoners  to  walk.  The  whole  is  constructed 
of  iron  and  chilled  steel,  upon  the  Pauly  patent  sys- 
tem. Canvas  hammocks  are  furnished  for  the  pris- 
oners, which  are  attached  to  the  sides  of  the  cells 
by  strong  iron  hooks.  The  jail  is  light,  airy  and  well 
ventilated.  It  is  warm  in  winter,  and  cool  in  sum- 
mer. The  entire  building  is  heated  by  steam,  and 
was  occupied  Oct.  12,  1883. 

In  the  spring  of  1884,  the  old  jail,  the  second  one 
built  in  the  county,  was  sold  to  Andrew  Hickman  for 
$125.  The  first  jail  built  in  the  county  was  sold  to 
C.  L.  Woodworth  in  June,  1840,  for  $62. 50. 


County  Poor  Farm. 

[T  the  June  term  of  the  County  Court,  1853, 
a  petition  was  presented  by  A.  C.  Harding, 
signed  by  many  of  the  citizens  of  the 
county,  praying  that  the  Court  purchase  lands 
and  establish  a  farm  for  the  poor  of  the  county. 
This  petition  was  favorably  received  and  in 
relation  thereto  the  Court  made  the  following  order: 
"And  it  is  now  ordered  by  the  Court,  that  proposi- 
tions be  received  until  the  first  Monday  in  Septem- 
ber next,  for  the  sale  to  the  county  of  Warren  of  one 
quarter  section  or  more  of  land,  either  improved  or 
unimproved,  to  be  used  as  a  County  Poor-house 
Farm,  and  the  Clerk  is  ordered  to  advertise  for  pro- 
posals for  six  successive  weeks  .in  the  Monmouth 
Atlas"  Nothing  was  further  done  until  Dec.  10, 
1856,  when  the  Board  of  Supervisors  appointed  from 
its  members  Messrs.  Bond,  Brownlee  and  Lewis,  a 
committee,  who  were  authorized  to  purchase  a  suit- 
able piece  of  ground  for  the  farm. 

Another  order  was  made  at  the  June  term.  1857, 
in  the  same  direction,  and  Messrs.  Norcross,  Brown 
and  Phelps  were  appointed  a  committee,  with  au- 


thority to  purchase  land  for  a  poor-farm.  At  the 
September  term,  the  committee  on  purchase  reported 
that  they  had  purchased  120  acres  of  land  located 
on  sections  29  and  30,  township  10  north  of  range  2 
west,  for  which  they  had  agreed  to  pay  $3,360.  This 
report  was  accepted.  In  December  the  Board  set 
aside  $1,000  toward  the  building  of  a  poor-house, 
and  appointed  Albert  Mitchell  superintendent  of  its 
construction. 

In  March,  1858,  $r,ooo  more  were  appropriated 
toward  the  completion  of  the  building,  and  Mr. 
Mitchell  appointed  Overseer  of  the  Poor-farm  for 
one  year.  In  June  following  an  additional  $r,ooo  was 
appropriated  by  the  Board  for  the  building,  which 
was  completed  by  fall  and  ready  for  occupancy. 

The  land  here  is  rich  and  productive  and  has 
been  put  under  good  cultivation.  It  is  located  about 
five  miles  south  of  Monmouth  on 'the  county  road. 
The  farm  house  is  a  long,  low,  story  and  a  half  frame 
building,  about  45  feet  long  and  16  feet  wide.  The 
insane  building  stands  in  the  rear  of  the  main  de-  1 
partment  about  20  feet.  It  is  a  small,  story  and  a 
half  frame  building,  containing  six  cells,  four  above  ! 
and  two  below,  with  a  small  passage-way.  Back  of 
this  building  is  a  pen,  enclosed  by  a  high  board 
fence,  for  the  use  of  the  insane  during  the  daytime 
when  desirable.  In  the  main  building,  on  the  fam- 
ily side,  there  is  a  parlor,  sitting-room,  two  bedrooms, 
a  kitchen  and  pantry.  On  the  inmate  side,  a  sitting- 
room,  kitchen  and  two  bedrooms.  The  second  floor 
contains  eight  bedrooms.  The  building  is  poor,  old 
a/id  shaky,  and  in  the  winter  time  especially  it  must 
of  necessity  be  poorly  ventilated.  For  a  county  hav- 
ing the  wealth,  culture  and  civilization  that  is 
claimed  by  this  county,  and  which  it  really  hasv  we 
are  constrained  to  say  that  the  County  Poor-farm 
building  is  not  at  all  a  creditable  one.  The  inmates, 
however,  are  well  and  kindly  treated  and  say  they 
are  well  fed.  They  speak  in  praise  of  the  family 
who  have  charge  of  them.  There  were  27  inmates 
last  summer  at  the  farm,  12  males  and  15  females, 
several  of  whom  were  not  rational.  Most  of  them 
were  quite  old  and  feeble.  One  of  the  insane  in- 
mates has  been  here  20  years.  The  farm  has  a 
good  large  barn,  which  is  the  best  part  of  the  im- 
provements. It  is  well  fenced  with  hedges  and  rails 
and  is  well  cultivated.  They  milk.  four,  cows  and. 
are  raising  about  50  pigs, 


698 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


LAVERY  was  undoubtedly  the 
prime  cause  of  the  Rebellion 
and  tr.ost  of  the  dissension  pre- 
ceding it.  Consequently,  as  a 
suitable  preface  to  the  Warre.i 
County  war  record,  a  very  brief 
recital  of  the  events  and  imme- 
diate causes  leading  to  and  culmi- 
nating in  the  late  Civil  War,  are 
necessary.  The  introduction  of  slav- 
ery into  this  country  followed  the 
first  settlements.  It  grew  with  the 
Colonial  development  and  became  an 
important  factor  in  its  government. 
Almost  from  the  first,  its  poisonous 
fangs  were  fastened  on  the  political 
fabric,  and  clung  there  with  the  ten- 
acity of  death's  grip,  and  it  is  not  at  all  to  be  won- 
dered at.  Slavery  had  its  peculiar  fascinations ;  it 
appealed  to  the  indolence  and  cupidity  of  the  peo- 
ple. Then  as  now,  a  large  percentage  of  mankind 
preferred  to  live  by  other  men's  labors  than  by  the 
sweat  of  their  own  brow.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  in  all 
ages  and  climes  mankind  does  not  materially  differ. 
An  axiom  stated  to-day  without  fear  of  contradic- 
tion, could  with  the  same  degree  of  assurance  have 
been  proclaimed  when  Solomon  reigned  in  all  his 
glory. 

The  great  cardinal  mistake  made  by  the  founders 


of  this  Government  was  when  they  had,  by  a  long 
and  terrible  war,  released  themselves  from  the 
bondage  of  Great  Britain,  to  establish  a  Government 
for  themselves  and  their  posterity,  the  very  corner- 
stone of  which  they  in  turn  violated  by  the  en- 
slavement of  another  race.  While  this  was  done, 
these  patriots  of  the  Revolution,  these  founders  of 
the  greatest  Government  the  world  has  ever  known, 
gave  immortality  to  their  convictions  in  the  declara- 
tion "That  all  men  were  created  equal,  with  certain 
inalienable  rights,  among  which  were  life,  liberty  and 
the  pursuit  of  happiness." 

It  was  expected,  however,  by  the  founders  of  the 
Government,  many  of  whom  held  slaves,  that  the 
institution  of  slavery  would  gradually  fade  away  and 
finally  cease  to  exist.  The  contrary  to  this,  however, 
was  the  result.  Encroachments  after  encroach- 
ments were  made  by  the  slave  power,  until  it  vir- 
tually had  possession  of  the  Government.  For 
nearly  half  a  century  it  was  the  dominant  power  in 
the  politics  of  our  country.  Not  satisfied  with  slavery 
in  the  cotton  and  sugar  growing  States  of  the  South, 
its  advocates  wanted  it  to  extend  its  territory. 

Some  of  the  greatest  minds,  the  brightest  statemen 
in  the  country — and  as  great  and  bright  as  were  ever 
produced  in  any  country — in  endeavoring  to  placate 
this  power,  hoping  thereby  to  prevent  disruption,  be- 
came the  victims  of  its  deadly  power,  and  were  brought 
to  untimely  political  death,  while  this  car  of  Jug- 


' 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


699 


gernaut  rolled  triumphantly  over  their  political 
graves. 

The  Missouri  Compromise  was  made,  then  came 
the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  with  its  agitation  and  strug- 
gle over  the  right  to  introduce  slavery  into  the  Terri- 
tories, and  then  the  Fugitive-Slave  Law. 

In  1856  the  Whig  party  broke  up,  and  its  members, 
with  a  portion  of  the  Democrats,  formed  a  new 
party,  known  throughout  the  world  since  as  the  Re- 
publican party.  This  was  the  initiatory  movement 
which  presaged  the  downfall  of  the  slave  power.  A 
Presidential  campaign  was  made  this  year  by  the 
new  party,  but  it  was  defeated.  In  1860  it  made  an- 
other campaign  and  won,  with  Abraham  Lincoln  at 
the  head. 

The  South,  believing  that  in  the  Union  they  had 
lost  their  political  power  forever,  yet  knowing  (the 
political  leaders  at  least)  that  the  Government  under 
any  party  could  not  interfere  with  slavery  where  it 
already  existed,  nevertheless  set  up  this  false  issue 
and  consummated  the  secession  of  the  Southern 
States  on  the  strength  of  it,  proclaiming  to  their  de- 
luded followers  that  the  Government,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln at  least,  would  take  their  slaves  from  them. 

Before  the  inauguration  of  the  new  administration 
most  of  the  Slave  States  had  seceded ;  the  United 
"States  Mint,  the  forts  and  the  arsenals  had  been 
seized  and  the  American  flag  had  been  torn  down, 
and  soon  after  the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln, 
April  12,  1861,  they  opened  fire  on  Fort  Sumter  and 
demanded  of  its  commander,  Maj.  Anderson,  its  sur- 
render. Had  the  incumbent  of  the  White  House 
been  a  man  of  firmness  and  patriotism,  had  he  even 
been  a  shadow  of  that  sterling  patriot  and  President, 
Andrew  Jackson,  these  outrages  to  the  country  would 
never  have  been  committed,  nor  secession  allowed, 
and  the  war  that  followed  would  have  been  averted. 
But  President  Buchanan  was  weak,  imbecile,  and  in 
the  hands  of  the  Southern  leaders.  He  held  that  he 
had  no  power  to  prevent  secession  and  protect  the 
forts  and  property  of  the  Government — in  other 
words,  that  the  Government  was  powerless  for  its 
own  preservation. 

The  firing  on  Fort  Sumter  sent  a  thrill  of  indigna- 
tion through  the  entire  North,  and  through  every  pa- 
triotic heart  in  the  country.  A  new  President  was 
now  at  the  head  of  the  Government,  and  a  man  in 
whom  the  Nation  had  confidence.  There  was  no 


law  authorizing  the  President  to  raise  an  army,  and 
Congress  had  as  yet  passed  no  bill  investing  him 
with  the  authority  to  call  for  troops ;  but  President 
Lincoln  believed  that  a  Government  had  within  it- 
self the  power  of  self-preservation.  Upon  this 
belief,  with  his  great,  patriotic  heart,  he  acted.  A 
call  was  made  for  75,000  volunteers  to  protect  the 
Government.  This  call  was  made  on  the  i6th  of 
April,  1861.  Gov.  Yates  responded,  issuing  a  call 
on  Illinois  for  her  quota.  It  was  met  with  great  en- 
thusiasm. Within  two  weeks  Illinois  had  over  dou- 
ble her  quota  enlisted  and  in  camps.  The  people 
had  confidence  in  "  Honest  Abe,"  as  he  was  affec- 
tionately called,  and  also  in  their  brilliant  and  noble 
Governor,  Richard  Yates;  and  so  it  was  throughout 
the  entire  Northern  states.  Volunteers  poured  into 
the  camps  from  every  department  of  life;  from  the 
farm,  the  manufactories,  the  offices,  the  bar,  the 
bench,  the  pulpit  and  the  school  room.  Political 
differences  were  obliterated;  angry  words  that  had 
been  given  in  that  heated  and  memorable  canvass 
but  a  few  short  months  before,  were  forgiven;  party 
distinctions  vanished  as  mist  before  the  morning  suni 
and  party  platforms  were  swept  as  a  morning  dream 
from  the  minds  of  men.  All  were  joined  with  one 
common  bond  of  sympathy  and  united  in  one  effort, 
the  saving  of  the.American  Union.  yC 

The  writer  was  at  Camp  Yates  by  the  first  ot  May, 
enrolled  for  the  cause.  The  camp  was  then  nearly 
full,  and  it  was  by  strategy  that  his  company  got 
inside,  and  when  in  it  was  near  being  expelled.  Vol- 
unteers continued  to  pour  in  from  all  parts  of  the 
State,  but  there  was  no  longer  any  room  in  the  camp, 
and  arrangements  were  made  outside  for  some. 
Word  was  sent  out  all  over  the  State  ordering  volun- 
teers to  stay  at  home,  but  still  they  came.  One  full 
company  of  as  fine  looking  men  as  ever  carried 
arms,  well  dressed,  uniformed  and  thoroughly  equip- 
ped with  arms,  arrived.  They  were  told  there  was 
no  place  for  them,  that  the  State  did  not  want  them, 
and  that  they  could  not  be  used  or  provided  for. 
They  were  so  well  uniformed — the  only  volunteers 
then  out  of  a  camp  of  10,000  that  had  any  other 
dress  than  the  one  they  wore  at  home — so  noble 
looking,  so  patriotic  and  so  importunate  in  their  en- 
treaties to  be  let  in,  that  the  gates  were  thrown  open 
and  they  were  admitted.  They  spent  the  day  in 
camp  mingling  with  the  boys,  the  raw  recruits,  and 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


were  happy,  poor  fellows,  until  their  fate  was  made 
known  to  them. 

Just  before  night  they  were  told  that  the  Govern- 
ment did  not  need  them,  could  not  place  them,  and 
that  they  must  go  home.  A  cloud  of  sadness  over- 
spread their  brave  countenances  as  they  turned  and 
walked  slowly  away  to  where  their  arms  were  stacked. 
They  were  brought  up  in  double  line  facing  the  out- 
ward gate,  and  the  order  to  march'  was  given.  It 
was  a  solemn  and  palhetic  scene,  and  one  not  to  be 
forgotten.  The  evening  was  calm  and  clear;  the 
sun  had  just  gone  down  beyond  the  western  horizon, 
throwing  back  its  mellow  rays  upon  the  crowded 
camp.  A  long  open  line  was  made  for  the  company 
to  pass  out,  which  was  densely  packed  each  side, 
and  far  back  to  the  rear.  These  patriots  who  had 
left  the  sacred  home,  and  all  the  ties  so  dear,  to  give 
their  life's  blood  for  their  'country,  marched  slowly 
out  with  great  tears  coursing  down  their  cheeks.  All 
heads  were  uncovered  as  they  passed  by,  and  many 
were  the  tears  that  were  dropped  by  those  they  left 
behind. 

It  was  but  a  short  time,  however,  before  they  were 
wanted;  another  call  for  volunteers  was  soon  made. 
The  members  of  this  company  undoubtedly  all  re- 
sponded, and  many  of  them  probably  breathed  their 
last  on  the  battle  field.  Such  is  war. 

The  third  call,  July,  1861,  was  for  500,000  men, 
and  for  a  period  of  three  years.  After  this,  call  suc- 
ceeded call,  until  the  grand  total  reached  the  enor- 
mous figures  of  3.339,748.  Of  this  number,  Illinois 
furnished  altogether  about  290,000  men,  of  which 
Warren  County  is  credited  with  2,277.  So  gener- 
ously did  Illinois  respond  in  sending  out  volunteers, 
without  stopping  to  figure,  that  her  quota  was  found 
to  be  largely  in  excess  of  any  other  State.  When 
President  Lincoln's  attention  was  called  to  this  fact, 
he  replied  :  "  The  country  needs  the  sacrifice;  we 
must  put  the  whip  on  the  free  horse."  While  all  the 
States  did  well,  Illinois  more  especially  distinguished 
herself  by  the  number  and  quality  of  her  service. 

Aside  from  furnishing  the  President,  who  was  Com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  army,  she  gave  to  the  country 
that  foremost  captain  of  the  world,  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 
whose  recent  death  has  left  a  mourning  Nation.  She 
also  gave  to  the  service  that  distinguished  General, 
John  A.  Logan,  who  now  represents  her  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  Senate.  Tne  soldiers  brought  home  with 


them  300  battle~flags,  the  product  of  their  numerous 
victories.  The  first  flag  that  waved  in  triumph  over 
Richmond  after  the  surrender  was  an  Illinois  flag, 
which  was  there  unfurled  to  the  Southern  breeze  by 
Illinois  soldiers. 

During  the  dark  days  of  the  struggle,  when  re- 
verses met  our  army,  when  apparently  there  seemed 
to  be  no  ground  to  rest  our  hopes  upon,  when  ominous 
clouds  hung  over  the  face  of  the  Republic,  when  the 
hearts  of  the  patriots  grew  sick  with  dispair,  they 
would  turn  to  that  great  President  and  to  that  great 
Captain  and  say,  with  a  just  cause,  and  with  them  at 
the  head  of  the  Government,  backed  by  the  brave 
and  patriotic  soldiers  in  the  field,  "  we  cannot  but 
win,  we  cannot  fail  in  our  efforts  to  preserve  the  Na- 
tion. " 

Illinois  had,  also,  to  keep  her  inspired  with  hope, 
the  noble  Yates,  the  great  war  Governor,  who  with  a 
father's  care  looked  after  the  wants  of  the  soldiers 
from  his  State,  and  gave  his  whole  attention  to  the 
cause. 

This  struggle  brought  out  the  true  greatness  of  the 
American  people  and  produced  some  of  the  greatest 
men  of  history.  The  great  wisdom,  practical  and 
far-seeing  statesmanship,  the  radiant  virtues,  the 
Christian-like  character  of  Lincoln  made  him  the 
wonder  of  the  civilized  world.  No  less  known  and 
distinguished  was  the  modest,  silent,  patriot-soldier, 
Ulysses  S.  Grant,  who,  after  the  surrender  of  the 
greatest  rebellion  the  world  ever  beheld,  gave  the 
most  noble  exhibition  of  Christian  charity,  by  refus- 
ing to  march  with  his  army  into  the  captured  city, 
that  the  brave  soldiers  and  people,  who  had  so  long 
resisted  his  forces  and  defied  the  power  of  his  mili- 
tary genius,  might  not  be  humiliated  ;  that  they 
might  return  to  peaceful  pursuits  with  spirits  unbro- 
ken. No  less  immortal  was  that  act,  which  breathed 
a  sentiment  very  close  to  the  Divine  heart,  "  let  the 
soldiers  have  their  horses,  they  will  need  them  for 
making  their  crops.  " 

Warren  County  w;is  among  the  first  to  respond  to 
the  call  for  troops.  No  cpunty  in  the  State  did  bet- 
ter or  responded  more  nobly,  either  in  furnishing 
soldiers  or  means  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  war. 
Such  was  the  patriotism  and  enthusiasm  with  which 
they  responded  to  the  call  of  the  Government,  that 
when  the  last  draft  was  ordered,  there  was  hardly  a 
man  in  the  county  subject  to  its  provision. 


WARREN  COUNTY, 


701 


• 


For  the  Infantry  rervice  there  went  forth  from  this 
county,  in  the  83d  regiment,  630  volunteers ;  in  the 
138111  regiment,  222  ;  in  the  1026  regiment,  107  ;  in 
the  I4th  regiment,  42  ;  in  the  47th,  78:  in  the  i7th, 
124;  in  the  36th,  16;  in  the  6rst,  73 ;  in  the  15 th, 
106;  in  the  59th,  67  ;  in  the  jSth,  23  ;  miscellane- 
ous, 128.  In  the  Cavalry  Service,  the  enlistment  was 
as  follows:  First  Cavalry,  165  ;  Eleventh  Cavalry, 
185  ;  Twelfth  Cavalry,  66;  Ninth  Cavalry,  17  ;  Sev- 
enth, 23 ;  miscellaneous,  59. 

The  83d  Regiment  of  Infantry  was  made  up 
mostly  of  volunteers  from  Warren  County,  and  was 
organized  from  Monmouth,  in  August,  1862,  A.  C. 
Harding  being  elected  Colonel.  It  was  mustered 
into  service  Aug.  2ist,  arrived  at  Cairo  the  2gth  and 
reported  to  Brigadier-General  Tuttle,  who  com- 
manded the  post  there.  About  the  sth  of  Septem- 
ber, the  regiment  arrived  at  Fort  Henry,  where  it 
was  divided  up,  a  part  remaining  there  and  at  Fort 
Heiman,  the  balance  moving  to  Fort  Donelson, 
where  they  had  their  headquarters  during  the  year. 
The  companies  left  at  Forts  Henry  and  Heiman  sub- 
sequently re-joined  the  regiment  at  Fort  Donelson, 
where  it  remained  until  Sept.  20,  1863,  and  then 
moved  to  Clarkson,  Tenn.  Here  it  had  almost  daily 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  some  of  them  being  al- 
most engagements,  and  also  had  very  heavy  guard 
duty  to  perform.  It  was  engaged  in  several  expedi- 
tions, under  the  command  of  Maj. -General  Rosseau, 
in  pursuit  of  Gens.  Forrest  and  Wheeler,  who  were 
trying  to  cut  off  Gen.  Sherman's  communications. 

This  regiment,  with  Co.  C,  Second  Illinois  Light  Ar- 
tillery, successfully  resisted  the  attack  of  Forrest  and 
Wheeler  to  re-capture  Fort  Donelson.  The  engage- 
ment lasted  about  seven  hours,  when  Forrest  and 
Wheeler  were  compelled  to  retire,  with  a  loss  of  800 
killed  and  wounded,  while  there  were  only  13  killed 
and  51  wounded  of  the  Union  forces.  For  this  gal- 
lar.t  defense  of  the  fort,  Col.  Harding  was  promoted 
to  Brigadier-General,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  A. 
bmith  to  Colonel.  (See  biography  of  Gen.  Harding, 
page  541-) 


In  1864  this  regiment  was  largely  engaged  in  the 
defense  of  extensive  communications  and  heavy 
patrol  duty.  In  the  ever-memorable  winter  of  1864- 
5,  it  was  on  provost  duty  at  Nashville,  where  it  was 
mustered  out,  after  the  surrender  of  the  rebels,  June 
26,  1865. 

The  138111  regiment  was  organized  in  Quincy,  111., 
by  Col.  John  W.  Goodwin,  and  was  mustered  in  for 
100  days  service,  June  21,  1864.  On  July  26,  it  was 
assigned  to  duty  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kans.,  Col. 
Goodwin  commanding.  It  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice at  Springfield,  Oct.  14,  1864. 

The  volunteers  from  Warren  County,  in  these  as 
well  as  in  the  other  regiments,  served  with  distinc- 
tion during  the  war  on  various  battle-fields,  where 
many  of  them  gave  up  their  lives  to  perpetuate  the 
JJnion. 

yfhe  glorious  triumph  of  the  cause  of  the  Union 
"was  darkened  by  the  tragic  death  of  President  Lin- 
coln, who  was  stricken  down  by  the  bloody  hand  of 
the  assassin,  Booth,  April  14,  1865.  But  in  the 
midst  of  this  great  sorrow  and  that  caused  by  the 
sacrifice  made  for  liberty  on  a  thousand  battle-fields, 
with  mourning  hearts  at  every  fireside,  the  Nation 
began  the  work  of  cementing  together,  closer  than 
ever,  the  bonds  of  union.  How  well  this  work  has 
been  performed  is  evident  by  the  close  commercial 
relations  between  the  two  sections  of  the  country, 
by  the  interchange  of  the  social  courtesies,  by  the 
reunions  of  the  "  boys  in  blue  "  with  the  "  boys  in 
gray,"  and  by  friendly  discussions  over  the  reminis- 
cences of  the  "  tented  field." 

Warren  County,  like  all  the  other  counties  in  the 
United  States,  mourns  its  friends  and  kindred,  who 
rest  in  soldier's  graves  ;  around  its  firesides  there  are 
many  vacant  seats.  The  absent  ones,  though  years 
have  rolled  away,  are  not  forgotten.  The  same  con- 
dition of  things  exists  in  the^outh.  Time  has  soft- 
ened if,  not  obliterated,  the  bitterness  engendered  by 
the  war;  the  two  sections  have  mingled  their  sor- 
rows together,  and  the  great  conflict  is  rerne,mbered 
only  as  a  lesson  for  our  future  guidance. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


WARREN  COUNTY  LIBRARY, 


of  the  most  beneficial  in- 
stitutions of  the  county  is 
the  Warren  County  Library, 
located  at  Monmouth,  and 
which  deserves  more  than  a 
brief  mention.  There  were 
several  attempts  made,  from  time  to 
time,  by  Church  societies,  and  by  citi- 
zens to  establish  a  public  library,  but 
there  was  nothing  done  by  them  more 
than  to  secure  a  reading  room  until 
W.  P.  Pressly,  one  of  Monmouth's 
benefactors  took  hold  of  the  enter- 
prise and  made  it  a  success.  The 
following  is  a  brief  account  of  the  ori- 
gin of  the  library.  The  need  for  a  public  reading 
room,  well  supplied  with  books  had  been  long  felt, 
and  in  1867,  an  effort  was  made  to  raise  funds  for 
this  purpose  through  the  meeting  of  a  joint  stock 
company,  which  was  a  failure.  During  the  follow- 
ing year,  the  Evangelical  Union,  composed  of  repre- 
sentatives from  the  different  churches  of  Monmouth, 
took  hold  of  the  matter.  After  consultation  with 
the  citizens  of  the  town,  it  was  determined  to  have 
an  organization  independent  of  the  union,  which 
was  done  by  25  persons  becoming  responsible  for 
the  means  to  sustain  a  reading  room  for  two  years. 
Judge  Ivory  Quinby  took  a  prominent  part  in  this 
matter.  He  drew  up  articles  of  association  and  by- 
laws, and  furnished  a  room,  rent  free,  for  two  years. 
During  this  period  it  was  demonstrated  that  a  pub- 


lic library  would  be  an  institution  of  great  useful- 
ness and  one  which  would  be  extensively  patronized. 
A  reading  room  was  supplied  with  papers  and  pop- 
ular periodicals,  and  on  the  ist  day  of  June,  1868,' 
it  was  opened  as  the  Monmouth  Rending  Room  and 
Library.  As  there  were  no  funds  for  the  purchase 
of  any  books,  none  were  obtained.  The  reading"' 
room,  however,  was  constantly  visited  by  the  young 
and  the  old,  and  the  papers  and  periodicals  were 
eagerly  looked  for  and  zealously  read.  During  this  J 
time  a  citizen  of  Monmouth  was  quietly  but  earn- 
estly watching  the  result  of  this  first  step  in  a  public 
library  direction  to  determine  its  usefulness,  and  to 
see  to  what  extent  a  larger  institution  would  be  ap- 
preciated and  patronized,  and  the  proportionate 
benefits  that  would  accrue;  a  citizen  who  believed 
that  money  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  man  for 
other  and  more  noble  purposes  than  to  hoard  and 
pile  up  in  combination  time-lock  vaults,  or  increase 
his  acreage.  This  citizen  was  Mr.  VV.  P.  Pressly. 
In  1870  he  erected  a  two-story  brick  building  42  x;s 
feet,  and  donated  it  to  the  association  for  a  public 
library  and  reading  room.  The  provisions  of  the 
donation  were  that  the  upper  floor  should  be  used 
for  a  library  hall  and  reading  room,  and  the  store 
rooms  on  the  first  floor  to  be  rented,  the  proceeds 
thereof  to  be  used  in  purchasing  books.  He  also 
expressed  a  wish  that  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws 
should  be  changed  so  as  to  benefit  the  country  as 
well  as  the  city.  After  this  action  of  Mr.  Pressly, 
the  association  was  incorporated  as  the  "  Warren 
County  Library  and  Reading  Room  Association." 


ix; 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


703 


Subsequently  the  Board  of  Supervisors  passed  an 
order  granting  "  all  the  rents,  profits  and  issues 
hereafter  accruing  from  the  Seminary  Block;"  and 
reserving  the  privilege  by  provision  in  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  association  to  appoint  one  of  the  trustees. 
It  was  provided  that  the  proceeds  from  this  county 
grant  should  go  to  the  purchase  of  books  in  the  de- 
partment of  agriculture  and  practical  arts.  The 
system  of  extending  the  library  was  successful  and 
highly  beneficial.  As  it  was  started  by  its  founder 
for  the  use  and  benefit  of  all  classes  of  people,  both 
in  the  town  and  country,  so  it  has  been  patronized 
and  sustained  by  all. 

Since  the  foundation  of  the  Library,  generous  do- 
nations have  been  made  from  some  of  the  citizens, 
prominent  among  whom  was  the  lamented  and  noble 
William  Laferty.  The  founder  has  never  ceased  to 
remember  his  pel  project,  but  has  from  time  to  time 
increased  his  benefactions.  To  meet  the  demands 
of  the  large  additions  and  the  increasing  patronage, 
Mr.  Pressly,  in  1884,  built  an  addition  to  the  hall, 
22x60,  two  stories  high,  constructed  of  brick  and 
connecting  with  the  former  building  on  the  west. 
This  gives  a  capacity  for  20,000  volumes  without  en- 
cioaching  on  the  Reading  Room.  During  this  year 
(1X85)  a  generous  citizen  who  desired  his  name  not 
to  be  known,  increased  the  endowment  fund  by  a 
donation  of  $5 ,000.  Mr.  Pressly  also  added  another 
source  of  revenue  to  the  Association  by  the  donation 
of  a  fine  dwelling  house  in  the  rear  of  the  building 
facing  the  opposite  house,  the  rents  of  which  are 
used  for  the  benefit  of  the  Association. 

The  selection  of  reading  matter  is  entrusted  to  a 


committee.  A  cataloguing  committee  is  also  one  of 
the  features  of  the  institution,  and  a  very  excellent 
system  has  been  adopted. 

A  small  charge  is  made  for  books  which  are  taken 
out  of  the  Library. 

The  endowment  fund  now  amounts  to  over 
$13,000,  which  is  loaned  out  at  8  per  cent.  The 
contents  of  the  Library  may  be  summed  up  as  fol- 
lows :  Books  loaned  for  house  use,  11,988;  used  in 
room,  per  Librarian,  9,587 ;  magazines  loaned  out, 
i  ,985  ;  reference  books  used  from  the  open  book- 
cases, 8,000.  In  addition  there  are  n  daily  papers, 
55  weeklies,  2  semi-weeklies,  76  monthlies  and  quar- 
terlies. 

The  average  daily  attendance  at  the  reading  room 
is  estimated  at  162.  The  reading  room  is  well  furn- 
ished, large  and  well  lighted.  Great  care  has  been 
taken  since  its  foundation  in  the  purchase  of  books, 
the  result  of  which  has  been  that  this  Association 
has  an  exceedingly  well-selected  library,  the  credit 
of  which  is  largely  due  to  Prof.  Thomas  H. 
Rogers. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  the  founder  ~ 
of  this  Library,  who  has  given  it  may  be  truly  said,  I 
his  all  to  this  institution,  and  some  missionary  work. 
In  order  that  he  might   increase  his  fund  for  benefi-  J 
cent  purposes,  he  has  deprived   himself  not  only  of 
the  luxuries,  but   the  actual   comforts  of  life.     With 
the  snows  of  three  score  and  ten  winters  whitening 
his  head,  he  is  still  toiling  on,  still  saving  and  labor- 
ing, that  he  may  have  more  to  give,  and  more  with 
which  to  bless. 


1 04 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


A]  LROADS. 


AILROADS  have  now  become 
necessary  adjuncts  to  the 
development  of  a  country,  and 
no  community  of  any  propor- 
tions is  content  to  exist  withoui 
them.  The  State,  through  its 
Legislature,  was  very  mag- 
nanimous in  its  support  and 
donations  to  railroad  enterprises,  the 
result  of  which  is  that  Illinois  is 
more  thoroughly  connected  with 
railroad  lines  than  any  other  State  in 
the  Union.  The  people  of  Warren 
County  have  ever  been  exceptionally 
generous  in  their  donations  to  rail- 
road enterprises,as  the  followingfacts 
will  show.  In  Warren  County  there  are  really  now  but 
two  lines,  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  and  the 
Central  Iowa. 

Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad. 

HE  first  railroad  meeting  in  this  county 
was  held  in  Monmouth,  the  27th  day  of 
Februry,  1851.  At  this  meeting  J.  W.  Da- 
vidson, A.  C.  Harding,  W.  B.  Stapp  and 
James  G.  Madden  were  appointed  a  Commit- 
tee to  wait  on  the  County  Court  asking  for  a 
call  for  a  special  election,  to  vote  for  or  against  the 
county  of  Warren  subscribing  $50,000,  to  be  ex- 


pended on  the  construction  of  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka 
Railroad,  with    a  lateral  branch  to  Burlington.     The 
matter  was  presented  to  the  County  Court,  which  re- , 
suited   in   the   following  order   being   made:    The 
County  Court    now    being  sufficiently  advised  in  re-  I 
gard  to  the  premises,  it  is  ordered  that  an  election^ 
be  held  on  the  izth  day  of  April  next,  at  the  usual  f 
places  of  voting  for  the  voters  of  Warren  County,  to  1 
vote  for  or  against  the  subscription  of  said  county  of  j 
$50,000  of  the  capital  stock  in  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka 
Railroad,  the  bonds  to  be  issued  for  said  stock  to  run 
20  years  from  their  date,  at  7  per  cent,  interest,  paya- 
ble annually  ;  and  the  clerk  is  ordered  to  issue  elec- 
tion notices  in  accordance  with  this  order." 

The  election  having  been  favorable  to  the  stock 
subscription,  to  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  Railroad,  the 
County  Court,  at  the  September  term,  made  an  order 
authorizing  Ivory  Quinby  to  subscribe  for  Warren 
County  $50,000  of  the  capital  stock  of  said  road,  so 
soon  as  the  company  shall  have  had  subscribed  to 
its  capital  stock  $450,000.  Ivory  Quinby,  who  was  the 
Presiding  Justice,  upon  examination  found  that  the 
$450,000  had  been  subscribed,  and  thereupon,  in 
accordance  with  his  instructions,  subscribed  for  the 
County  of  Warren,  $50,000  of  the  capital  stock  of 
the  company. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  railroad  enterprises  in 
this  county,  and  the  starting  of  the  Peoria  & 
Oquawka  Railroad.  The  ideas  of  railroads  was  at 
this  time  somewhat  limited.  Col.  Davidson  drew 
up  a  charter  for  this  road,  and  presented  it  to  one  of 


WARREN  COUA7  Y. 


7°S 


the  leading  members  of  the  Legislature,  to  be  placed 
before  that  body  for  its  approval.  This  member 
asked  him  if  he  ever  expected  to  build  a  railroad  80 
miles  long.  The  Colonel  replied,  "Give  us  the  char- 
ter, and  I  will  build  the  road."  The  charter  was 
granted,  and  subsequently  the  road  was  built.  The 
people  of  Oquawka  refused  to  subscribe  or  aid  the 
enterprise,  but  the  people  of  Burlington  came  for- 
ward with  the  necessary  aid,,  and  the  route  was 
changed  to  that  place,  and  Oquawka  was  left  out  in 
the  cold. 

Railroads  were  not  built  in  those  days  as  rapidly 
as  now.  On  March  5,  1855,  the  last  rail  was  laid 
and  the  first  passenger  train  came  to  Monmouth 
from  the  West.  The  side  track  at  the  depot  had  not 
been  completed,  so  as  to  allow  the  passenger  train  to 
pass  the  construction  train.  The  passengers  were 
taken  on  board  the  latter  and  carried  on  to  Gales- 
burg.  Next  morning  on  its  return  from  Galesburg 
it  was  saluted  from  an  old  brass  field  piece  which  had 
been  takes  from  the  walls  of  Vera  Cruz  during  the 
Mexican  War.  This  field  piece  was  handled  by 
Capt.  Wyatt  B.  Stapp.  After  the  salutes  were  given, 
the  train  moved  on  toward  the  great  "  father  of 
waters."  This  was  probably  the  most  important 
event  to  the  people  of  the  county,  since  its  organi- 
zation. 

The  Northern  Cross  Ry.  Co.  had  about  this  time 
completed  their  track  to  Galesburg.  It  secured  the 
privilege  of  running  its  trains  over  the  Peoria  & 
Oquawka  R.  R.  to  Burlington. 

About  1856,  the  Chicago  &  Aurora,  the  Northern 
Cross,  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  and  the  Central  Mili- 
tary Tract  Companies  were  all  consolidated  under 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Com- 
pany. This  name  was  derived  from  the  terminal 
points.  J.  W.  Brooks  was  elected  President  of  the 
new  road.  This  road  opened  up  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  sections  of  the  United  States,  known  as 
the  Military  Tract,  the  northern  line  of  which  passed 
through  the  middle  of  Henry  County.  Upon  the 
building  of  this  road  settlers  began  to  pour  in,  and 
within  five  or  six  years  every  quarter-section  of  land 
was  taken,  and  to-day  it  is  one  of  the  highest  culti- 
vated sections  in  the  country. 

It  was  thought  at  first  that  this  road  would  hardly 
pay.  Before  the  completion  of  the  road  the  tri- 
weekly stage  line  to  Peoria  carried  all  the  traveling 


people  and  the  coaches  were  seldom  more  than  half 
full.  Not  long  after  the  completion  of  the  road, 
however,  it  crowded  the  company  to  do  all  the  freight 
business  brought  to  Monmouth  for  shipping. 


Louis  Division,  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  B. 

N  1856,  another  railroad  project  was  pre- 
sented to  the  county  for  its  support.  This 
was  the  Alton  &  Rock  Island  Road.  A 
proposition  to  subscribe  to  the  capital  stock  of 
this  enterprise,  $100,000,  was  voted  on  and 
carried,  and  the  Board  of  Supervisors  at  their 
December  term  subscribed  that  amount.  Nothing, 
however,  came  of  this  project.  The  provisions  were 
that  the  road  should  come  through  Monmouth. 

Warren  County  was  very  liberal  in  aiding  railroad 
projects.  The  next  railroad  scheme  presented  to  them 
for  aid,  was  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis 
road.  At  a  special  meeting  in  August,  1869,  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  decided  to  submit  the  question 
of  the  county  subscribing  $200,000  to  the  capital 
stock  of  the  Rock  Island  road.  An  election  was  or- 
dered for  September  23,  1869.  On  the  question  of 
subscription  to  the  capital  stock  of  this  road,  there 
were  1,775  votes  cast  for,  and  975  against.  Having 
received  the  support  of  the  people,  the  stock  was 
duly  taken  ;  the  condition  was  that  it  should  pass 
through  Monmouth.  David  Turnbull,  one  of  the 
members  of  the  Board  from  Hale,  was  appointed 
agent  of  the  County  to  subscribe  to  the  stock,  for 
which  bonds  of  the  company  were  issued  running 
20  years  and  bearing  eight  percent,  interest.  Besides 
the  $200,000  subscribed  by  the  county,  the  several 
townships  contributed  their  aid,  their  subscription 
amounting  to  $84,000. 

The  bonds  of  the  county  still  outstanding  to  rail- 
roads amount  to  $171,000. 

The  first  passenger  train  of  this  road  was  run  into 
Monmouth,  the  22d  day  of  August,  1870,  making  the 
connection  through  to  St.  Louis.  A  large  gathering 
was  at  the  depot  to  welcome  it,  and  a  salute  fron  the 
old  Mexican  field  piece  was  given.  There  was  no 
celebration  or  excitement ;  it  was  received  as  one  of 
the  matter-of-course  events  of  the  day.  This  road 
was  completed  through  to  Rock  Island  Nov.  IT, 


-     ' 


7o6 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1870.  The  remainder  of  its  line  it  was  never  able 
to  complete.  This  road  was  sold  under  a  foreclosure 
of  mortgage  to  the  St.  Louis,  Rock  Island  &  Chicago 
Railroad  Company,  which  was  incorporated  April  21, 
1876.  It  was  soon  afterward  leased  by  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company,  who  now 
operate  it  as  its  St.  Louis  Division.  This  road  was 
sold  for  $1,600,000,  and  it  is  said  that  it  cost  $11,- 
000,000.  The  bond  holders,  who  live  in  Germany, 
were  the  losers  of  about  six-sevenths  of  their  invest- 
ment. 


Central  Iowa  Railway  Company. 

j|  NE  of  the   most   important   enterprises  for 

"^™k  Warren  County  of  late  years,  is  the  above 
named  railroad.  The  more  important  and 
creditable  to  the  county  in  this,  that  the  en- 
terprise owes  its  conception  and  completion  to 
the  indomitable  energy,  nerve  and  will  of  two 
of  Monmoulh's  worthy  citizens,  Delos  P.  Phelps  and 
William  Hanna. 

The  construction  of  this  road  at  the  time,  with  all 
the  other  lines  in  full  operation  and  backed  by  an 
almost  inexhaustible  capital,  was  no  holiday  task, 
and  one  that  few  men  would  have  the  courage  and 
nerve  to  undertake. 

In  1875,  a  company  was  organized  at  Monmouth, 
called  the  Burlington,  Monmouth  &  Illinois  River 
Railroad  Company,  the  object  of  which  was  to  con- 
struct a  narrow  gauge  road,  with  a  view  of  compet- 
ing with  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad 
for  the  Warren  County  traffic. 

Some  few  subscriptions  were  obtained,  but  not 
enough  to  warrant  the  breaking  of  ground.  A  small 
amount  of  grading  was  done  in  1878.  In  1879, 
Messrs.  Hanna  and  Phelps  were  placed  upon  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  immediately  went  to 
Peoria  for  the  purpose  of  soliciting  subscriptions, 
and  to  concentrate  all  their  efforts  to  secure  the  grad- 
ing of  the  road  as  far  west  as  possible.  They  also 
assumed  the  responsibility  of  buying  up  the. old 
grade  and  franchises  of  the  Peoria  &  Farmington 
Railroad  Company,  and  changing  the  enterprise  from 
a  narrow  to  a  standard  gauge  line.  They  let  contracts 


upon  the  faith  of  subscriptions  made,  which  in  many 
instances  were  not  honored,  and  they  found  them- 
selves involved  to  the  amount  of  about  $40,000.  At 
this  critical  period  they  offered  to  donate  their  per- 
sonal subscriptions,  and  all  they  had  done,  to  any 
person  or  company  that  would  complete  the  road 
from  Peoria  to  Farmington,  or  to  be  two  of  twelve 
persons  to  advance  a  sufficient  sum  for  that  purpose. 
Meeting  with  no  acceptance  to  either  of  these  propo- 
sitions, they  offered  to  buy  out  a  majority  of  the 
stock  at  twenty-five  cents  on  the  dollar,  which  pro- 
posal was  accepted. 

After  this  they  made  an  effort  to  interest  other 
persons  in.  the  work,  and  in  a  measure  were  success- 
ful. The  road  was  finished  from  Peoria  to  Farming- 
ton  in  October,  1881,  and  operated  until  October, 
1882,  when  building  west  was  begun,  and  the  track 
completed  to  Keithsburg,  on  the  Mississippi  River. 
About  a  million  and  a-half  of  dollars  in  hard  cash 
were  expended  in  securing  the  completion  of  this  road. 
Friends  and  enemies  had  predicted  financial  ruin  for 
Messrs.  Hanna  and  Phelps,  and  a  defeat  of  the  en- 
terprise. 

The  task  they  undertook  was  a  Herculean  one, 
and  one  to  shake  the  nerve  of  the  most  resolute, 
but  after  many  days  and  nights  of  sleepless  anxiety, 
the  work  was  accomplished,  and  will  forever  remain 
as  an  enduring  monument  of  what  perseverance, 
energy,  sagacity,  and  an  indomitable  will  can  accom- 
plish. 

The  Central  Iowa,  which  owned  a  railroad  from 
Albia  to  Manly  Junction,  in  Iowa,  having  a  road 
leading  from  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  east  to  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  opposite  to  Keithsburg,  a  consolidation 
was  effected  with  the  Illinois  line,  or  the  Burlington, 
Monmouth  &  Illinois  River  Railroad,  which  had 
been  prosecuted  under  the  name  of  the  Peoria  & 
Farmington,  after  the  franchises  of  the  latter  were 
secured,  under  the  name  of  the  Central  Iowa  Rail- 
way Company,  which  embraced  the  entire  system. 
Since  the  consolidation  a  magnificent  iron  bridge  has 
been  built  across  the  Mississippi  at  Keithsburg,  a 
road  built  from  Manly  Junction  to  St.  Paul,  and 
through  trains  without  break  are  now  running  from 
St.  Paul  to  Peoria ;  and  this  road  which  had  so  un- 
propitious  a  beginning,  is  now  one  of  the  great  and  im- 
portant transportation  lines  of  the  country.  William 
Hanna  is  President  of  the  Company,  and  Delos  P. 


•§• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


707 


Phelps  has  the  management  of  the  Illinois  Division 
To  these  men  too  much  credit  cannot  be  given  for 
the  consummation  of  this  grand  project.    After  pass- 
ing through  the  struggles,  and  what  appeared  almost 


insurmountable  barriers  to  accomplish  their  project, 
they  now,  in  the  hey-day  of  success,  can  have  the 
luxury  of  that  condition  that  comes  from  a  success- 
ful achievement  of  a  noble  purpose. 


County  Officials. 

.ROM  its  first  organization  to  the  present 
time;  from  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  and  Ivory 
Quinby  down,  the  officials  of  Warren 
County,  with  hardly  an  exception,  have  been 
of  unexceptional  character;  men  of  integrity, 
ability  and  usefulness.  Very  few  counties  can 
present  a  better  list  than  the  one  appended  below, 
some  of  whom  have  not  only  achieved  State  but  Na- 
tional distinction,  who  have  been  identified  with 
the  organization  of  the  State,  the  framing  of  its  laws, 
and  the  perfecting  of  its  political  and  legal  system. 

COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS. 

John  B.  Talbot,  Adam  Ritchey  and  John  Pence, 
1830,  under  a  special  election.  John  Pence,  John 
B.  Talbot  and  Peter  Butler,  1830-32,  under  a  regular 
election  ;  Jeremiah  Smith,  John  B.  Talbot  and  James 
McCallon,  1832-34;  Robert  Gilmore,  William  Whit- 
man and  W.  S.  Jamison,  1834-36;  Samuel  G.  Morse, 
Alexander  Turnbull  and  John  B.  Talbot,  1836-38; 
Alexander  Turnbull,  Samuel  G.  Morse,  James  C. 
Hutchinson,  1838  ;  Samuel  G.  Morse,  John  C.  Bond 
and  J.  C.  Hutchinson,  1838-39;  James  C.  Hutchin- 
son, John  C.  Bond  and  James  P.  Hogue,  1839-40; 
John  C.  Bond,  James  P.  Hogue  and  Peter  Butler, 


1840-42;  James  P.  Hogue,  Peter  Butler  and  James 
Tucker,  1842-43;  Peter  Butler,  James  Tucker  and 
H.  Bromlee,  1843-44  ;  Alexander  Turnbull,  Thomas 
Griffee  and  James  Tucker,  1844-45  ;  Alexander 
Turnbull,  Thomas  Griffee  and  James  Drain,  1845- 
46  ;  H.  E.  Haley,  James  Drain  and  John  B.  Jenkin, 
1846-47  ;  James  Drain,  John  B.  Jenkin  and  Josiah 
Whitman,  1847-48;  John  B.  Jenkin,  John  W.  Gid- 
dings  and  Josiah  Whitman,  1848-49. 

COUNTY  CLERK. 

Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  1830;  Elijah  Davidson,  1838- 
43;  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  1843-48;  William  F.  Smith, 
1849;  Ephraim  S.  Swinney,  1849-61  ;  W.  J.  Thomp- 
son, 1861-65;  W.  G.  Bond,  1865-73;  W.  H.  Sex- 
ton, 1873-86. 

RECORDER. 

Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  1830-43;  Ephraim  S.  Swin- 
ney, 1843-48. 

CIRCUIT  CLERK. 

Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  1830-41;  Ira  F.  M.  Butler, 
1841-48. 

CIRCUIT  CLERK  AND   RECORDER. 

W.  B.1  Stapp,  1848-49:  R.  S.  Monroe,  1849-50; 
H.  S.  Hascall,  1850-51;  William  Billings,  1851-56; 
William  Laferty,  1856-64;  T.  M.  Luter,  1864-68  ; 


708 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


J.  L.  Dryden,  1868-80;  George  C.  Rankin,  1880-84, 
re-elected. 

PROBATE  JUDGE. 
Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  1831-37. 

PROBATE  JUSTICE. 

W.  F.  Smith,  1837-39;  Geo.  C.  Lamphere,  1839- 
43;  Erastus  Rice,  1843-49. 

COUNTY  JUDGE. 

Ivory  Quinby,  1849-55  ;  James  Thompson,  1855- 
57  ;  John  Porter,  1857-65  ;  Joseph  K.  Ripley,  1865- 
73;  Elias  Willets,  1873-81;  James  H.  Stewart, 
1881-85,  re-elected. 

COUNTY  COURT. 

Ivory  Quinby,  Judge ;  John  Riggs  and  Joseph  Ho- 
gan,  Associates,  1849-53,  under  the  Constitution  of 
1848.  Ivory  Quinby,  Justice ;  John  Riggs  and  Wm. 
Lair,  Associates,  1853-54. 

COUNTY  SCHOOL  COMMISSIONERS. 
Alelander  Phelps,  1837-39 ;  W.  S.  Berry,  1839- 
43;  Samuel  Wood,  1843-47  ;  A.  C.  Harding,  1847- 
49;  James  G.  Madden,  1849-51;  W.  B.  Jenks, 
1851-53;  W.  F.  Smith,  1853-55;  A-  H-  Tracy, 
1855-61  ;  A.  B.  Cox,  1861-65. 

COUNTY  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENTS. 
James  I.    Wilson,    1865-69;    James   B.  Donnell, 
1869-77;    W.   E.   Watt,    1877-81;    J.   P.    Higgins, 
1881-82,  Maggie  L.  Wiley,  1882-84,  re-elected. 

CORONERS. 

John  Ritchey,  1830-35;  Alexander  Turnbull, 
1835-36;  George  H.  Wright,  1836-40;  H.  C.  George, 
1840-42;  David  Smith,  1842-46;  Joseph  McCoy, 
1846-50;  Robert  Thompson,  1850-52;  Wm.  Talbot, 
1852-54,  Robert  Grant,  1854-60;  Samuel  Douglas, 
1860-64;  John  B.  Webster,  1864-68;  W.  L.  Cuth- 
bert,  1868-70;  R.  B.  McCleary,  1870-78;  Henry  B. 
Young,  1878-80;  George  H.  Breed,  1880-82;  Wm. 
S.  Holliday,  1882-84,  re-elected. 

COUNTY  TREASURER  AND  ASSESSOR. 

James  Jamison,  1830-31  ;  Thos,  C.  Jennings, 
1831  ;  Elijah  Davidson,  1831-36  ;M5ilbert  Turnbull, 
1836-43;  R.  N.  Allen,  1843-49;  George  Babcock, 
1849-53;  James  W.  Butler,  1853-55. 

TREASURER. 
R.    S.    Thompson,     1855-61;     Draper   Babcock, 


1861-65  :  Wm.  Shores,  1865-67  ;  D.  D.  Parry,  1867- 
75;  James  Hurdman,  1875—79;  John  F.  Wallace, 
1879-82;  Robert  S.  Patton,  1882-84,  re-elected. 

SURVEYOR. 

Peter  Butler,  1831-35  ;  Wm.  C.  Butler,  1835-39; 
Benjamin  Thompson,  1839—43;  Joseph  Paddocks, 
l843~SS  J  E-  E-  Wallace,  1855-59  ;  Thos.  S.  Mc- 
Clanahan, 1859-65  ;  Alberts.  Crawford,  1865-69; 
John  A.  Gordon,  1869-71;  John  B.  McCulloch, 
1871-75;  Thos.  S.  McClanahan,  1875-79  ;  John  F. 
Wallace,  1879-82;  Thos.  S.  McClanahan,  1882-84, 
re-elected. 

SHERIFF. 

Stephen  S.  Phelps.  1830-32 ;  Peter  Butler,  1832- 
34;  John  G.  Haley,  1834-36;  Ira  F.  M.  Butler, 
1836-40;  Samuel  L.  Hogue,  1840-41 ;  John  Brown, 
1841-50;  R.  N.  Allen,  1850-52;  C.  L.  Armsby, 
1852-54;  James  McCoy,  1854-56;  C.  M.  Mills, 
1856-58;  Seth  Smith,  1858-60;  David  Turnbull, 
1860-62;  David  C.  Riggs,  1862-64;  David  Turn- 
bull,  1864-66;  Wm.  Armstrong,  1866-67  !  W.  L. 
Cuthbert,  1867-68:  Cyrus  Bute,  1868-70;  J.  A. 
Boynton,  1870-72;  W.  L.  Cuthbert,  1872-74;  J.  A. 
Boynton,  1874-76;  Wm.  G.  Bond,  1876-82  ;  John 
W.  Bolon,  1882-84,  re-elected. 

STATE'S  ATTORNEY. 

Thomas  Ford,  1832-34  ;  W.  A.  Richardson,  1834- 
36;  Henry  L.  Bryant,  1836-38;  Wm.  Elliott,  1838- 
50;  H.  G.  Reynolds,  1850-54;  Wm.  C.  Goudy, 
1854-55  ;  A.  M.  Craig,  1855-56;  James  H.  Stewart, 
1856-64;  James  A.  McKinzie,  1864-72;  Wm.  Mar- 
shall, 1872-76 ;  George  Snyder,  1876-80;  John  W. 
Matthews,  1880-84,  re-elected. 

CIRCUIT  JUDGES. 

Richard  M.  Young,  1830-36;  James  H.  Ralston, 
1836-39;  Peter  Lott,  1839-40;  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
1841-43;  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  1843-45  ;  N.  H.  Pur- 
ple, 1845-49;  Wm.  A.  Minchall,  1849-50;  Wm. 
Kellogg,  1850-53  ;  H.  M.  Weed,  1853-55  ;  John  s- 
Thompson,  1855-60:  Aaron  Tyler,  1860-61;  Chas. 
B.  Lawrence,  1861-64;  John  S.  Thompson,  1864- 
67  ;  Arthur  A.  Smith,  1867-85 ;  John  J.  Glenn, 
1877-85;  George  W.  Pleasants,  1879-85;  the  three 
last  named  Judges  preside  in  this  Circuit  and  their 
terms  expire  in  1891. 


•Y-. 

WARREN  COUNTY. 


709 


Educational  Matters. 

[HERE   are    134  school  districts  in  Warren 
County,  8  graded  schools  and  134  ungraded 
schools.     The  total  value  of  school  prop- 
erty is  $111,185,  w'th  7  brick  and  131  frame 
buildings.     Of  scholastic  age,  there  are  10,669 
pupils,  the  entire  enrollment  is  5,494,  and  the 
total  tax  levy  $53,168.94. 

Miss  Maggie  Wiley  is  the  County  Superintendent, 
who  gives  her  whole  time  to  the  school  interests  of 
the  county.  All  the  schools  have  good  teachers  and 
they  are  well  conducted,  having  the  most  approved 
text  books  and  all  the  modern  adjuncts  to  education. 
They  have  a  County  Teachers'  Association,  which 
holds  annual  sessions,  of  two  days,  during  the  latter 
part  of  November,  at  Monmouth. 

Local  associations  are  held  at  Monmouth,  Kirk- 
wood,  Roseville,  Alexis,  Cameron,  Berwick,  Little 
York,  Greenbush  and  Hale. 

The  Annual  Summer's  Institute  of  two  weeks, 
which  is  held  under  section  5,  of  the  School  Act, 
meets  at  Monmouth.  At  these  sessions,  exercises 
and  drills  are  had  and  a  complete  review  of  the 
modes  of  teaching  is  gone  through.  A  journal  de- 
voted to  the  educational  interests  of  the  county, 
called  the  School  Chronicle,  is  published  by  this  In- 
stitute. 


Old  Settlers'  Association. 

f  HE  matter  of  perpetuating  the  memory  'of 
pioneer  life,  its  incidents,  with  its  joys  and 
sorrows,  its  hopes  and  fears,  had  been  dis- 
cussed among  the  early  settlers  of  this  and 
Henderson  County  for  some  time.  Finally 
a  call  was  made  through  the  press  for  the  old 
settlers  to  meet  at  Young  America,  now  Kirkwood, 
Saturday  afternoon,  Jan.  27,  1872,  for  the  purpose  of 
maturing  some  plan  for  an  organization  to  meet  the 
objects  in  view.  At  the  appointed  time  a  large 


number  of  the  early  settlers  met  at  Young  America 
and  the  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Samuel 
Hutchinson,  who  stated  the  objects  of  the  meeting. 
T.  S.  Lowther  was  nominated  as  Chairman  and  Jud- 
son  Giaves  was  chosen  Secretary.  It  was  decided 
at  this  meeting  to  form  an  old  settlers'  organization, 
and  to  admit  all  persons  as  members  who  had  set- 
tled in  either  of  the  counties  of  Henderson  or  War- 
ren prior  to  the  formation  of  Henderson  County. 

This  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  again  Feb  22.  At 
this  meeting  the  officers  of  the  Association  were  de- 
cided upon  and  a  committee  appointed  to  draft  a 
constitution  and  by-laws  to  be  submitted  at  the  next 
meeting.  First  officers  elected :  President,  S.  S. 
Phelps;  Vice-Presidents,  R.  W.  Ritchie,  A.  C. 
Harding  and  John  Curts;  Secretaries,  Judson  Graves 
and  E.  H.  N.  Patterson  ;  Treasurer,  N.  A.  Chapin. 
The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  for  their  first  annual 
reunion,  which  was  fixed  for  the  first  Wednesday  in 
June,  and  was  to  be  held  at  Young  America  (now 
Kirkwood).  At  the  day  appointed  there  was  a  grand  1 
gathering  of  old  pioneers,  and  a  very  enjoyable  time 
was  had.  They  all  came  with  their  lunch-baskets  J 
laden  with  those  choice  eatables  that  tend  so  much*" 
to  enhance  the  pleasures  of  such  gatherings. 

Speeches  were  made,  songs  were  sung,  stories  were 
told,  and  the  incidents  and  reminiscenses  connected 
with  the  early  settlement,  its  privations  and  hard- 
ships, were  freely  discussed.  Before  the  reunion 
broke  up,  a  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted, 
and  the  time  was  changed  for  the  meeting  to  the 
first  Wednesday  in  September. 

The  association  has  held  its  reunion  ever  since, 
and  its  membership  now  embraces  nearly  all  the  old 
settlers.  The  constitution  has  been  amended  so  as 
to  admit  all  persons  who  have  been  in  the  county  30 
years.  They  met  the  last  season  at  Mineral  Springs, 
near  Kirkwood,  which  has  become  the  favorite  resort 
of  the  people  of  the  county,  and  had  a  grand  time. 
It  is  said  that  there  were  more  people  there  than 
ever  before  at  any  of  their  reunions.  Before  adjourn- 
ment the  following  officers  were  elected :  Samuel 
Hutchinson,  President  (since  deceased)  ;  Benjamin 
Tinkham,  Vice-President ;  N.  A.  Chapin,  Secretary; 
Mrs.  Wm.  Hanna,  Treasurer.  Executive  Commit- 
tee—O.  S.  Barnum,  D.  Babcock,  W.  C.  Tubbs.  Wm. 
Boden  and  G.  R.  Graham.  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary, A.  H.  Swain.  There  are  at  present  221  mem- 
bers belonging  to  this  organization. 


-4-* 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Agricultural  Fair. 

(N  agricultural  society  was  organized  Aug.  7, 
1852,  at  a  public  meeting  held  at  the 
Court-House,  Monmouth.  Following  are 
names  of  the  temporary  officers :  Samuel 
Hallan,  President ;  G.  W.  Palmer,  Vice-Pres- 
ident; J.  G.  Madden,  Secretary;  and  F.  B. 
Weakley,  Treasurer.  Their  first  annual  election  was 
held  Sept.  4,  1852,  with  the  following  results:  Sam- 
uel Hallan,  President;  Robert  Gibson,  Vice-Presi- 
dent;  J.  G.  Madden,  Secretary;  and  Wm.  Billings, 
Treasurer.  Their  first  annual  fair  was  held  at  the 
Court-House,  Oct.  15,  1852.  It  was  regarded  as  a 
great  success.  There  were  many  entries  made  and 
over  1,000  persons  in  attendance.  As  there  was  not 
much  money  about  in  those  days,  the  premiums 
only  consisted  in  certificates.  Since  that  period,  the 
society  has  progressed,  and  it  has  now  a  very  fair 
standing ;  is  out  of  debt  and  is  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition. The  grounds  enclose  about  30  acres,  in 
which  there  is  a  good  half-mile  track,  exhibition 
buildings,  stalls,  pens,  etc.,  all  valued  at  $6,500. 

In  1884  there  were  2,099  entries.     At  this  meet- 
ing a  saddle-horse  was  entered  which  had  taken  the 


first  premium  in  1859,  then  ten  years  old.  Generally, 
the  annual  receipts  are  about  $5,000.  For  this  year 
the  premiums  offered  amounted  to  $4,000.  A  good 
deal  of  interest  is  manifested  in  this  fair,  and  some 
as  fine  stock  as  there  is  in  the  State  is  annually  ex- 
hibited here.  Present  officers:  J.  T.  Reichard, 
President;  Thos.  W.  Beers,  Vice- President;  Geo. 
Rankin,  Secretary;  and  W.  B.  Young,  Treasurer. 
Executive  Committee — L.  H.  Gilmore,  J.  N.  Mc- 
Kelvey,  S.  C.  Hogue,  Peyton  Roberts,  H.  C.  Gid- 
dings,  J.  R.  Barnett,  W.  B.  Porter,  R.  S.  Patton,  N. 
S.  Woodward. 

The  fall  meeting  of  this  association  was  attended 
with  success,  although  the  attendance  was  limited 
for  the  first  two  days  on  account  of  the  rains.  The 
exhibition  of  stock  was  exceedingly  good.  A  finer 
exhibition  of  high-bred  Percherons  and  Clydesdales 
has  rarely  been  seen  so  also  with  the  Red  Jersey 
pig.  Some  fine  cows  were  also  on  exhibition.  The 
races  were  fair  and  some  very  good  time  was  made. 
It  is  a  pity,  however,  in  laying  out  the  grounds  that 
the  society  did  not  arrange  for  a  mile  track.  In  the 
exhibition  hall  there  was  an  excellent  display  of  art 
work,  showing  fine  taste  and  skill.  The  soil  pro- 
ducts on  exhibition  demonstrated  the  fact  that 
the  soil  of  Warren  County  is  unsurpassed  in  rich- 
ness and  that  its  farmers  are  skilled  in  the  science 
of  agriculture. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


711 


p«¥«?qf^'*F*a$iFW*'¥¥WVWWTWWro|l 

TOWNSHIPS 


&j..fcA.r*fet«&..M^^^ 

^—^^^^T 


DWNSHIP  history  is  an  es- 
sential and  prominent  part 
of  the  county  history.  The 
various  parts  of  Warren 
County  were  settled  by  men 
most  of  whom  have  repre- 
sentatives now  living  in  the 
county,  or  are  still  living  here 
themselves.  A  careful  reading  of 
the  incidents  relating  to  the  early 
settlement  of  the  several  town- 
ships will  repay  the  reader,  as  each 
one  contains  the  names  of  the  first 
settlers,  and  many  other  items 
which  are  required  to  make  the 
history  complete.  The  township 
histories  are  given  in  their  alpha- 
betical order,  and  the  sketches  of 
the  villages  are  included  in  their  respective  town- 
ships. The  city  of  Monmouth  follows  the  town- 
ships. 

BERWICK  TOWNSHIP. 

ERWICK  was  among  the    earliest  town- 
ships to   be  settled,  and  in  this  Solomon 
Kaisey   was  the   pioneer,  casting  his  for- 
tunes   here   as    early    as  the  spring  of  1829. 
He  located  on  section  7.     With  him  came  his 
family,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Solomon  Per- 
kins, and  family.     Mr.  Perkins  located  on  section  4 


These  men,  with  their  strong  and  true-hearted  life 
partners,  after  securing  their  lands,  settled  down  to 
construct  for  themselves  and  children,  homes  for  the 
future.  In  the  midst  of  plenty,  surrounded  with  all 
the  comforts  of  civilization,  with  all  our  wants  sup- 
plied, we  are  too  apt  to  forget  the  pioneer  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  all  these  comforts.  Soon 
after  the  above  named  settlers,  came  Peter  Scott, 
Mr.  Smith  and  Jonathan  Tipton,  who  located  in  the 
neighborhood.  In  1832,  Isaac,  Daniel  and  Elisha, 
brothers  of  Solomon  Perkins,  the  two  latter  with  their 
families,  moved  in  and  located  near  the  settlement. 
Isaac  went  to  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  was  killed. 
Robert  and  George  Ray  came  in  r  83 1-2,  locating  in 
the  timber,  on  section  6.  With  these  men  came 
their  families.  They  and  their  wives  are  dead.  H. 
M.  Lewis,  W.  H.  Cable  and  E.  W.  Allen  came  into 
the  township  in  1835,  and  were  followed  soon  after 
by  many  others.  These  early  settlers  formed  a  nu- 
cleus, around  which  gathered  in  a  few  years  an  ex- 
tensive settlement. 

Miss  Jane  Allen  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
township,  in  1835,  in  a  log  school  house  built  by 
Thomas  Pearce,  near  where  the  village  of  Berwick 
now  is.  This  school  house  had  no  doors  or  win- 
dows, or  what  these  are  understood  to  be  in  modern 
times.  There  were  holes  in  the  wall  to  admit  light 
and  air,  and  one  also  for  egress  and  exit,  and  this 
was  all.  And  here  in  this  rudely  constructed  cabin 
the  first  children  of  Berwick  Township,  with  the 
ruddy  glow  on  their  cheeks,  with  the  bright  sparkle  in 


712 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


their  eye,  with  innocence  and  hope  in  their  young 
hearts,  commenced  their  education,  directed  by  their 
devoted  teacher,  Jane  Allen.  Here  they  commenced 
to  learn  lessons  in  books  and  lessons  in  life,  and  fit 
themselves  for  the  duties  which  in  after  years  were 
to  be  imposed  upon  them.  What  hopes  and  aspira- 
tions may  have  filled  these  young  hearts  just  enter- 
ing upon  this  world's  stage !  What  ties  formed  here, 
that  may  have  been  stronger  in  after  years  than 
chains  of  brass  or  steel !  What  a  contrast  between 
this  rude  cabin  and  the  finished  school-house  of  to- 
day !  And  yet  with  all  our  improvements  and  what  we 
call  our  advanced  civilization,  with  our  Female  Sem- 
inaries and  Boarding  Schools,  and  all  our  modern  ad- 
juncts to  study,  is  there  any  one  prepared  to  say  that 
the  pupil  of  to-day  learns  better  than  those  did 
then  ? 

Miss  Jane  Allen  was  married  to  Judge  Ivory 
Quinby,  March  14,  1839.  She  died  Feb.  7,  1847. 
The  second  school  taught  in  the  township  was  by 
Miss  Sarah  Cable,  in  1837. 

Berwick  was  organized  as  a  township,  April  4, 
1854.  The  proceedings  of  this  election  either  were 
!>*  not  recorded  or  have  since  been  lost,  and  hence  the 
first  officers  under  the  new  organization  cannot  be 
given.  It  is  numbered  7  north,  of  range  i  west,  of 
the  fourth  principal  meridian,  and  has  for  its  north- 
ern line  Floyd  Township.  On  the  east  lies  Knox 
County,  on  the  south  Greenbush,  and  the  west  Rose- 
ville  Township.  The  streams,  Nigger  Creek,  Cedar 
Creek  and  Cedar  Fork  meander  southwesterly 
through  the  township,  which  afford  good  opportunity 
for  drainage.  Along  and  adjacent  to  those  streams 
the  land  is  somewhat  broken  and  liberally  timbered. 
The  remaining  portion  of  the  township  is  rolling 
prairie.  It  is  a  good  farming  country;  the  farms  are 
well  cultivated  and  mostly  owned  by  those  who 
work  them ;  the  dwelling  houses  are  well  built  and 
comfortable. 

The  Iowa  Central  runs  through  the  township,  en- 
tering at  the  northwest  corner  and  running  along 
through  the  northern  tier  of  sections.  It  was  com- 
pleted through  here  in  January,  1883.  In  1880, 
Berwick  had  a  population  of  1,003  souls,  and  this  is 
about  the  number  of  inhabitants  at  the  present 
time. 

The  following  statistics  are  given  regarding  the 
schools  in  the  township,  which  were  taken  from  the 


County  Superintendent's  annual  report,  ending  June 
3oth,'i885.  There  were  eight  school  districts  in  the 
township,  with  a  valuation  of  school  property 
amounting  to  $3,500,  and  the  buildings  are  con- 
structed, one  of  brick,  the  rest  of  wood.  Of  persons 
under  21  years  of  age,  there  were  451,  of  whom  257 
were  of  scholastic  age,  272  being  enrolled.  The 
highest  wages  paid  to  teachers  was  $45,  the  lowest 
$30  per  month.  The  tax  levy  for  this  year  was 
$1,925. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  of  1885,  the  following 
items  are  obtained : 

Number  of  acres  of  improved  land,  22,572;  num- 
ber of  acres  of  unimproved  land,  160;  value  of  im- 
proved lands,  $294,770;  value  of  unimproved  land, 
$1,330;  total  value  of  lots,  $7,002;  number  of 
horses,  775;  number  of  cattle,  1,484;  asses  and 
mules,  55  ;  sheep,  429;  hogs,  2,824;  steam  engines, 
i  ;  carriages  and  wagons,  225  ;  watches  and  clocks, 
159;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  106  ,  pianos,  4  ; 
melodeons  and  organs,  27.  Total  value  of  personal^ 
property,  $30,430. 

Below  we  give  the  names  of  the  citizens  who  have 
represented  this  township  as  Supervisors :  E. 
Lewis,  1854-64;  S.  B.  Crane,  1865;  H.  M.  Lewis, 
1866-78;  W.  D.  Miller,  1879-85. 

CHURCHES. 

Berwick  was  very  early  in  establishing  church  or- 
ganizations, which  indicates  that  the  early  settlers 
were  zealous  in  matters  of  religion. 

Baptist  Church. — This  society  was  organized  July 
28,  1833,  at  John  Smith's  house.  Sheldon  Lockwood 
and  wife,  John  Smith  and  wife  and  Elizabeth  Hanon 
constituted  the  first  membership.  Revs.  John  Clark 
and  John  Logan  presided  at  this  organization.  Rev. 
G.  Bartlet  was  the  first  Pastor,  taking  charge  Aug. 
i,  1833,  and  serving  until  December,  1834;  then 
they  were  without  a  pastor  for  over  a  year,  when  Rev. 
R.  M.  Wilbur  assumed  charge,  serving  until  Septem- 
ber, 1844.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Isaac  Matteson, 
who  served  the  church  until  June,  1845,  giving  place 
then  to  Erastus  Minor,  who  remained  until  June, 
1847.  R£V-  Joel  Sweet  was  the  next  pastor  in  charge, 
serving  the  Society  until  February,  1850.  Rev.  Jo- 
seph Elliott  came  in  December,  and  remained  until 
May,  185  r.  Following  Mr.  Elliott  was  Rev.  Wm. 
T.  Ely,  who  served  his  flock  until  1853,  when  Rev. 
G.  D.  Simmons  took  charge,  remaining  until  October 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1854.  Rev.  Truman  Gregory  accepted  a  call  March, 

1855,  and   remained  until  June,  1856,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  H.  S.  P.  Warren,  who  took  charge 
in  March.     Mr.  Warren  served  until  1859,  and  was 
followed  by  Rev.  C.   E.   Bailey,  who  remained  until 
January,    1861.     Rev.    P.   P.  Shirley  took  charge  in 
September,  the  same  year,  and  was  with  the  church 
until  May,  1864,  when  Rev.  R.  L.  Caldwell  assumed 
the  pastorate,  remaining  until  July,  1866.     He  was 
succeeded  in  September  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Congers,  who 
served  until   October,  1868.      Rev.  Gary  Telsberry 
became  pastor  March,   1869,  remaining  until  Febru- 
ary, 1870,  and  was  followed  in  June  by  Rev.  Homer 
E.  Norton,  who  remained  until  November,  1874.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  D.  G.  Zaak,  who  took  charge 
in  June,   1875,   and  served    the  congregation  until 
death  took  him  home,  Sept  25,  1876.     Rev.  George 
Gray  was  the  next  to  accept  the  call,  Jan.  i,  1877, 
and  remained  until  Jan.  i,  1881.      Rev.  J.  F.  Cald- 
well followed  in  August,  remaining  until  1884,  when 
'he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  pastor,  J.  F.  Mer- 
riam.     The  congregation  has  a  membership  at  pres- 
ent of  115;  total  membership  since  its  organization 
541.     The  first  building  was  erected  in    1840,  and 
was  located  a  little  north  of  the  present   edifice.     It 
is  occupied  now  as  a  dwelling  house  by  R.  A.  Beck. 

•The  present  church  building  was  erected  in  1856,  at 
a  cost  of  $3,000,  and  was  dedicated  in  1857.  A  good 
parsonage  is  attached  to  the  church,  costing  $1,400. 
A  good  Sabbath  School  is  one  of  the  interesting  fea- 
tures of  this  organization,  having  a  membership  of 
145.  It  is  a  large  commodious  building,  and  well 
furnished.  The  society  is  prosperous  and  the  mem- 
bers active. 

7'he  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in 
1832,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year.  Rev.  Mr.  Cordier 
was  the  first  preacher  to  hold  service  about  this  neigh- 
borhood, which  was  at  Thomas  Pearce's  house.  Rev. 
Barton  Randall  organized  the  first  class,  in  the  spring 
of  1833.  This  class  was  composed  of  Thomas  Pearce 
and  wife,  Barton  H.  Cartwright  and  wife  and  Robert 
Ray  and  wife.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church  at  Berwick.  They  held  their  first  meet- 
ing at  Thomas  Pearce's  house  and  other  private 
houses  until  1837,  when  the  organization  was  perma- 
nently located  at  Berwick  Village.  After  it  was  lo- 
cated at  this  village  the  society  was  served  by  Revs. 
Thomas  Hobart  and  Thomas  Kirkpatrick.  In  1852 
they  erected  the  first  church  building.  This  is  now 


used  for  a  store  by  Mr.  Beck.  In  1868  they  erected 
a  new  edifice  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  It  is  of  Gothic 
architecture,  and  is  an  attractive  building,  or  was 
when  it  was  new.  It  is  now  sadly  out  of  repair,  and 
if  not  attended  to  soon,  will  be  worthless.  With  the 
church  is  a  good  parsonage.  Present  membership  is 
about  30.  Rev.  G.  B.  Snedaker  has  charge,  holding 
service- every  two  weeks.  Mr.  Snedaker  also  serves 
the  Cameron  Church. 

BERWICK   CEMETERY. 

This  cemetery  was  laid  out  in  1840,  and  was 
among  the  earliest  located  in  the  county.  It  con- 
tains four  acres  of  ground,  and  is  a  very  pretty  rest- 
ing place  for  the  departed.  The  first  person  buried 
here  was  the  son  of  Franklin  Ogden,  in  1840.  It  is 
under  a  trustee's  government.  In  this  cemetery  are 
some  very  neat  little  tombstones,  and  the  grounds 
are  well  cared  for. 


Berwick  Village. 

N  r836  Thomas  Pearce  and  Samuel  G. 
Morse  thought  that  the  township  was  of 
sufficient  importance,  in  population  at  least, 
to  warrant  them  in  founding  a  village.  Ac- 
cordingly they  laid  out  their  plat.  It  was  lo- 
cated on  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  5,  and  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  6,  and  contained  fifty  and  five-eighths 
acres.  It  was  first  called  Bowling  Green,  but  was 
subsequently  changed  to  Berwick.  It  was  surveyed 
by  Peter  Butler,  and  the  plat  was  recorded  July  14, 
of  the  same  year. 

This  little  village  is  nicely  located  and  has  a  fine 
agricultural  country  surrounding  it.  At  one  time 
there  was  quite  a  trade  carried  on  here,  and  it  is  yet 
a  good  shipping  point  for  stock  and  grain.  The  ship- 
ping is  done  by  the  Iowa  Central  Railroad,  which 
has  a  station  here.  Its  population  numbers  about 
175  persons.  The  village  is  laid  out  with  a  plaza  or 
square  in  the  center,  after  the  Southern  or  Mexican 
style  of  laying  out  towns. 

Miss  Sarah  Cable  taught  the  first  school  here,  in 
1837.  They  have  at  present  a  good  school  in  the 
village,  with  an  average  attendance  of  35  pupils. 

R.  A.  Beck  is  the  present  Postmaster,  and  has  had 
a  tenure  of  office  for  some  16  years. 
Its  business  is  represented  by  Beck  &  Lewis,  and 


WAP. REN  COUNTY. 


Dement  &  Sheldon,  who  have  general  merchandise 
stores.  Dr.  F.  K.  Morse  keeps  a  drug  store,  and  is 
also  a  practicing  physician.  C.  Oseran  has  a  boot 
and  shoe  store,  and  Thomas  Brown  does  the  black- 
smithing  for  the  village.  J.  L.  Stormet  supplies  the 
people  with  a  market. 

The  people  of  this  village  have  provided  for  the 
education  of  their  children  by  erecting  a  good  school 
building,  and  securing  the  services  of  a  good  teacher. 
They  have  an  average  attendance  at  the  school  of 
about  30  pupils. 


COLD  BROOK  TOWNSHIP. 

LD  BROOK  TOWNSHIP,  or  the  terri- 
tory that  is  now  embraced  by  it,  was 
among  the  earliest  that  was  settled  in 
the  county.  As  early  as  1828,  Peter  Pecken- 
paugh,  from  Indiana,  found  his  way  up  into 
this  locality,  and  put  down  his  stake  for  a 

*  home,  on  section   30.     Peter   did   not  have  long  to 
wait,  for  Peter  Butler  and  Jeremiah  McFarland  came 

I  on    soon,  seeking  homes    for    themselves   and  their 

*  families.     The  former  located  on  section  31,  and  the 
latter  on    section    25.     These   pioneers   were   from 
Kentucky.     They  all  had  their  families  to  brighten 
their  pioneer    firesides,    and   this   gave  them  hope, 
courage  and  strength  to  put  the  axe  into  the  timber, 
the   plow-share   into  the   virgin  soil,  and   carve  out 
homes  for  themselves  and  families. 

If  there  is  any  one  position  in  life  more  lonely  than 
another,  it  is  that  of  a  man  starting  out  in  a  new 
country  all  alone  to  make  his  fortune,  without  wife  or 
children  to  assist  him  in  building  up  a  home;  it 
would  seem  that  his  condition  must  be  something 
akin  to  "Coleridge's  Ancient  Mariner" — 

"  Alone,  alone,  all,  all  alone 
Alone  on  a  wide,  wide  sea. 
So  lonely  'twas,  that  God  hiinselt, 
Scarce  .'seemed  there  to  be." 

Peter  Peckenpaugh  died  but  a  few  years  ago.  His 
wife  died  in  1850.  Mr.  McFarland  has  only  been 
dead  a  few  years.  Peter  Butler,  who  figured  quite 
extensively  in  the  early  history  of  the  county,  moved 
to  Oregon,  in  1853,  where,  after  an  active  life,  he 
died.  He  was  one  of  the  first  County  Commission- 


ers. William  Whitman  and  family,  and  Josiah 
Whitman,  his  brother,  were  the  next  to  settle  in 
the  township,  which  was  in  the  spring  of  1829. 
They  came  from  Kentucky  and  made  claims  upon 
section  32.  William  was  a  preacher  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  in  those  early  days,  charmed  his  hear- 
ers with  his  eloquence.  He  died  at  his  home  in 
1838.  Josiah  Whitman  was  married  to  Han- 
nah Davidson.  He  died  near  Monmouth  in 
1865.  His  widow  is  still  living  in  this  city.  Wil- 
liam Whitman's  widow  married  Rev.  Richard  John- 
son, who  was  also  a  minister  of  the  Christian 
Church.  They  are  both  dead.  Richard  H.  Rag- 
land  and  family,  of  Kentucky,  moved  into  the  town- 
ship at  an  early  day,  locating  in  the  timber  near 
Cedar  Fork.  This  pioneer  did  not  live  long  in  his 
Western  home,but  passed  on  to  the  eternal  one,  dying 
in  1839.  His  widow  survived  him,  nearly  half  a 
century,  dying  in  1885,  at  the  old  homestead. 
Their  children  are  residing  in  the  townsnip.  In  1830, 
Aaron  Hardin,  from  Schuyler  Co.,  111.,  came  in  and 
located  on  section  33.  He  left  the  county  at  an 
early  day.  John  G.  Haley,  with  his  wife,  Elizabeth, 
came  in  this  year,  and  located  their  home  on  section 
29.  He  was  a  very  active  and  influential  man,  and 
an  Elder  in  the  Christian  Church.  He  was  quite 
prominent  in  the  early  days  in  county  matters,  and 
was  at  one  time  Sheriff  of  the  county.  He  moved  to 
Missouri  in  the  fall  of  1870,  and  died  there  some 
years  later.  His  first  wife,  Elizabeth,  died  in  1847,  at 
the  old  homestead.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  three  boys  and  four  girls — Mary  Jane, 
Henry,  Edward.  Eliza,  Cynthia  Ann  and  Thomas. 
Of  these  children  three  are  living— Jane  and  Eliza 
in  Warren  County,  and  Thomas  in  California. 

Mr.  Haley  married  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Mar- 
tha Whitman,  "Aunt  Patsey,"  who  came  from  Ken- 
tucky, in  1831,  locating  on  section  7.  Her 
seven  children  were  William  C.,  S.  Squire,  Sally, 
C.,  John  C.,Lucy  A.,  Huldy  A.  and  Christina  J.  They 
are  all  living  except  Huldy  A  and  William  C.,  and 
all  in  the  county  except  S.  Squire.  Aunt  Patsey  is  liv- 
ing with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Hascall,  on  section  7,  in 
Floyd  Township,  in  her  891)1  year.  She  is  still 
strong  and  hearty,  and  bids  far  to  live  many  more 
years. 

Of  those  who  came  after  the  pioneers  above  men- 
tioned up  to  1837,  there  were  Phillip  Homey,  H.  S. 
Hascall,  Max  Haley,  P.  R.  Haley,  Alva  Gordon 


WARREN  COUMTY. 


7'S 


David  R.  Shelton,  Sr.,  with  a  family  of  13  children, 
Edward  Grounds,  William  Harper,  Sr.,  Seth  C.  Mur- 
phy, Jacob  Rust,  David  Morrow,William  Fraymeyer, 
and  Mrs.  Claycomb  and  children,  Henry  and  Wil- 
liam Bruner,  Thomas  Wallace,  Sr.,  William  and  Jo- 
seph Murphy,  William  Wallace,  Alexander  Moore, 
Nelson  E.  Hills,  Thomas  Griffee,  Jesse  Cleveland, 
Henry  Landers,  William  and  John  Davidson,  John 
Underwood,  John  P.  Cone,  b.  S.  Wallace  and  John  E. 
Murphy.  Thus  a  goodstart  was  made  toward  settling 
the  township.  They  were  an  industrious,  intelligent 
class  of  pioneers,  and  went  to  work  with  energy  and 
perseverance  to  build  up  homes,  develop  the  town- 
ship and  improve  the  country. 

Seth  C.  Murphy  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
township,  in  a  small  log  house  on  section  30,  or  in 
the  "Neck."  This  was  in  1832.  Mr,  Murphy  died 
in  the  fall  of  1836.  Rev.  William  Whitman  was  the 
first  preacher  to  entertain  these  pioneers  with  gospel 
eloquence,  which  was  in  the  old  town  of  Cold  Brook, 
in  1831,  the  services  being  held  in  Peter  Pecken- 
paugh's  house.  Alma  Arasmith  and  Elizabeth 
Peckenpaugh  led  off  in  this  township  in  the  first 
'  matrimonial  venture.  This  very  interesting  event, 
which  created  quite  a  sensation  in  this  neighborhood, 
was  duly  solemnized  on  Christmas  day,  1831,  by 
Rev.  William  Whitman.  Jacob  Rust  was  the  first 
man  to  embark  in  the  mercantile  business,  which  he 
did  by  opening  a  store  in  a  log  cabin  in  the  town  of 
Cold  Brook.  Jacob  did  not  have  an  elaborate  assort- 
ment of  goods,  nor  was  there  much  capital  invested, 
but  his  little  cabin  store,  as  humble  as  it  appeared, 
was  a  pleasing  sight  to  those  pioneers.  A  postoffice 
was  opened  at  Cold  Brook,  in  1832,  and  Alva  Gordon 
was  the  favorite  son  who  held  Uncle  Sam's  commis- 
sion. 

Thomas  Wallace  started  the  first  saw  mill  in  the 
township,  about  a  mile  north  of  Cold  Brook,  on  Ce- 
dar Creek.  This  was  one  of  the  first  mills  in  the 
county,  and  was  started  in  the  summer  of  1832. 
Subsequently  he  put  in  a  stone  for  grinding  corn. 
Cold  Brook  received  its  name  from  some  cold  springs 
which  were  located  near  there.  It  was  platted  by 
John  G.  Haley. 

In  1832,  Mr.  Haggett  and  John  Bundy  started  a 
blacksmith  shop  here,  which  was  the  first  in  the 
township.  At  one  time,  Cold  Brook  was  quite  a 
town,  and.  a  thriving  trade  carried  on.  The  Brink 
&  Walker  stage  line  passed  through  the  town.  It 


was  twelve  miles  from  here  to  Knoxville  and  eight 
miles  to  Monmouth.  Mr.  Gordon  served  as  Post- 
master until  1840,  when  H.  E.  Haley  was  appointed. 
A.  D.  Hawkins  succeeded  him  and  was  the  last 
Postmaster  in  the  town.  Upon  the  completion  of 
the  railroad,  Mr.  Hawkins  moved  the  office  with  his 
store  to  Cameron,  where  it  was  established  in  1855. 
The  starting  of  the  town  of  Cameron  broke  the  town 
of  Cold  Brook  up,  and  the  owners  of  the  land  there 
have  had  the  good  sense  to  convert  the  site  into 
fields.  If  many  of  the  other  would-be  towns  in  the 
county  would  follow  the  example  of  the  town  of 
Cold  Brook,  there  would  be  many  acres  of  good  land 
put  to  a  proper  and  beneficial  use. 

A  sad  accident  occurred  near  this  town  in  the 
early  days  (1838).  Mat  Dean  and  John  Hardin 
were  fishing  in  the  mill  pond.  They  were  sitting  on 
a  log,  one  end  of  which  lay  on  the  bank  and  the 
other  ran  out  into  the  pond.  Dean  suddenly  had  a 
fit  and  fell  off  the  log  into  the  water.  Hardin  see- 
ing him  go  down,  plunged  in  after  him,  and  they  • 
were  both  drowned.  Singularly  enough,  their  bodies 
were  found  some  distance  apart.  Hardin's  body 
was  found  a  few  hours  after  the  accident,  but  that  of 
Dean  was  not  recovered  until  the  next  day,  and  not 
until  after  the  pond  had  been  dragged.  It  was 
found  clinging  witli  knees  and  arms  to  the  under 
side  of  the  log  upon  which  they  had  been  sitting. 

This  township  was  organized  April  4,  1854.  The 
minutes  of  this  meeting  are  imperfect,  but  we  find 
that  Philip  Horney  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Jos- 
eph Stewart,  Clerk.  After  the  votes  were  polled,  it 
was  found  that  Benjamin  F.  Morey  was  elected  Sup- 
ervisor; J.  S.  Parker,  Clerk;  James  McFarland, 
Assessor  and  Collector;  Andrew  Claycomb  and  B. 
F.  Morey,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  W.  H.  H.  Clay- 
comb,  T.  F.  Taylor  and  B.  S.  Parker  were  elected 
Commissioners  of  Highways.  It  is  .township  11 
north  of  range  i  west,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Kelly,  on  the  east  by  Knox  County,  on  the  south 
by  Floyd  and  on  the  West  by  Monmouth  Town- 
ship. 

The  only  village  in  the  township  is  Cameron,  sit- 
uated on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road, where  some  of  the  people  do  their  trading. 

This  road  runs  nearly  all  the  way  on  the  southern 
line  of  this  township  and  was  completed  through  it 
in  the  early  part  of  1855. 

It  is  watered  by  Cedar  and  Talbot  Creeks  and 


7i6 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


their  branches.  Much  of  the  township  contains 
broad,  rolling  prairie,  and  some  parts  are  rather 
broken.  The  land  lying  along  and  bordering  the 
streams  is  very  well  timbered.  Most  of  the  farms 
are  well  cultivated  and  provided  with  good  buildings. 
The  farmers  with  but  few  exceptions  are  out  of  debt 
and  prosperous.  More  attention  is  being  given  by 
the  farmers  to  the  raising  of  stock  than  was  formerly 
done,  and  the  production  in  this  line  is  increasing 
every  year. 

The  population,  in  1880,  was  1,084,  ar>d  it  is  esti- 
mated there  has  been  a  little  gain  since  that  time. 

The  County  Superintendent's  reports  for  the  year 
ending  June  30,  1885,  contains  the  following  school 
items  :  There  are  eight  school  districts,  one  graded 
and  seven  ungraded  schools,  with  a  valuation  of 
school  property  amounting  to  $6,400.  All  of  the 
school-buildings  are  frame.  Of  persons  under  21 
years  of  age,  there  were  425,  of  whom  272  were  of 
school  age,  and  252  were  enrolled.  The  highest 
wages  paid  to  teachers  is  $45  and  the  lowest  $25  per 
month.  The  tax  levy  for  this  year  was  $2,170. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  for  the  year  1885,  the 
following  information  is  obtained  :  Number  of  acres 
improved  land,  22,439  ;  value  of  improved  land,  $314,- 
025;  total  value  of  lots,  $3,375;  number  of  horses, 
"922;  cattle,  1,688;  asses  and  mules,  37;  sheep, 
157;  hogs,  3,249;  steam  engines,  i;  carriages  and 
wagons,  308;  watches  and  clocks,  197  ;  sewing  and 
knitting  machines,  99  ;  pianos,  7  ;  melodeons  and 
organs,  35.  Total  value  of  personal  property, 
$708.02. 

Below  is  given  the  names  of  the  citizens  who  have 
been  honored  with  the  office  of  Supervisor : 
SUPERVISORS. 

Benj.S.   Morey 1854 

Philip  Horney 

W.  H.   H.    Claycomb 


Philip   Horney 

W.  H.    H.   Claycomb. 

Henry   Murphy 

W.  H.  H.  Claycomb.. 
James  McFarland   .... 


,8S6 
.1857 

•1859 
.1860 
.1661-2 


L  .  M  .  Gates  ...........    .  1863-4 

J.  H.    Murphy  ..........  1865 

Philip    Horney  ...........  1866 

J.   R.  Barnett  ............  1867-70 

L.  M.  Gates  .............  1871-3 

J-   T  Hartman  ...........  1874-5 

Philip  Horney   ..........  1876 

J.  T.  Hartman  ..........  1877-85 


Cameron. 


AMERON   is   located  on  the  line  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &   Quincy  Railroad 
and  principally  in  Floyd  Township.     Af- 
ter  the  route  of  this   road  was   determined, 
Robert  Cameron    concluded  that  this  would 
be  a  good  locality  to  lay  out  a  town.     It  was 
first  platted  Feb.  22,  1854,  and  was  called  Cameron- 


ville,  and  was  located  south  of  the  track.  There 
were  a  few  people  at  least  here  who  must  have  had 
great  expectations  regarding  this  town.  Why  they 
did  so  remains  a  mystery.  We  find  it  was  platted 
again  at  two  different  times,  once  by  Ivory  Quinby 
and  John  H.  Warren.  This  plat  was  filed  Dec.  21, 
1854,  and  was  located  on  sections  32  and  33  in 
township  ii  north  of  range  i  west,  containing  79 
acres.  It  was  surveyed  by  J.  W.  Adcock.  Camer- 
onville  south  of  the  railroad  track  was  platted  by 
Robert  and  Sarah  Cameron,  March  6,  1854,  and  was 
located  on  sections  5  and  6,  township  10  north  of 
range  i  west,  and  was  also  surveyed  by  J.  W.  Ad- 
cock.  Waste's  Addition  to  Cameron  was  platted 
July  13,  1855,  and  was  located  on  section  4,  town- 
ship 10  north  of  range  i  west,  and  was  surveyed  by 
S.  M.  Moore. 

Robert  Cameron  made  another  addition  to  Camer- 
onviile,  Aug.  2,  1856.  Waste's  addition  lay  east  of 
the  first  plat  and  also  extended  across  the  railroad 
track  into  Cold  Brook  Township,  and  was  called 
Cameron.  This  place,  or  noted  village,  is  known 
in  the  sad  years  gone  by,  by  travelers  as  a  sort  of  a 
cross  between  a  watering  place  and  a  harbor  of  re- 
fuge. It  is  not  remembered,  that  anybody  ever  had 
the  courage  or  audacity  to  accuse  a  traveler  of  vol- 
untarily stopping,  but  he  has  been  quietly  or  uncere- 
moniously "  dropped,"  by  the  conductors,  to  foot  it 
back  to  Galesburg,  and  there  wait  for  the  next  train 
to  carry  him  on  to  his  destination,  giving  him  in  the 
meantime  ample  opportunity  to  stretch  his  limbs, 
for  which  he  left  his  car,  and  was  left  by  it.  The 
railroad  officials  corrected  their  management  at 
Galesburg  some  years  ago,  and  hence  Cameron  has 
gone  down,  not  having  any  more  unfortunate  travel- 
ers to  supply  with  cigars,  cookies,  crackers  and 
cheese. 

The  first  man  to  open  a  store  here  was  A.  B.  Haw- 
kins, who  moved  over  from  the  old  town  of  Cold 
Brook.  The  postoffice  was  established  here  after 
the  railroad  was  completed,  in  February,  1855,  and 
Mr.  Hawkins  was  appointed  postmaster.  After  this, 
the  name  of  Cameron  was  united  upon,  and  it  has 
been  known  as  such  since  that  time.  Edward 
Hunt  followed  Hawkins  as  postmaster,  and  served 
during  President  Buchanan's  administration.  Har- 
rison Waste  came  in  during  the  Republican  admin- 
istration of  President  Lincoln.  He  was  followed  by 
H.  C.  Higgin,  H.  H.  Kelly,  and  E.  Hart,  who  is  the 


:    • 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


7'? 


present  postmaster.  After  the  advent  of  the  rail- 
road, some  houses  from  Galesburg  opened  business 
here.  At  one  time  it  was  quite  a  shipping  point  for 
grain,  and  it  still  receives  most  of  the  products 
from  the  western  portions  of  Cold  Brook  and  Floyd 
Townships,  and  some  from  the  eastern  parts  of  Lenox 
and  Monmouth.  The  population,  as  estimated  by  S. 
T.  Shelton  last  spring,  is  306. 

There  is  a  general  store  carried  on  here  by  E. 
Hart,  and  one  by  L.  T.  Kelly.  Robert  Atkinson 
keeps  harness  and  saddlery  ;  Temple  &  Son  carry  on 
the  drug  business ;  E.  W.  Rowe  has  also  a  general 
store. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Christian  Church  is  the  same  society  that 
was  organized  at  Peter  Peckempaugh's  on  section 
30,  April  30,  1831,  and  is  one  of  the  first  church  or- 
ganizations in  the  county.  The  first  members  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  county.  As  they 
were  somewhat  historical,  their  names  are  given  be- 
low: William  Whitman,  Sarah  Whitman,  Julia  A. 
Whitman,  Henry  C.  Haley,  Elizabeth  Haley,  John 
C.  and  Francis  Murphy,  John  G.  Haley,  Richard  H. 
Ragland,  Nancy  Ragland,  Wm.  M.  and  Elizabeth 
Davidson,  Josiah  Whitman,  Elijah  Davidson,  Sr., 
Margaret  Davidson,  Sr.,and  Margaret  Davidson,  Jr., 
Elijah  Davidson,  Jr.  Six  of  the  above  members  are 
still  living:  Julia  A.  Whitman,  now  Mrs.  Davidson; 
Elizabeth  Haley,  now  Mrs.  Jones  ;  Francis  Murphy, 
now  living  in  Oregon;  Margaret  Davidson,  Jr.,  also 
in  Oregon;  Elijah  Davidson,  Jr.,  in  Oregon;  and 
Elizabeth  Davidson,  now  Mrs.  Lucas,  and  living  at 
Abingdon.  This  church  was  constituted  upon  the 
belief  that  the  scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments are  the  word  of  God,  and  the  only  rule  of 
faith  and  practice,  and  sufficient  for  the  government 
of 'the  Church.  They  erected  their  first  church 
building  at  Savanna,  afterward  called  Cold  Brook, 
which  was  completed  in  1839.  Rev.  Wm.  Whit- 
man was  their  first  pastor.  Before  their  church 
building  was  constructed,  meetings  were  held  in 
school  houses  and  in  private  families.  This  society 
at  one  time  numbered  over  200  members.  In  1851 
many  of  its  members  went  to  Oregon,  enough  to 
form  quite  a  congregation  there.  The  place  where 
they  settled  was  called  Monmouth,  after  the  town 
in  Warren  County.  In  1860,  Cameron  having  be- 
come a  thriving  railroad  town,  and  the  business  of 


Cold  Brook  having  been  transferred  to  that  place, 
it  was  decided  to  move  the  church  also.  Accord- 
ingly an  edifice  was  put  up  at  Cameron,  at  a  cost  of 
$2,300.  In  an  early  day  the  people  attended  this 
church  from  far  and  near ;  from  Abingdon,  Mon- 
mouth, Ellison,  Gerlaw,  etc.  Among  the  preachers 
that  have  served  this  church  are :  Revs.  Wm.  Whit- 
man, Alexander  Reynolds,  James  R.  Ross,  Livy 
Hatchett,  John  Rigdon,  (cousin  of  Sidney  Rigdon  of 
Mormon  fame),  William  Davenport,  A.  J.  Kane, 
Isaac  Murphy,  John  G.  Haley,  Josiah  Whitman, 
Alex  Johnson,  L.  S.  Wallace,  .  J.  S.  Ed- 
wards, John  E.  Murphy,  and  T.  H.  Good- 
night, now  in  Kansas.  Some  pf  these  early 
preachers  are  still  living.  When  the  church 
had  no  regular  pastors,  Elder  S.  T.  Shelton, 
one  of  Cold  Brook's  most  prominent  and  favored 
citizens,  would  preach  to  the  congregation.  Re- 
cently they  have  secured  the  services  of  Rev. 
Charles  Laycock,  a  talented  young  preacher.  They 
have  now  about  125  members  with  a  large  and  in- 
teresting Sabbath-school.  This  society  is  prosper- 
ous and  is  doing  good  work  in  the  Christian  field  of 
labor. 

^ 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  J 
1856  ;  M.  B.  .Morey  and  wife,  J.  B.  Porterfield  and 
wife,  Benjamin  Tinkham  and  wife,  and  William  P.J 
Crosby  and  wife,  constituted  the  first  members. 
Their  building  was  erected  in  1857,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,300.  This  building  was  burned  in  Sept.  1877.  A 
new  edifice  was  erected  in  1883,  and  was  dedicated 
July  ist,  the  same  year.  The  dedicatory  sermon 
was  preached  by  Revs.  George  W.  Palmer,  pastor, 
and  Thomas  H.  Pryon.  It  is  a  neat  frame  structure, 
costing  about  $3,000,  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
probably  250  persons.  They  have  a  good  parson- 
age, which  cost  $1,000.  Rev.  J.  B.  Snedaker  is  the 
present  pastor  who  presides  over  about  60  members. 
In  connection  with  the  society  is  an  interesting  Sab- 
bath-school with  about  45  members. 

The  First  Baptist  Church.  A  number  of  the 
members  of  this  church  assembled  June  30,  1866, 
for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  an  organization.  Rev. 
J.  N.  Talman  of  Monmouth  preached  the  sermon, 
when  Rev.  H.  H.  Parks  was  called  to  the  chair.  J. 
N.  Talman  was  chosen  clerk  pro  tern.  Letters  were 
presented  by  D.  F.  Smith,  C.  C.  Manford  and  F.  G. 
Manford.  Several  others  gave  their  names  and  de- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


clared  themselves  in  favor  of  uniting  as  soon  as  they 
could  receive  letters  from  their  former  churches. 
After  this,  articles  of  faith  were  adopted.  Rev.  John 
Ballon  was  the  first  pastor.  The  church  was  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  in  August,  1869.  Rev.  Balton 
terminated  his  labors  with  the  church,  March  4,  1871. 
He  was  followed  by  J.  K.  Pennington,  who  remained 
until  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  G. 
Kent,  who  served  until  1880.  Rev.  T.  W.  Jones 
then  took  charge  and  remained  for  a  while,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Depperman.  At  present 
the  society  is  without  a  pastor,  but  occasionally  they 
have  services  at  the  church. 

SCHOOLS. 

Cameron  has  a  fair  graded  school.  It  is  a  union 
district  from  Floyd  and  Cold  Brook.  Before  the  con- 
solidation in  187 1,  they  had  separate  schools  and 
school  buildings.  After  the  districts  were  united,  a 
good  two-story  building  was  erected  for  school  pur- 
poses. Miss  Libbie  Regnieris  the  present  principal, 
and  Miss  Kate  Boggles,  assistant,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  75  pupils. 


ELLISON  TOWNSHIP. 

LLISON  was  organized  as  a  township,  April 
4,  1854.  Agreeable  to  the  notice  previ- 
ously given,  the  legal  voters  of  this  town- 
ship met  on  this  day  and  proceeded  to  elect 
their  officers  and  perfect  their  organization.  E. 
Mitchell  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  A.  S. 
Smith,  Clerk.  The  result  of  this  meeting  was  the 
election  of  E.  Mitchell,  for  Supervisor,  Wm.  Coleman, 
Clerk;  J.  P.  Rutherford,  Assessor;  N.  B.  Cramer, 
Collector;  H.  F.  Sexton  and  S.  D.  Perkins,  Justices 
of  the  Peace;  H.  S.  Sexton,  Overseer  of  the  Poor; 
D.  Leacock  and  N.  Eldridge,  Commissioners  of 
Highways  ;  W.  H.  Gilmore,  George  VV.  Scott,  Con- 
stables. Thus  equipped  for  self-government  the 
people  of  this  township,  received  new  life  and  went 
on  in  their  development  and  prosperity. 

This  territory  is  in  township  9  north  of  range  3 
west,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Tompkins,  on 
the  east  by  Roseville,  on  the  south  by  Point  Pleas- 


ant Township,  and  on  the  west  by  Henderson 
County. 

Field  Jarvis  was  the  first  settler  in  this  township, 
locating  in  1829  at  the  head  of  Ellison  Creek.  It 
was  some  years  before  he  had  any  neighbors. 

Isaac  A.  Watson  and  Wm.  P.  Thompson  settled  in 
this  township  in  1835.  Kenner  Brent,  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth, and  a  large  family  of  children,among  whom  were 
Kenner,  Jr.,  David  C.,  Wm  P.  and  Paul,  came  in 
March,  1836,  locating  on  section  18.  They  were 
from  Lancaster  Co.  Va.  Mr.  Brent  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth,  are  both  dead.  Some  of  their  children  are 
still  living  in  the  township.  Mr.  Brent  was  in  the 
war  of  1812,  where  he  distinguished  himself  for  his 
bravery  in  several  active  engagements,  Seneca  Sals- 
bury  and  family  from  Ohio,  located  in  1836,  on  sec- 
tion 4.  Among  those  that  soon  followed  these  pio- 
neers and  settled  in  the  township  before  1840,  are 
Mr.  Meacham  and  family,  C.  Higler  and  family, 
Mathew  Cox  and  family,  Samuel  Baldwin  and  Jesse 
Coleman  with  their  families ;  also,  Mr.  Staley ;  John 
and  Edward  Ray,  with  their  families  ;  Benton  God- 
frey, Paul,  William  and  John  Birdsell,  Daniel  Lea- 
cock,  James  Gregory,  William  Talbot,  Decatur  Lof- 
tus,  and  family  from  Tennessee  ;  William  Brown  and 
family  from  Virginia.  Mr.  Jarvis  was  a  large,  pow- 
erful man,  and  a  noted  bee-hunter.  The  early  set- 
tlers depended  upon  Field  almost  entirely  to  furnish 
them  with  honey.  Horace  Sexton  and  wife,  Hannah, 
came  in  and  settled  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
township,  in  the  spring  of  1840.  When  they  settled, 
there  was  but  one  house  between  them  and  Mon- 
mouth.  They  came  from  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio. 
Horace  Sexton  died  at  the  old  homestead,  in  Oct., 
1877  ;  his  widow  is  still  living.  Seneca  Salsbury  and 
wife  are  both  dead,  the  former  but  recently.  It  is  said 
that  at  the  time  he  erected  his  dwelling  house,  it  was 
the  finest  house  in  the  county.  Mr.  Salsbury  was 
the  first  Postmaster  in  the  township. 

The  first  villnge  that  started  was  Lancaster,  on 
section  22.  It  contained  a  tavern,  two  stores,  a  black 
smith  shop,  and  Post  Office.  As  a  village  it  is  now 
deserted,  and  is  only  known  in  the  memory  of  the 
early  settlers. 

"  But  now  the  sounds  of  population  fail, 
No  cheerful  murmurs  fluctuate  the  gale; 
No  busy  steps  the  grass-grown  foot-way  tread, 
But  Blithe  blooming  Hush  of  life  is  fled/' 

But  while  it  is  no  longer  a  village,  on  its  site  can 


WARR&N  COUNTY. 


719 


be  traced  broad  fields  of  grain,  and  extensive  herds 
of  cattle  graze  and  chew  their  cuds  at  ease  on  the 
green  pasture. 

The  first  couple  to  enter  into  the  sacred  ties  of 
matrimony  were  Decatur  Loftus  and  Mary  Barrett. 
Their  honey-moon  and  after  life  were  spent  on  sec- 
tion 25.  The  first  birth  and  death  are  not  remem- 
bered. This  township  has  not  been  exempt  from  the 
wrathful  winds  of  earth,  though  it  has  been  shown 
that  it  deserved  no  such  affliction.  On  the  3oth  day 
of  May,  1858,  towards  sunset,  the  blue  sky  became 
overcast  with  dark,  ominous  clouds.  Soon  the  roar 
of  the  wind  was  heard  in  the  timber  west  of  Ellison 
Village.  The  dreadful  sound  increased  and  in  a  few 
seconds  a  tornado  with  lightning-like  speed  and  des- 
tructiveness  overshadowed  the  town.  But  a  few  mo- 
ments and  only  a  few,  buildings  were  left  standing, 
and  nearly  all  of  the  inhabitants  were  more  or  less 
injured,  and  many  of  them  killed. 

The  gale  came  from  Iowa  and  did  no  damage  un- 
til after  it  passed  the  Bluffs.  Its  path  was  about  40 
rods  wide  and  about  6  miles  long  in  its  destructive 
course.  It  made  one  of  its  fearful  revolutions  in 
front  of  Mr.  Kelly's  house,  and  after  demolishing 
the  town,  raised  up  from  the  ground  a  few  miles 
northwest  and  passed  away.  There  were  several 
stores  in  the  village,  blacksmith  shops,  taverns,  etc., 
all  of  which  were  demolished.  Fifteen  persons  were 
killed  and  fatally  wounded  and  many  were  disabled 
for  life.  Of  those  killed  and  who  died  from  the  ef- 
fects of  their  wounds,  were  the  Misses  McWilliams, 
Mrs.  Thompson  and  child,  Mrs.  Brazelton,  Martin 
Wentworth,  Miss  Lacy,  Mrs.  Boyd,  Mrs.  McCartney 
and  child,  Mr.  Johnson  and  child,  Mr.  Hurd,  and 
Mr.  Thompson,  who  lived  out  on  the  prairie.  On 
the  approach  of  the  tornado,  Mr.  Thompson,  with 
his  family,  had  gone  into  a  cave,  dug  on  purpose  for 
protection  against  such  a  catastrophe.  Curiosity 
got  the  best  of  his  judgment,  and  against  the  admo- 
nitions of  his  sensible  wife,  he  put  out  his  head  to 
see  how  a  tornado  looked  in  its  best  humor,  when 
the  end  of  a  rail  that  was  flying  about  in  the  air 
struck  him  in  the  "head,  knocking  it  off,  and  sending 
his  headless  body  back  into  the  cave,  where  it  fell 
at  the  feet  of  his  wife  and  children.  This  tornado 
was  terrible  in  its  power  and  must  have  been  very 
heavily  charged  with  electricity.  It  tore  the  ground 
up  for  rods,  and  took  wagons  and  literally  tore  them 
to  pieces.  From  one  heavy  wagon  wheel  it  took  off 


the  tire  and  neatly  cut  a  piece  from  it  two  feet  in 
length.  Over  a  score  of  the  dead,  wounded  and 
dying  were  brought  into  J.  M.  Kelly's  residence  and 
laid  about  on  the  floor.  The  scene  was  most  heart- 
rending and  beyond  all  description.  Their  groans 
and  sufferings  were  sickening  to  behold.  There  were 
only  two  men  in  the  town  unhurt ;  these  were  J.  M. 
Kelly  and  W.  L.  Edwards,  who  are  still  living. 

Ellison,  before  this  dreadful  visitation,  was  a 
thriving,  attractive,  pleasant_little  village.  It  broke 
up  and  disheartened  its  business  men  and  virtually 
ruined  the  town  as  a  trading  point. 

This  town  is  the  home  of  Mrs.  Nancy  Wilcox, 
grandmother  of  the  celebrated  opera  singer,  Emma 
Abbott.  A  very  good  story  is  related  about  the 
grandmother.  In  the  fall  of  1854  Mrs.  Wilcox  at- 
tended the  Methodist  Love  Feast,  in  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Ellison  village,  which  was  presided  over 
by  the  Rev.  Richard  Haney.  During  the  meeting, 
or  Love  Feast,  Mrs.  Wilcox  arose  to  give  her  relig- 
ious experiences.  Among  other  facts  related  by  this 
lady,  was  one  of  the  difficulties  which  beset  her  be- 
fore she  joined  the  Church.  When  she  had  made  up  , 
her  mind  to  number  herself  with  God's  people,  she 
addressed  her  husband,  saying:  "  Isaac,  my  beloved 
husband,  I  have  decided  to  give  my  heart  to  God, 
and  to  join  the  Methodist  Church."  Her  husband 
very  energetically  replied:  "  Nancy,  I'll  be  damned 
if  you  do!"  Mrs.  Wilcox,  with  equal  emphasis,  re- 
plied :  "  Isaac,  I'll  be  damned  if  I  don't!  "  Since 
that  day  Isaac  died  the  death  of  the  righteous  and 
Mrs.  Wilcox  is  still  living,  in  her  good  old  age,  the 
life  of  a  Christian. 

Ellison  Township  is  very  liberally  watered,  by 
Nigger  Creek,  with  its  tributaries,  and  Ellison  Creek. 
In  the  southwestern  part  the  land  is  broken  and 
pretty  well  timbered  ;  the  balance  is  mostly  rolling 
prairie,  with  a  rich  and  productive  soil.  There  are 
many  fine  and  well  cultivated  farms  in  the  township, 
and  the  farmers  are  mostly  all  in  independent  cir- 
cumstances. No  railroad  lines  pass  through  its  ter- 
ritory and  the  people  do  their  trading  mostly  at 
Roseville  and  some  at  Ellison.  Population,  in  1880, 
was  1,041,  and  it  has  not  gained  any  since  that  time. 

The  County  Superintendent,  in  her  report  ending 
June  30,  1885,  gives  the  following  information  relat- 
ing to  the  public  schools  of  the  township  :  There 
were  seven  schools  districts,  with  a  valuation  of 
school  property  of  $6,525.  In  these  districts  all  the 


720 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


buildings  were  frame.  Of  persons  under  21  years  of 
age,  there  were  401,  of  whom  293  were  of  scholastic 
age,  270  being  enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid 
teachers  was  $50  per  month,  the  lowest  $25  per 
month.  The  tax  levy  for  this  township  was  $2,450. 

From  the  Assessor's  reports  for  the  year  1885,  the 
following  information  has  been  obtained  :  Number 
of  acres  of  improved  lands,  22,740;  value  of  im- 
proved lands,  $325,585  ;  number  of  horses,  787  ; 
cattle,  1,647;  mules  and  asses,  40;  sheep,  18;  hogs, 
3,055  ;  steam  engines,  I  ;  carnages  and  wagons,  290, 
watches  and  clocks,  141 ;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 97  ;  pianos,  5  ;  melodeons  and  organs,  34 ; 
total  cash  value  of  personal  property,  $56,610. 

The  following  named  citizens  have  represented 
Ellison  Township  as  Supervisors  :  Eliphalet  Mitchell, 
1854-55;  George  W.  Palmer,  1856;  N.  A.  Eldridge, 
1857-64;  Wm.  A.  Albright,  1865;  N.  A.  Eldridge, 
1866-67;  Thos.  Paul,  1868;  W.  R.  Rayburne, 
1869-70;  J.  A.  Pierson,  1871;  S.  B.  Crane,  1872; 
E.  Mitchell,  1873;  S.  B.  Crane,  1874;  E.  Mitchell, 
1875-77;  A.  K.  Morris,  1878;  E.Mitchell,  1879; 
A.  K.  Morris,  1880;  E.  Mitchell,  1881-82;  M.  V. 
Jamieson,  1883-85. 


Ellison  Village. 

'MONO  the  early  towns  of  the  county  plat- 
ted was  that  of  Ellison.  It  was  laid  out 
under  the  proprietorship  of  Joseph  De- 
hague,  and  the  plaf  was  recorded  May  10, 
1836.  It  embraced  the  southwest  quarter  of 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  6.  Wil- 
liam Butler  was  the  surveyor  who  laid  it  out.  This 
village  grew  with  the  settlement  of  the  township  and 
there  was  at  one  time  quite  a  trade  carried  on  here, 
in  fact,  until  its  destruction  by  the  tornado  of  1858. 
After  this  calamity  most  of  the  trade  was  trans- 
ferred to  Roseville.  There  is  a  post  office  here, 
which  is  presided  over  by  James  Watson.  Mr.  Wat- 
son is  also  proprietor  of  a  general  store.  J.  E.  Painter 
carries  on  a  grocery,  and  harness  and  saddlery  bus- 
iness. The  blacksmithing  is  attended  to  by  W. 
L.  Edwards.  There  are  also  two  wagon  and  repair 
shops,  carried  on  by  J.  M.  Kelly  and  G.  Davidson. 
The  most  important  industry  of  this  village  is  the 


tile  factory,  which  was  started  in  1882.  The  clay 
used  is  a  very  superior  quality  and  taken  from  a  bank 
about  a  mile  from  the  town.  Mr.  Edwards  employs 
on  an  average  five  men  and  has  one  kiln.  Dr.  E. 
Wilkinson  attends  to  the  sick  in  the  village. 

Ellison  has  a  good  school  and  a  very  popular 
teacher  in  the  person  of  W.  F.  Shirkey ;  average  at- 
tendance at  this  school  is  about  45  pupils. 


FLOYD  TOWNSHIP. 

LOYD  came  into  the  township  organiza- 
tion with  the  other  townships.  The  records 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  first  meeting 
were  burned,  and  only  a  part  can  be  given. 
The  election  was  held  April  4,  1854,  at  the 
old  town  of  Cold  Brook,  when  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  chosen :  William  Laferty,  Super- 
visor; H.  S.  Hascal,  Clerk;  G.  B.  Cross,  Assessor; 
Thomas  B.  Cross  and  Charles  Phelps,  Justices  of  the 
Peace ;  James  L.  Grant  and  Bradley  Hecox,  Com- 
missioners of  Highways.  It  is  numbered  ro  north, 
of  range  i  east,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Cold 
Brook,  on  the  east  by  Knox  County,  on  the  south  by 
Berwick  and  on  the  west  by  Lenox  Townships.  This 
territory  was  not  overlooked  by  the  early  settlers  of  J 
Warren  County.  John  Armstrong  has  the  credit  of 
being  the  first  to  locate  in  the  township,  which  was 
in  1829.  He  came  with  his  family  and  located  on 
the  south  side  of  the  township,  on  section  23,  put  up 
a  cabin,  the  first  in  the  township,  and  commenced  to 
improve  his  land  and  construct  for  himself  and  fam- 
ily a  home.  He  was  born  in  Illinois,  May  ir,  1812, 
and  died  in  1882,  leaving  his  kindred  and  a  large 
circle  of  friends  to  mourn  his  loss.  The  next  to 
move  in  was  Benjamin  F.  Allen,  with  wife  and  nine 
children,  from  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  names  of  the 
children  are  Truman  D.,  Eliza,  Frederick,  Jane, 
Edwin,  Henry  and  Emery  (twins),  Albert  and  Am- 
brose. These  children  are  all  dead  but  Ambrose 
and  Truman  D.  Mr.  Allen  located  on  section  29. 
He  died  July  10,  1872,  at  the  old  homestead,  and 
his  widow  three  years  later. 

Louis  and  Isaac  Vertrees,  from  Kentucky,  with 
their  families,  came  here  in  1830,  locating  their 
homes  on  section  3,  where  they  made  many  improve- 
ments. Isaac,  after  some  years,  moved  back  to  his 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


721 


native  State.  Louis  was  attached  to  his  home,  lived 
there  throughout  his  long  life,  and  died  April  13, 
1883,  [respected  and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Elijah  Davidson  was  another  early  settler,  moving  in 
in  1830.  He  was  also  from  Kentucky.  After  liv- 
ing here  over  20  years,  he,  with  a  part  of  his  family, 
joined  the  colony  that  emigrated  to  Oregon  in  1851. 
Carter  T.  and  Hosea,  sons  of  Elijah  Davdson,  set- 
tled here  with  him.  Carter  died  in  Oregon  a  few 
years  ago.  Hosea  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he 
died.  Alexander  Davidson,  son  of  Elijah,  came  in 
about  this  time.  All  the  Davidsons  settled  on  the 
school  section  16.  After  these  families  came  John 
Dodge,  his  son,  John  Milton,  Felix  and  David  Rob- 
inson, George  and  Henry  Cable,  Wilson  Sheldon,  M. 
D.  Matteson,  Cornelius  Tunnicliff,  Thos.  D.  Allen, 
and  others.  After  the  Black  Hawk  War  the  town- 
ship settled  up  quite  rapidly.  Among  those  coming 
in  after  the  war  was  Henry  Cable,  his  wife  and  six 
children  —  Sarah,  Mary,  Ezra,  George  C.,  Chauncy 
M.  and  William  H.  They  came  in  1835,  and  set- 
tled about  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of  the  town  of  Ber- 
wick, near  the  township  line.  Mr.  Cable  came  from 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.  Here  he  lived  for  over  40  years, 
improving  his  farm,  accumulating  property  and  rear- 
ing his  children,  most  of  whom  settled  about  hin. 
During  this  long  period  he  took  an  active  part  in  all 
the  public  affairs  of  the  township.  In  1866  he  moved 
to  Monmouth,  where  he  died,  March  8,  1877,  at  the 
age  of  80  years.  His  wife,  Olive,  died  in  February, 
1875,  in  her  84th  year.  Mary  died  in  1851 ;  Sarah, 
who  married  Mr.  Laferty  (see  biography)  is  still  liv- 
ing in  Monmouth.  The  sons  are  all  living  on  farms 
in  Floyd  Township,  except'Chauncy  M.,  who  is  living 
in  Monmouth.  During  the  Black  Hawk  War,  many 
of  the  settlers,  fearing  attacks  from  the  Indians,  went 
into  Knox  County,  where  they  remained  until  the 
war  terminated.  The  first  birth,  death  and  marriage 
is  not  definitely  remembered,  nor  the  first  school 
taught. 

The  children  living  in  the  territory  now  embraced 
by  this  township,  attended  school  at  the  old  town  of 
Cold  Brook ;  so  also  did  the  people  go  there  for  their 
religious  services,  which  were  held  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  Christian  Church.  Some  of  the  preach- 
ers of  this  Church  would  hold  services  occasionally 
at  private  houses  in  this  township.  In  1839,  a  Chris- 
tian Church  was  established  at  Meridian,  near  the 


line  between  Floyd  and  Berwick  Townships,  the 
members  joining  this  organization  withdrawing  from 
the  Cold  Brook  Church.  Another  congregation  was 
formed  from  the  Cold  Brook  Church,  in  1845,3!  what 
was  called  Short's  Corners,  section  16.  It  was  one 
of  short  duration,  and  was  disbanded  in  1847. 

The  township  is  watered  by  Slug  Creek  and  its 
tributaries,  which  run  southeasterly  into  Berwick, 
uniting  with  Nigger  Creek,  which  empties  into  Spoon 
River.  The  land  in  this  township  is  nearly  all  prai- 
rie, with  slight  undulations,  except  in  the 
southwest  portion,  where  it  is  timbered  and  some- 
what broken.  Along  the  upper  line  of  the  township 
is  the  divide,  the  waters  on  the  north  emptying  into 
the  Henderson  and  then  into  the  Mississippi,  and 
those  on  the  South  into  Spoon  River,  and  then 
into  the  Illinois  River.  The  principal  crops  raised 
now,  are  corn  and  hay.  It  was  once  a  very  heavy 
producing  township  in  all  the  cereals,  but  the  land 
became  worn  out  and  a  change  of  product  was  nec- 
essary. The  farms  in  the  township  are  all  good  and 
well  managed.  The  dwelling  houses  are  comforta- 
ble, and  many  of  them  are  constructed  with  taste. 
In  all  the  school  districts  are  good  schools  and  good 
school  buildings.  The  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad  passes  along  the  northern  line  of 
this  township,  or  between  this  and  Cold  Brook.  The 
nearest  depot  and  trading  place  is  Cameron.  In  pop- 
ulation it  is  estimated  that  Floyd  has  not  lost  in 
numbers  since  1880,  it  containing  then,  according  to 
the  census  reports,  1,162. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  for  the  year  1885,  the 
following  information  is  obtained  : 

Number  of  acres  of  improved  land,  22,385  ;  num- 
ber of  acres  of  unimproved  land,  360 ;  value  of  im- 
proved land,  $301,5  n  ;  value  .of  unimproved  lands, 
$2,880;  total  value  of  lots,  $4,170;  number  of 
horses,  1,065;  cattle,  1,422;  asses  and  mules,  6; 
sheep,  147  ;  hogs,  2,665  '>  steam  engines,  2 ;  car- 
riages and  wagons,  204;  watches  and  clocks,  73; 
sewing  and  knitting  machines,  87  ;  pianos,  6  ;  organs 
and  melodeons,  34;  total  value  of  personal  property, 
$606.40. 

SUPERVISORS. 


William  Laferty 1854-5 

John  F.  Giddings 856 

Thomas  B.  Cross 1857-60 

Lewis  Vertrees 1860-3 

Charles  Waste 1863 

W.  C.  Clyborne 1864 

S.  T.  Shelton 1865-70 


C .  W .    Boydston 1871 

Lewis  Vertrees .-...1872 

C.  W.  Boydtton 1873-4 

John  W .   Bolon 1875-8 

D.  C.Graham 1879 

John  W.   Bolon 1880-2 

D.  C.  Graham 1883-  = 


712 


WARREN 


-S— 


GREENBTJSH  TOWNSHIP. 

REENBUSH  TOWNSHIP  was  one  of  the 
early  settled  townships  of  the  county.  Ro- 
land Simmons  was  the  first  man  to  settle 
here,  which  he  did  in  1830,  making  a  claim  on 
section  6.  He  was  an  energetic,  thriving 
man,  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  the 
township,  and  a  good  citizen.  He  died  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1858,  leaving  a  large  family  of  children  and 
many  friends  to  mourn  his  loss.  His  wife  preceded 
him  to  the  other  world  many  years  before.  They 
both  died  at  the  old  homestead  where  they  first  lo- 
cated. 

Jesse  W.  Bond  and  William  Taylor,  with  their 
families,  came  in  soon  after  Mr.  Simmons,  and  made 
claims  on  section  19.  These  pioneers  were  active 
,  and  valuable  citizens,  and  did  much  toward  im- 
proving and  building  up  the  township.  They  became 
prominent  and  active  in  all  public  affairs,  accumu- 
lated  fine  properties,  which  they  left  to  their  children. 
They,  with  their  wives,  have  been  dead  some  years — 
all  dying  at  their  homesteads.  James  Simmons,  his 
wife  and  seven  children,  from  Madison  Co.,  111.,  came 
in  1833,  and  located  on  section  35.  He  first  came 
to  Illinois  in  1816.  His  children  were  Andrew  W., 
Sally,  Roland  M.,  Alfred  W.,  Francis  M.,  Charles  R., 
William  J.  and  Joanna. 

Four  children,  Nancy,  Diana,  Arminda  and  Mar- 
tin VanBuren,  were  born  in  Greenbush.  This  pio- 
neer died  at  the  farm,  Aug.  21,  1873.  His  wife, 
Sally,  died  Aprils,  1855.  He  left  a  good  inheritance 
to  his  children,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  the  township. 

Along  after  these  pioneers  came  John  C.  Bond, 
William  McMahill,  Payton  Vaughn,  Thomas  Moul- 
ton,  James  B.  Smith,  Jesse  Looney,  Aaron  Powers 
and  Amos  Pierce.  Some  of  these  pioneers  brought 
with  them  families.  Amos  Pierce  settled  on  section 
7,  and  died  in  July,  1872.  His  wife  died  in  1845. 
(See  biography.)  James  B.  Smith  died  on  his  way 
to  Oregon.  After  this  the  settlement  in  the  township 
advanced  quite  rapidly,  particularly  after  the  Indian 
troubles  had  been  finally  adjusted. 

A  young  child  of  Roland  Simmons  was  the  first 


death  in  the  township,  which  occurred  in  1830. 

The  first  couple  to  enter  into  matrimonial  relations 
were  Moses  D.  Hand  and  Elizabeth  Crawford.  They 
were  joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock  Dec.  23, 
l835>  by  John  C.  Bond,  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The 
next  important  event  was  the  death  of  the  sister  of 
John  Long.  Her  body  was  interred  in  the  Bond 
burying  ground.  The  first  post  office  was  opened  at 
Greenfield,  now  known  as-  Greenbush,  by  Charles 
Slice.  Blankenship  &  Brother  were  the  first  to  em- 
bark in  the  ivercantile  business.  Mr.  Desbro  was 
the  firsi  educated  young  man  to  open  school  in  the 
township,  which  was  in  a  log  house  southeast  of 
Greenbush.  The  first  religious  exercises,  or  preach- 
ing, was  at  Roland  Simmons'  house,  by  a  Methodist 
circuit  rider,  in  the  winter  of  1833-4. 

In  early  days  the  people  of  this  township  did 
their  trading  and  marketing  at  Peoria,  Oquawka  and 
sometimes  at  Chicago. 

Greenbush  went  into  township  organization  with 
the  other  townships,  but  the  records  have  been  lost 
and  only  a  part  of  the  proceedings  of  the  first  elec- 
tion can  be  given.  We  find,  however,  that  David 
Armstrong  acted  as  Moderator  at  this  election.  Levi 
Lincoln  was  elected  Supervisor;  William  Shores, 
Collector;  A.  W.  Simmons,  Assessor;  F.  H.  Merrill, 
Clerk;  John  C.  Vaughn  and  L.  L.  Ury,  Justices  of 
the  Peace;  J.  Butler  R.  M.  Simmons  and  H.  H. 
Hewitt,  Commissioners  of  Highways. 

This  township  is  numbered  eight  north,  of  range  i 
west,  and  has  for  its  boundary  line,  Berwick  Town- 
ship on  the  north,  Knox  County  on  the  east,  Fulton 
County  on  the  south  and  Swan  Township  on  the 
west.  It  is  very  liberally  watered  by  Swan  and  Nig- 
ger Creeks  and  their  tributaries,  which  run  eastward 
and  empty  into  Spoon  River.  The  Quincy  branch 
of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  crosses  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  township.  In  the  northeast  portion  of  the 
township  and  along  the  main  creeks  the  land  is  some- 
what broken,  and  is  very  well  timbered ;  the  other 
portion  of  the  township  is  rolling  prairie.  The  soil 
is  rich  and  productive,  corn  and  hay  being  the  prin- 
cipal crop,  which  have  a  prolific  growth.  There  are 
some  grand  old  farms  in  Greenbush  and'many  fine 
dwellings.  The  people  do  their  trading  mostly  at 
Avon,  Fulton  County,  and  at  Greenbush  Village. 
The  population  of  this  township, in  1880,  was  1,053, 
which  is  about  the  present  number. 

In  the  annual  report  for  the  year  ending  June  30 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


1885,  the  County  Superintendent  gives  the  following 
information  regarding  the  public  schools.  There 
were  to  school  districts,  the  school  property  being 
valued  at  $2,500.  All  the  school  buildings  are  frame. 
Of  persons  under  21  years  of  age  there  were  406,  of 
which  286  were  of  scholastic  age,  243  being  en- 
rolled. The  highest  wages  paid  teachers  was  $5° 
per  month,  and  the  lowest  $25.  The  tax  levy  for 
this  township  was  $1,825. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  for  1885,  the  following 
information  was  obtained  :  Number  of  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  22,000  ;  number  of  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  1,000 ;  value  of  improved  land,  $312,120; 
value  of  unimproved  land,  $4,060  ;  value  of  lots, 
$2,800:  number  of  horses,  900;  cattle,  2,060;  num- 
ber of  mules  and  asses,  129;  sheep,  636;  hogs,  2,- 
660;  steam  engines,  i  ;  carriages  and  wagons,  227  ; 
watches  and  clocks,  159;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 90;  pianos,  4;  melodeons  and  organs,  34. 
Total  value  of  personal  property,  $840.49. 

IGreenbush  has  been  represented  by  the  following 

named  citizens  as  Supervisors:  John  C.  Bond,  1854; 

Levi  Lincoln,  1854;  John  C.  Bond,  1856-67  ;  A.  W. 

•  Simmons,   1868-7  r;  L-   M-    Green,    1872;  Danford 

I  Taylor,  1873-74;  A.  W.  Simmons,  1875-76;  L.  M. 
Green,  1877  ;  A.  W.  Simmons,  1878-83  ;  Israel  Spor- 
gin,  1884;  A.  W.  Simmons,  1885. 


Greenbush  Village. 

REENBUSH  was  one  of  the  early  aspiring 
localities,  the  citizens  of  whom  looked  for. 
ward  with  great  expectations  to  the  time 
when  there  would  be  solid  brick  blocks,  crowd- 
ed streets,  and  all  the  bustle  of  a  great  city. 
It  was  platted  April  29,  1836,  by  Roland  and 
James  Simmons,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
5,  the  plat  embracing  about  40  acres.  The  name  of 
the  village  was  afterward  changed  to  that  of  Green- 
bush,  on  account  of  there  being  another  town  of  the 
same  name  in  this  btate.  This  town  for  some  years 
was  quite  a  thriving  village,  having  several  stores 
and  business  enterprises,  but  when  the  railroad  came 
through,  which  makes  and  unmakes  towns,  the  trade 
went  elsewhere.  There  is  one  general  store  here 
now  owned  by  J.  C.  Johnson,  who  has  a  thriving 


country  trade.  Mr.  Johnson  is  also  Postmaster  of 
the  village.  Population  about  100  souls.  There  is 
a  good  school  here,  which  is  taught  by  Mr.  Blair, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  about  30  pupils. 

RELIGIOUS. 

There  are  two  Churches  here,  the  Baptist  and  Meth- 
odist, which  grew  out  of  early  organizations  in  the 
township. 

The  Baptist  Church.  The  members  of  the  society 
met  on  the  third  Saturday  in  June,  1836,  at  the  house 
of  Brother  Caleb  Hedges,  organized,  and  formed  the 
basis  for  quite  a  large  congregation.  Present  at  this 
meeting  were  John  Murphy,  James  Kelsey,  John 
Riggs,  Joseph  Rudges,  B.  W.  Lewis,  Caleb  and 
Polly  Hedges,  Ellis  Lewis,  Martha  Riggs,  Rosanna 
Murphy,  Rachael  Butler,  Polly  Vandeveer  and  Rev. 
Chas.  Vandeveer.  Mr.  Vandeveer  was  chosen  Mod- 
erator, and  John  Murphy,  Clerk.  After  mature  de- 
liberation, they  decided  to  send  for  ministers  for  the 
purpose  of  Ijeing  constituted  into  a  church.  On  the 
third  Saturday  in  July,  they  again  met  with  addi- 
tional members  who  had  come  in  with  letters  from 
other  societies,  to  prepare  and  adopt  articles  of  faith 
and  a  constitution  for  their  guidance.  Elders  Chas.  , 
Vandeveer  and  Robt.  Mays  were  present  to  consti- 
tute the  church,  which  was  given  the  name  of  New 
Hope.  This  church  belonged  to  the  Spoon  River  J 
Association.  Rev.  Chas.  Vandeveer  was  chosen  the 
first  pastor,  in  August,  1830.  Services  were  held  in 
different  parts  of  this  and  Swan  Township,  in  private 
houses.  Rev.  Chas.  Vandeveer  served  his  flock  until 
1854,  when  death  took  him  to  a  new  field  of  labor. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  George  Tracy,  who  as- 
sumed charge  in  June  1855,  and  retired  the  following 
year.  In  May,  1857,  Rev.  Isaac  Vanmeter  was  called 
to  take  charge,  and  is  the  present  pastor,  having  served 
nearly  a  generation.  In  1850,  when  the  Academy 
was  built  at  the  village  of  Greenbush,  the  society 
was  permantly  located  there.  This  Academy  was 
put  up  by  the  people  of  Greenbush  for  a  school 
building  and  for  the  holding  of  religious  and  other 
meetings.  It  was  a  two-story  building,  the  upper 
part  of  which  was  principally  devoted  to  school  pur- 
poses. At  present  there  are  43  members,  and  servi- 
ces are  held  every  fourth  Sunday,  the  pastor  hav- 
ing other  charges  in  different  parts  of  the  county. 

1 he  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  at 
the  town  of  Greenbush  at  a  very  early  day.     Meet- 


724 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


ings  were  held  in  private  houses  at  first,  and  after 
the  establishment  of  school  buildings  services  were 
held  in  them,  and  when  the  Academy  building,  as 
it  was  called,  was  erected,  which  was  in  1850,  at 
Greenbush  village,  they  held  their  services  there,  in 
the  lower  room.  In  1870  they  completed  their  new 
church  building,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  In  April,  187  i, 
it  was  dedicated,  Rev.  Roswell  Morse  preaching  the 
dedicatory  sermon.  Rev.  Mr.  Matthews  was  the 
first  pastor  in  charge  after  the  new  edifice  was 
erected.  He  was  succeeded  by  Revs.  Hitchcock, 
Jones,  Blackwell,  Grant,  Torpin  and  Streator.  Rev. 
N.  G.  Clark  is  the  present  pastor,  with  service  every 
other  Sunday.  His  other  appointments  are  in  Mc- 
Donough  County,  which,  with  Greenbush,  belong 
to  the  Pleasant  Mounds  circuit.  Present  member- 
ship of  this  society  is  about  50.  It  was  at  onetime 
quite  a  thriving  church,  and  they  had  a  very  grace- 
ful, neat  little  edifice.  The  building  has  fallen  into 
decay,  and  is  sadly  out  of  repair.  Many  of  the 

'members  have  gone  away,  and  others  have  ceased  to 
attend  the  church. 


>»S\   •   •  if  • 


HALE  TOWNSHIP. 

''ALE  is  situated  in  the  western  tier  of  town- 
ships, and  is  numbered  10  north,  of  range 
3,  west.  Its  northern  boundary  is  Sumner 
township,  on  the  east  lies  Monmouth,  on  the 
south  Tompkins  township  and  on  the  west  Hen- 
derson County.  The  first  election  after  township  or- 
ganization had  been  adopted,  was  held  April  4,  1854, 
in  school  house  number  i.  Wm.  Nast  presided  as 
Moderator,  and  W.  S.  VVier,  Clerk  peo  tern.  Upon  a 
vote  being  taken  for  these  officers,  Wm.  Cannon  was 
chosen  Moderator,  and  S.  W.  Rodgers,  Clerk.  Fifty- 
nine  votes  were  cast  at  this  election,  which  resulted 
in  the  choice  of  Win.  Fleming  for  Supervisor,  Wm. 
Clark,  Clerk,  B.  B.  Findley,  Assessor,  J.  C.  Ward, 
Collector,  G.  H.  Smaley  and  Andrew  Jenkins.  High- 
way Commissioners,  T.  F.  Lowther  and  W.  S.  Wier, 
Justices  of  the  Peace;  Ira  A.  Palmer  and  D.  Vanfleet 
Constables. 

The  first  act  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  High- 


ways was  to  levy  a  tax  of  20  cents  on  the  $100,  for 
the  improvement  of  roads. 

The  territory  now  occupied  by  Hale  township  was 
settled  about  as  early  as  any  part  of  the  county. 
Adam  Ritchey,  Sr.,  with  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  were  the 
first  settlers.  They  located  near  Sugar  Tree  Grove, 
in  1828.  Here  he  erected  a  cabin  and  began  his  im- 
provements. This  family  was  large  enough  to  have 
within  themselves  social  amusement  and  cpmpan- 
ionship,  and  to  relieve  pioneer  life  from  that  dreary 
loneliness,  usually  one  of  its  unavoidable  and  un- 
pleasant features.  There  was  Adam,  Jr.  John,  Ab- 
igail, Martha,  Elizabeth,  Matthew,  Caroline  and 
James,  Ritchey.  Take  them  altogether  they  formed 
quite  a  little  colony,  and  soon  made  their  impression 
in  the  township.  Adarn  Ritchey  died  many  years 
ago,  and  was  buried  in  the  Ritchey  burying-ground. 
His  widow,  Elizabeth,  moved  to  Iowa,  where  she 
subsequently  died.  David  Findley  and  Thomas 
Campbell  came  to  this  settlement  in  1829.  In  1830, 
John  Kendall  and  wife, Elizabeth, William  and  Samuel  1 
Gibson,  with  their  wives,  James  Jenkins,  wife  and 
children  and  James  Maley  and  wife,  added  their  1 
numbers  to  the  settlement.  Soon  after  came  John  "* 
Caldwell,  wife  and  three  children,  John  W.,  Eleanor 
and  Martha,  and  located  on  section  n.  The  Cald- 
wells  were  from  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.  John  Caldwell  J 
was  a  man  of  great  force  of  character,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  county.  He  was  one 
of  the  leaders  in  the  establishment  of  the  Associate 
Church  at  Sugar  Tree  Grove,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
Elders.  His  wife  died  at  an  early  day,  and  he 
joined  her  in  the  other  world  in  December,  1865. 
Eleanor  married  John  Black.  Both  she  and  Martha 
are  dead.  John  W.  Caldwell  is  living  at  Monmouth. 
(See  biography.) 

To  this  settlement  was  added  in  October,  1831, 
William  Paxton,  wife  and  seven  children.  They 
came  from  Xenia,  Ohio,  and  located  on  section  2. 
The  names  of  the  children  were  :  W.  S.,  John  S., 
Thomas  M.,  Jane  L.,  Ann,  Margaret  F.,  and  Mary 
E.  Mr.  Paxton  took  an  active  part  in  the  public  af- 
fairs of  the  township,  and  was  an  upright  and  worthy 
citizen.  He  died  in  March,  1861,  at  his  home.  His 
wife  had  preceded  him,  departing  this  life  in  Jan- 
uary, 1845.  Thomas  M.  is  living  on  the  place; 
John  S.  is  in  Iowa;  William  S.  is  living  at  Mon- 
mouth. (See  biography.)  The  daughters  are  all 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


7*5 


dead  but  Margaret,  who  is  living  in  Sumner  Town- 
ship. 

The  next  addition  to  this  township  was  William 
Turnbull,  his  wife  and  two  sons,  Alexander  and  Gil- 
bert, and  their  families,  who  came  in  1832.  They 
located  on  sections  19  and  30.  Mr.  Turnbull  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  and  had  emigrated  to  this  country 
soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  settling  first 
in  Tennessee.  Unable  to  reconcile  himself  with  the 
institution  of  slavery,  he  left  Tennessee  in  1808, 
and  settled  in  Ohio.  From  Ohio  he  came  to  Warren 
County.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  character  and 
great  religious  zeal.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Hale 
Township,  in  1835. 

Gilbert  moved  to  Henderson  County,  where  he 
died  in  1851.  Alexander  died  in  Hale  Township  in 
1856.  David  Turnbull  followed  his  father  from 
Ohio,  in  1833,  and  settled  one  mile  north  of  Mon- 
mouth.  He  afterward  moved  into  Hale  Township, 
and  located  near  Sugar  Tree  Grove.  He  died  in 
Monmouth,  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  John  M.,  in 
1871.  (See  biography  of  John  M.) 

William  Turnbull's  home  in  Tennessee  was  near 
Nashville,  and  joined  that  of  Andrew  Jackson.  Gen- 
eral Jackson  came  in  after  the  Turnbulls  had  set- 
tled. He  had  at  that  day  but  little  of  this  world's 
effects;  a  light  wardrobe  and  a  few  law  books  em- 
braced all  of  his  earthly  possessions,  but  he  had  a 
strong,  bold  spirit  and  an  indomitable  will,  which 
was  good  capital  to  begin  life's  struggles  with.  He 
had  paid  out  his  last  copper  to  procure  his  passage 
to  this  place,  his  future  home,  and  had  no  money  to 
pay  for  the  hauling  of  his  baggage,  small  as  it  was, 
to  his  house.  This  future  soldier,  statesman  and 
president  was  here  alone  in  the  world,  penniless, 
friendless,  and  did  not  know  to  whom  he  might  ap- 
peal for  aid.  He  fortunately  met  Mr.  Turnbull, 
made  known  to  him  his  situation,  who  readily  let 
him  have  the  money  to  relieve  him  of  his  embarrass- 
ment. This  generous  act  to  a  stranger  attached 
young  Jackson  to  his  benefactor,  Mr.  Turnbull,  and 
they  ever  afterward  were  warm  friends. 

It  might  be  of  interest  to  the  reader  to  mention  at 
this  point  in  the  history  of  this  township  an  incident 
connected  with  the  life  of  Gen.  Jackson,  as  related 
by  Wm.  Turnbull,  in  which  he  to  some  extent  figures, 
the  full  and  correct  account  of  which  probably  has 
never  appeared  in  print. 


Some  years  after  Gen.  Jackson  came  to  Nashville, 
he  being  involved  in  a  quarrel,  which  finally  resulted 
in  a  duel.  It  grew  out  of  a  difficulty  which  oc- 
curred at  a  horse-race,  between  Gen.  Jackson  and  a 
young  lawyer  by  the  name  of  Swann,  who  had  re- 
cently come  into  the  State  from  Virginia.  The  race 
was  for  $2,000,  and  Gen.  Jackson  had  brought  for- 
ward his  favorite  steed,  Truxton,  to  win  the  stakes. 
Some  angry  words  arose  between  the  General  and 
young  Swann,  which  resulted  in  the  latter  sending  a 
challenge.  Gen.  Jackson  refused  to  accept  the 
challenge  on  the  ground  that  Swann  was  not  a  gen- 
tleman, but  turned  and  struck  him  with  his  cane. 
Charles  Dickinson,  who  was  also  a  lawyer,  and  a 
man  of  prominence  took  up  young  Swann 's  quarrel, 
challenged  Jackson,  and  insisted  on  an  immediate 
fight.  William  Turnbull  hearing  of  the  trouble  and 
discovering  Jackson  in  the  woods  practicing  with  his 
pistol,  approached  him  and  with  all  the  religious 
zeal  for  which  his  countrymen  were  noted,  labored 
long  and  earnestly  with  the  General,  trying  to  per- 
suade  him  from  accepting  the  challenge.  Previous 
to  this  affair  Jackson  was  wont  to  practice  with  his 
pistols  for  hours  in  the  woods.  Turnbull  discover- 
ing  this,  reprimanded  him  for  his  lack  of  true,  Chris- 
tian principle,  telling  him  that  it  was  not  consistent 
with  his  religious  views.  Jackson  would  reply,  that 
it  was  not,  but  that  he  had  to  be  prepared  to  live 
under  the  "  code  "  or  he  could  not  stay  in  Tennes- 
see. In  reply  to  Mr.  Trumbull's  remonstrance  Gen. 
Jackson  said:  "That  he  could  not  live  there  unless 
he  accepted  the  challenge ;  that  if  he  refused  to 
accept  it  he  must  leave  the  country."  He  told  Mr. 
Turnbull,  however,  referring  to  the  duel,  that  he  did 
not  intend  to  shoot  Mr.  Dickinson;  that  above  other 
considerations,  he  (Dickinson)  had  a  wife  and  child 
whom  he  had  great  regard  for. 

The  challenge  sent  by  Mr.  Dickinson  was  finally 
accepted  by  Gen.  Jackson.  The  duel  was  to  take 
place  at  a  day's  ride  from  Nashville,  in  Kentucky. 
Jackson  left  with  his  friends  for  the  appointed  place. 
Dickinson  arose  early  in  the  morning,  and  kissing 
his  innocent,  sleeping  child,  and  taking  leave  of  his 
beautiful  young  wife,  saying,  "  good-bye,  darling,  I 
will  be  sure  to  be  at  home  to-morrow  night,"  started 
on  his  fatal  journey.  After  a  day's  jo;;rney,  the 
two  parties  arrived  near  the  grounds.  They  passed 
the  night  at  farm  houses  about  two  miles  from  each 
other.  The  opponents  met  at  the  designated  place, 


LAr: 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


which  was  in  a  grove,  early  Tuesday  morning,  May 
30,  1806.  The  arrangements  were  duly  made.  The 
duelists  were  to  face  each  other  at  24  feet,  with  pis- 
tols drawn,  and  at  the  word  "  fire  "  were  to  discharge 
their  weapons.  Gen.  Jackson  had  informed  his 
friends  of  the  course  he  intended  to  pursue.  Dick- 
inson was  known  as  a  dead  shot,  and  he  said  it  was 
useless  for  him  to  contend  against  him.  He  would 
receive  the  fire  of  his  antagonist  and  hold  his  own. 
As  the  sun  rose  sending  its  warm  spring  rays  through 
the  young  and  tender  draperies  of  the  trees,  and 
while  the  wild,  beautiful  birds  were  offering  up  their 
sweet  notes  of  praise,  these  human  beings  faced 
each  other  with  drawn  weapons,  one  at  least  intent 
on  murder.  The  signal  was  given  and  the  report  of 
the  pistol  rang  out  through  the  clear  morning  air. 
When  the  smoke  cleared  away,  Gen.  Jackson  was 
still  standing  apparently  unhurt.  He,  as  he  had 
promised  his  friends,  held  his  fire.  His  antagonist 
seeing  him  stand  there  raised  up  his  hand  and  ex- 

f  claimed,  "What,  have  I  not  killed  thedamn ?  " 

Jackson  on  hearing  this,  calmly  and  deliberately  lev- 

1  eled  his  weapon  and  fired.  His  antagonist  fell  with 
a  fatal  wound  near  the  heart,  from  which  he  died  in 
a  few  hours. 

The  duelling  party  broke  up.  Jackson  and  his 
friends  mounted  their  horses  and  turned  their  steps 
homeward,  leaving  the  dying  Dickinson  with  his 
party  on  the  field.  As  Jackson  and  his  party 
started  homeward  he  told  them  that  he  did  not  in- 
tend to  shoot  Dickinson,  but  when  he  heard  the  ex- 
pression used  by  him,  he  considered  it  a  reflection 
upon  his  mother,  which  he  could  not  in  any  way 
overlook,  or  forgive.  Riding  by  the  side  of  the  Gen- 
eral, the  surgeon  discovered  blood  running  out  of  his 
boot.  He  made  him  at  once  dismount,  and  submit 
to  an  examination.  On  examination,  the  surgeon 
discovered  that  Gen.  Jackson  had  received  a  very  se- 
vere wound  in  the  chest  immediately  over  his  heart. 
The  ball  which  his  antagonist  had  sent  with  so 
deadly  an  aim  had  struck  one  of  his  ribs,  fracturing 
it  and  glancing  off,  thus  saving  the  General's  life. 
"  General,"  asked  the  surgeon,  "  how  could  you  with 
such  a  wound  in  your  body,  stand  so  calm  and  firm, 
and  fire  such  a  shot  ?  "  His  reply  was  :  "  I  would 
have  killed  him  had  I  been  shot  through  the  brain." 
This  was  a  very  strong  illustration  of  the  great  nerve 
of  Gen.  Jackson,  which  was  so  prominently  displayed 
in  after  years. 


David  B.  Findley  was  an  early  settler,  moving  in 
as  early  as  1832.  He  died  in  the  summer  of  1885. 
Albert  Rockwell  also  came  in  r832,  with  his  brother, 
Alfred.  Albert  died  in  the  fall  of  1884.  His  brother 
is  living  on  the  old  place.  Bedford  Ray  settled  in 
the  township,  on  section  26. 

Several  lamilies  moved  in  from  1832  to  1836, 
among  whom  were  Aleri  Rodgers,  wife  and  ten  chil- 
dren, with  Hamilton  Roney,  wife  and  children. 
Aleri  Rodgers  was  originally  from  Rockbridge  Co., 
Va.,  and  he  came  to  the  township  early  in  the  spring 
of  1836,  having  previously  lived  awhile  in  Missouri. 
The  names  of  the  children  were .  John,  William, 
Andrew,  Alexander,  Mary,  Joseph,  Phebe,  Isabelle, 
Samuel  and  Caroline.  Four  of  these  are  living — 
Isabelle,  Mary,  Caroline  and  Samuel,  and  all  in  this 
country.  Isabelle  is  residing  in  Monmouth.  Aleri 
Rodgers  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  township, 
and  took  a  leading  part  in  all  public  affairs.  He 
was  the  first  one  to  introduce  the  McCormick  reaper 
into  the  county,  which  he  brought  with  him  from 
Virginia.  He  died,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him, 
Dec.  20,  1863.  His  widow  survived  him  several 
years,  joining  him  in  that  brighter  world,  July  3,  1879. 
Andrew  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  Oregon  at  the 
time  of  the  Whitman  massacre. 

Hamilton  Roney,  after  residing  here  37  years, 
moved  back  to  Ohio  with  a  part  of  his  family,  and 
settled  near  Dayton,  where  he  died,  March  3,  1881, 
in  his  75th  year. 

David  B.  Findley  and  Jane  Ritchey  were  the  first 
to  join  their  hands  for  life's  joys  and  sorrows,  its 
hopes  and  struggles.  This  event  occurred  in  1829. 
This  partnership  began  in  the  budding  spring-time 
the  most  charming  season  in  all  the  year;  a  season 
when  the  sweet  wild  flowers  look  up  to  greet  you, 
when  all  nature  puts  on  its  new  dress,  the  beautiful 
birds  choose  their  mates,  and  the  world  looks  bright, 
fresh  and  happy. 

David  and  Jane  did  not  long  for — 

"Some  bright  little  isle  of  their  own, 
In  a  blue  summer  ocean  far  off  and  alone, 
AVliere  u  leaf  never  dies  in  the  still  blooming  bowers. 
And  the  bee  banquet."  on  through  a  whole  year  of 
flowers." 

But  they  selected  a  little  cottage  in  the  township 
of  Hale,  and  there,  with  their  loving  hearts,  and  sur- 
rounded by  their  friends,  they  commenced  life's 
journey.  To  this  couple  alone  is  given  the  honor  of 


WARREN  COUNTY 


727 


producing  a  first    native   citizen  of  the  township,  in 
the  person  of  James  Madison,  born  in  1830. 

Martha  Jenkins  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
township,  in  1830.  It  was  held  in  a  little  log  cabin 
about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  old  Henderson 
Church.  This  is  also  claimed  to  be  the  first  school 
in  the  county.  Martha  subsequently  moved  to  Ore- 
gon, where  she  died.  The  first  death  in  the  town- 
ship was  that  of  William  Turnbull,  who  died  at  his 
home  in  1835. 

The  first  religious  society  was  formed  in  Novem- 
ber, 1830.  It  was  the  Associate  Church,  and  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  James  McCarroll,  of  the  Western 
Mission.  It  was  called  the  Henderson  Church,  and 
also  known  as  the  Sugar  Tree  Grove  Church.  John 
Caldwell  and  Adam  Ritchey  were  the  first  Elders. 
There  were  27  members  forming  the  first  congrega- 
tion, consisting  of  the  Ritcheys,  Kendalls,  Gibsons, 
Jenkins,  Findleys  and  Maley  families,  and  John 
Campbell.  The  first  building  put  up  for  worship  by 
this  society,  was  24  x  30  feet,  in  1830,  and  was  con- 
structed with  logs.  It  was  the  first  church  build- 
ing erected  in  the  county.  In  1832  an  addition  was 
made,  making  the  building  36  x  40.  In  1837,  a  fine 
brick  edifice  was  erected,  54  x  60,  costing  about 
$4,000.  This  became  one  of  the  noted  buildings  of 
the  county,  and  people  attended  services  here  from 
nearly  all  the  townships.  It  was  known  for  a  gen- 
eration as  the  "Old  Brick  Church,"  and  is  still  spo- 
ken of  with  mournful  affection.  Having  been  used 
for  nearly  40  years  as  a  place  of  worship,  it  was  con- 
sidered by  some  of  the  members  that  it  ought  to  be 
torn  down  and  a  new  building  erected.  Conse- 
quently it  was  razed  by  rude  hands,  and  a  more 
modern  frame  building  put  up  in  its  place,  possibly 
better  adapted  and  more  in  consonance  with  modern  . 
religious  ideas. 

Rev.  James  Bruce  was  the  first  pastor  of  this 
Church,  taking  charge  in  October,  1830.  Members 
of  this  Church  came  from  Little  York,  Sunbeam, 
North  Henderson,  Viola,  Spring  Grove,  Monmouth, 
Kirkwood,  Smith  Creek  and  Pleasant  Grove.  Mr. 
Bruce  remained  with  this  congregation  until  October, 
1847,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Scott, 
who  regularly  took  charge  in  1849,  and  served  for 
19  years,  a  remarkably  long  period.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  this  engagement  he  moved  to  Monmouth, 
and  took  a  Professorship  in  the  College.  Rev.  Tlios. 
G.  Morrow  succeeded  Mr.  Scott,  and  remained  until 


1872,  when  Rev.  David  A.  Wallace  took  charge, 
serving  the  congregation  until  1876.  Rev.  David 
McDill  was  then  called,  and  remained  until  1884, 
and  then  the  Rev.  R.  J.  Davidson,  the  present  pas- 
tor, assumed  charge.  During  Mr.  Bruce's  term 
there  were  admitted  annually,  an  average  of  25 
members,  and  during  Mr.  Scotts' term  15  members. 

In  1858,  the  Synods  of  the  Reformed  and  Asso- 
ciate Presbyterian  met  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  the 
union  between  the  two  branches  was  consummated 
under  the  name  of  the  United  Presbyterians.  This 
action  was  approved  by  the  Henderson  congrega- 
tion, and  about  the  year  1860,  they  adopted  the  same 
name.  The  present  membership  of  this  Church  is 
about  70,  and  in  addition  to  other  services  they  have 
a  large  and  interesting  Sunday-school. 

From  1836,  there  was  a  steady  influx  of  settlers, 
until  the  land  was  all  taken  up.  The  township  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  best  in  the  county  for  agri- 
cultural purposes,  and  it  ranks  among  the  first  for 
stock  raising.  The  land  is  nearly  all  rolling  prairie, 
is  rich  and  easily  cultivated.  There  is  not  a  poor 
farm  in  it,  and  but  few  poor  dwellings,  while  there 
are  very  many  fine  ones.  It  is  watered  by  Cedar 
Creek  and  its  branches  and  some  other  little  streams. 
The  St.  Louis  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad  cuts  across  the  southwest  corner, 
and  the  Iowa  Central  comes  in  at  the  northwest  cor- 
ner, running  along  the  Eastern  line,  and  passes  out 
on  section  25.  The  people  do  their  trading  mostly 
at  Monmouth;  some,  however,  go  to  Kirkwood.  The 
census  of  1880  gives  the  population  at  1,041,  and 
this  is  about  the  number  at  the  present  day. 

The  following  information  regarding  the  schools  of 
the  township,  is  obtained  from  the  County  Superin- 
tendent's report  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885  : 
There  were  eight  school  districts,  with  one  brick  and 
seven  frame  buildings.  The  school  property  was  val- 
ued at  $4,625.  Of  persons  under  21  years  of  age, 
there  were  403,  of  whom  314  were  of  scholastic 
age,  2T9  being  enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid 
teachers  was  $65  per  month,  and  the  lowest  $25. 
The  tax  levy  for  this  township  was  $2,735. 

The  Assessor's  report  for  the  year  1885,  furnished 
the  following  information  : 

Number  of  acres  of  improved  land,  23,009;  value 
of  improved  lands,  $344,450;  number  of  horses, 
981;  cattle,  2,094;  mules  and  asses,  27;  hogs, 


728 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


3,686 ;  steam  engines,  i ;  carriages  and  wagons,  357 ; 
watches  and  clocks,  214;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 102  ;  pianos,  10;  melodeons  and  organs,  24. 
Total  cash  value  of  personal  property,  $80,328. 

The  township    has  honored    the   citizens    whose 
names  appear  below,  with  the  office  of  Supervisor  : 

SUPERVISORS. 


Wm.   Fleming 1854 

John  R.  Graham I8ss 

David  Turnbull 1855 

John    Brown 1857 

David  Turnbull 1858-60 

Edward   Burns 1861 

Newton  Barr 1862 

David  Turnbull     1863-5 

Leander  Findley  . .    1866 

Hugh   Nash 1867 


David  Turnbull 1868-70 

Newton  Barr 1871 

H.  G.    Lord 1872 

John  N.  Carson 1873 

Newton  Barr 1874-5 

C.  M.  Rodgcrs 1876-80 

Newton  Barr 1881 

C.  M.  Rodgers i88» 

J.  N.  McKelvey 1883-4 

D.  A.  Turnbull 1885 


KELLY  TOWNSHIP. 

ELLY  Township  is  located  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  county,  and  is  numbered 
12  north,  of  range  i  west.    Mercer  County 
lies  on  the  north,  Knox  County  on  the  east, 
Cold  Brook   on   the  south  and  Spring  Grove 

I  Township  on  the  west.      The  territory  now 

embraced  by  this  township  was  settled  as  early  as 
any  other  portion  of  the  county.  James  B.  Atwood 
was  the  first  pioneer  to  move  in  and  make  a  home 
here,  which  was  in  the  early  part  of  1828.  He  lo- 
cated on  section  27.  Mr.  Atwood  sold  his  place  to 
Edmund  Adcock,  a  few  months  later,  and  moved 
away.  Mr.  Adcock  and  family  came  from  Bucking- 
ham Co.,  Va.  He  was  born  Nov.  23,  1800,  and  died 
May  7,  1859,  at  the  old  farm.  His  son,  J.  W.,  now 
owns  and  lives  on  the  place.  Andrew  Robison 
with  wife  and  six  children,  moved  in  Sept.  20,  1829, 
and  settled  on  section  33.  He  subsequently  ascer- 
tained that  he  had  located  on  land  that  had  been 
bought  by  David  Ingersol,  and  he  moved  to  section 
31.  (See  biography.)  The  land  they  first  settled  on 
is  now  occupied  by  the  cemetery.  Mr.  Atwood  was 
the  only  settler  in  the  township  when  the  Robisons 
came  in,  and  at  that  time  there  were  no  settlers  in 
Spring  Grove  Township.  Andrew  Robison  died  at 
his  home  Aug.  6,  1849,  and  Nancy,  his  widow,  at  the 
same  place,  March  15,  1876.  William  A.  Lair  came 
in  October,  1832,  and  located  a  home  on  section 
30  ;  he  is  now  dead.  B.  H.  Gardner,  from  Kentucky, 
came  into  the  county  in  1834,  spent  the  winter  in 


Monmouth  Township  and  made  his  location  in  Kelly, 
on  section  30,  in  the  spring  of  1835.  James  Brown 
came  in  1830,  settling  on  section  25  ;  Mr.  Brown  is 
now  dead.  He  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War. 

Of  the  other  settlers  that  came  in  from  1829  to 
1835,  there  were  David  Ingersol,  wife  and  six 
children — James,  Jane,  Anna,  Nellie,  Adelina  and 
Thomas,  who  was  a  baby;  Henry  and  John  Peck- 
empaugh,  William  Lair,  Stephen  Mitchell,  John  Mil- 
ler, Henry  and  Edward  Martin,  James  Stevens,  John 
Miles,  George  and  James  Brown,  Ezekiel  and  Olive 
Terpening  and  Calvin  Glass,  with  their  familes. 
Hiram  Ingersol,  son  of  David  Ingersol,  followed  his 
father  in  the  latter  part  of  1835.  Mr.  Ingersol  is 
living  with  his  wife  neat  Alexis.  His  father  died 
July  10,  1842,  at  the  old  homestead;  his  mother 
many  years  before.  From  this  nucleus  grew  a  large 
and  prosperous  settlement. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  and  the  first 
female  child  said  to  be  born  in  the  county,  was  Mar- 
garet Ann,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Nancy  Robison,  • 
Nov.  i,  1829,  and   was   their  seventh  child.       This 
daughter    married    James  Gardner,   in   May,   1852. 
She,  with   her  husband,  are  still  living  on  section  2,  > 
in  Cold  Brook  Township. 

During  the  early  days  of  the  settlement,  many  of 
the  seasons  appeared  to  have  been  backward  and  • 
cold,  the  natural  results  of  which  were  light  crops. 
By  planting  the  Indian  maize,  commonly  called 
"squaw  corn,"  which  they  procured  from  the  Indians, 
they  succeeded  in  raising  a  fair  crop,  as  this  species 
of  corn  matured  much  earlier  than  any  other.  They 
would  also  use  the  maize  for  re-planting  when  the 
other  corn  did  not  come  up.  The  winter  of  1830 
and  1831  was  long  and  cold  and  there  was  much 
suffering  in  the  new  settlements.  A  deep  snow  fell 
in  December,  and  the  corn  had  not  been  harvested 
at  this  time.  The  settlements  were  isolated  from 
each  other,  and  it  was  hazardous  for  the  settlers  to 
pass  from  one  house  to  another,  and  often  it  was  at- 
tended with  frozen  feet  or  other  parts  of  the  body. 

At  this  time  there  was  but  one  mill  in  the  county, 
known  as  Smith's  mill,  which  was  about  two  miles 
east  of  Oquawka.  Hand  mills  and  mortars  were 
brought  into  requisition,  corn  was  dug  from  beneath 
the  snow,  dried,  placed  in  the  mortar,  pounded  into 
meal  and  then  cooked  and  placed  before  the  cold 
and  hungry  families.  There  was  but  little  stock, 


WARREN  COUN1  Y. 


729 


and  what  there  was  took  care  of  itself.  The  stock 
near  the  bottoms,  or  about  the  timber,  got  along  tol- 
erably well  and  very  few  died.  This  winter  was  alike 
hard  on  the  Indians.  The  watercourses  were  heav- 
ily crusted  with  ice,  upon  which  laid  a  deep  body  of 
snow,  which  made  it  impossible  for  them  to  procure 
fish.  The  feathery  tribes  had  sought  Southern 
climes  and  the  deer  had  gone  to  other  and  more  con- 
genial quarters. 

The  first  grist  mill  was  put  up  by  Calvin  Glass,  in 
1832,  on  the  banks  of  the  Henderson,  on  section  12. 
It  was  rather  a  primitive  arrangement;  nevertheless, 
it  was  very  welcome  to  the  pioneers  of  that  .day,  and 
much  better  than  the  mortar,  which  they  had  often 
used  to  pound  up  their  corn.  It  was  run  by  water- 
power,  but  the  power  was  none  too  strong,  and  the 
bolting  was  done  by  hand-power.  The  second  mill 
was  started  by  Chester  Potter,  and  was  located  on 
the  banks  of  the  main  Henderson,  section  22. 

The  people  in  the  early  days  traded  atMonmouth, 
1  Knoxville,  Oquawka  and  Old  Hendersonville,  as  it 
was  called. 

There  were  some  interesting  political  contests  even 
-  in  that  early  day.     The  elections  were  held  at  Rob- 

Iison  Corners,  until  the  township  organization  system 
was  adopted.  This  was  where  the  corners  of  Mon- 
mouth,  Cold  Brook,  Spring  Grove  and  Kelly  Town- 
ships came  together.  The  settlers  were  not  without 
their  religious  entertainments.  Preachers  from  dif- 
ferent denominations  came  in  and  held  forth,  some- 
times in  school-houses  and  sometimes  at  private 
residences.  Elder  Haney  was  among  the  first  to 
expound  the  gospel  according  to  the  Methodist  be- 
lief. They  were  not  so  particular  then  as  now  as  to 
what  day  they  worshipped.  Whenever  a  preacher 
would  come  around  to  administer  religious  food, 
they  would  assemble  to  partake  of  the  feast  at  some 
school-house  or  private  residence,  and  there  be  en- 
tertained with  graphic  descriptions  of  the  beauties  of 
Heaven  and  the  terrors  of  hell.  These  old  pioneer 
preachers  were  ardent  workmen  and  very  radical  in 
their  views.  There  was  no  half-way  house  for  them 
to  stop  at,  and  a  member  of  their  congregation  who 
was  heterodox  or  sought  a  road  to  Heaven,  smooth  in 
its  course  and  lined  with  flowers,  had  no  sympathy 
from  them.  Caleb  Smith's  house  was  a  favorite 
place  for  holding  these  meetings.  Sometimes  Sister 
Smith  would  be  spinning  when  the  meetings  were 
held.  This  supplied  the  place  of  a  choir,  and  the 


music  of  her  wheel  would  go  on  while  the  exhorter 
was  entertaining  the  audience  with  his  most  eloquent 
passages.  Mrs.  Smith,  who  was  a  very  industrious 
woman,  thought  that  she  could  not  give  up  her  en- 
tire time  to  the  religious  services,  and,  therefore, 
kept  her  wheel  in  motion,  having  always  one  ear  to- 
ward the  preacher. 

The  first  school  in  this  township  was  taught  by 
Peter  Terpening,  in  1837,  in  a  log  school-house 
which  stood  on  section  28.  He  was  the  son  of 
Ezekiel  and  Olive  Terpening,  who  were  early  set- 
tlers. Ezekiel  Terpening  died  July  16,  1864,  aged 
82  years,  and  his  widow,  Olive,  Feb.  8,  1867,  aged 
79  years.  It  was  along  the  road  by  the  Adcock 
farm,  that  the  troops,  some  1,600  in  number,  passed 
on  their  way  to  Rock  Island,  during  the  first  Black 
Hawk  War,  in  1831. 

In  1839,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized.  They  held  their  meetings  for  many  years 
in  private  houses  and  in  school  buildings.  In  187", 
a  church  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  at 
Utah,  which  was  formerly  called  Tylerville.  A 
church  building  was  also  erected  at  Ionia,  which 
place  is  also  known  by  the  name  of  Shanghai.  The 
societies  have  been  served  by  many  pastors,  the  last 
being  Mr.  Bolen. 

A  Second  Advent  Church  was  started  at  Ionia  in 
1857,  with  some  15  members.  In  1867  they  erected 
their  first  building,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,800.  It 
was  a  very  good  frame  structure.  The  first  Pastor 
was  Rev.  Guy  Rathborne,  who  remained  with  the 
Church  several  years.  In  May,  1868,  this  building 
was  demolished  by  the  great  tornado  which  visited 
this  place,  but  was  rebuilt  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,400. 
Services  are  held  regularly  by  this  society,  which 
has  a  membership  of  about  60  and  also  an  interest- 
ing Sunday-school.  At  one  time  there  were  stores 
in  Ionia,  and  a  good  trade  was  carried  on  here,  but 
when  the  railroad  came  through,  and  a  station  was 
made  at  Alexis,  its  business  was  destroyed  and  only 
a  postoffice  now  remains. 

There  were  one  or  two  stores  also  at  Tylerville. 
The  merchants  who  located  here  have  sought  richer 
fields  for  trading,  and  their  buildings  are  deserted. 
Tylerville  still  has  a  postoffice,  known  as  Utah,  and 
has  John  Landon  for  its  Postmaster.  It  is  located 
in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  34. 

A  meeting  was  held  for  the  organization  of  the 
township  of  Kelly,  April  4,  1854,  at  the  Tylerville 


73° 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


school-house.  This  meeting  was  organized  by  the 
appointment  of  William  Graham  as  Moderator,  and 
E.  C.  Atchison,  Clerk.  The  result  of  the  election 
was  as  follows:  John  Miles  was  elected  Supervisor; 
John  Terpening,  Assessor;  Ira  S.  Ingersol,  Col- 
lector; Samuel  Black,  Overseer  of  the  Poor;  James 
Stevens  and  W.  J.  T.  Wallace,  Commissioners  of 
Highways ;  Aaron  Yarde,  G.  C.  Adcock  and  Chris- 
tian Mills,  Justices  of  the  Peace  ;  David  Vestal  and 
Nathan  Smith,  Constables. 

There  was  quite  a  little  contest  about  the  name  of 
this  township.  The  Democrats  wanted  it  named 
after  Capt.  John  Kelly,  and  the  Whigs  after  William 
Graham.  Finally  the  Democrats  were  successful 
and  the  naming  of  the  township  was  given  to  them. 

The  St.  Louis  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  Railroad  passes  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  this  township. 

Kelly  is  watered  by  Henderson  Creek  and  its 
branches.  A  large  portion  of  the  land  is  undulating, 
with  broad  level  fields.  The  southwest  portion  is 
quite  broken  in  places  and  contains  much  fine  tim- 
ber. People  do  most  of  their  trading  at  Alexis ; 
some,  however,  go  to  Galesburg. 

The  population  of  this  township  in  1880  was  1,135, 
and  it  will  not  vary  much  from  these  figures  at  the 
present  time. 

According  to  the  County  Superintendent's  report 
for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  there  were  eight 
school  districts,  with  eight  frame  buildings.  The 
school  property  was  valued  at  $3,760.  Of  persons 
under  2  i  years  of  age,  there  were  478,  of  whom  there 
were  333  of  scholastic  age,  239  being  enrolled.  The 
highest  wages  paid  teachers  was  $45  per  month,  and 
the  lowest  $25.  The  tax  levy  for  this  township  was 
$1,950. 

SUPERVISORS. 


John  Mills 1854 

Thos.  Bannington 1855 

Wm.  Graham 1856-65 

Joseph  Pine 1866-7 

Wm.  Graham 1868-70 

J.  W.  Adcock 1871-3 


Joseph  Pine 1874 

M .   M  cCuIlock 1875-6 

Nathan  Crane 1877-8 

John  Rucker 1879-81 

C.  E.  Johnson '. . .    ..1882 

John  Rucker 1883-5 


LENOX  TOWNSHIP. 

'HIS   township    completed    its  organization 
April  4,  1854,  holding  its  election   in   the 
school-house  in  District  No.  i.     Ebenezer 
<w '  Landon  was  chosen  Chairman  ;  Norman   Mat- 
teson,    Moderator;     B.    F.    Wiggins,    Clerk. 
There  were   19  votes  cast  at  this  election,  the 
result  of  which  was  as  follows :     Porter   Phelps  was 


chosen  Supervisor;  B.  F,  Wiggins,  Clerk;  Norman 
Matteson,  Assessor ;  S.  Carmer,  Collector ;  E.  Lan- 
Lon,  Overseer  of  the  Poor;  C.  C.  Dickson,  Jacob 
Jewell  and  C.  Lucas,  Commissioners  of  Highways  ; 
James  M.  Dickson  and  Jacob  Jewell,  Justices  of  the 
Peace;  M.  Landon  and  S.  Dickson,  Constables; 
J.  Oglesby  was  chosen  Path  Master  for  the  south 
district,  and  Luther  Robinson  for  the  north  district. 
Messrs.  Carmer,  Wiggins,  Landon,  Dickson  (Consta- 
bles) failed  to  qualify  and  a  special  election  was  held 
June  13  to  fill  their  places.  N.  Matteson  was  chosen 
Clerk;  S.  Carmer,  Collector;  Ebenezer  Landon, 
Overseer  of  the  Poor;  and  Enoch  Hawkins  and 
Sanford  Carmer,  Constables.  It  was  organized  un- 
der the  name  of  Ripley,  but  was  changed  the  year 
following  to  Lenox.  It  is  numbered  10  north  of 
range  2  west. 

J.  W.  Bond  and  family  were  the  first  settlers  in 
the  township.  They  came  in  1833  and  located  on 
section  18.  (See  biography).  Seth  Murphy  and 
Ephraim  Smith  came  in  1836,  the  former  settling  on 
section  35  and  the  latter  on  section  36.  With  them 
came  their  families.  Mr.  Murphy  was  from  Ken- 
tucky and  Mr.  Smith  from  Ohio.  Mr.  Murphy  died 
at  the  old  homestead,  and  his  wife  in  Monmouth. 
Mrs.  Smith  died  on  the  old  farm,  and  her  husband 
moved  to  Abingdon,  where  he  died  a  few  years  ago. 
Porter  Plielps  and  family,  from  New  York,  moved 
into  the  township  in  1837,  and  located  on  section  2, 
where,  after  a  long  life  of  usefulness,  he  died  on  the 
i4th  day  of  April,  1885.  His  wife,  Mary  Ellen 
Phelps,  died  July  26,  1884.  They  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living.  Mr. 
Phelps  was  a  prominent  man,  not  only  in  his  town- 
ship but  also  in  the  county.  He  was  an  ardent 
patriot  and  a  true  hearted  Christian,  having  a  pas- 
sionate love  for  liberty,  home  and  his  country.  He 
was  an  intellectual  man,  fond  of  study,  and  books  of 
poetry,  philosophy  and  metaphysics.  With  a  warm 
and  tender  heart,  and  strong  attachments  for  his 
friends  and  neighbors,  lie  died  regretted  by  all  who 
knew  him,  in  his  82d  year.  (See  biography). 

Jesse  Riggs  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  but  did  not  locate  in  Lenox  Township  until 
1840,  when,  with  his  family,  he  moved  in,  locating 
on  section  35,  where  he  still  lives.  (See  biography.) 
In  the  latter  part  of  1840  Garland  Ray  moved  into 
the  township,  from  Roseville,  with  his  wife  and  ten 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


children,'  two  sons  and  eight  daughters.  Mr.  Ray 
died  at  his  home,  in  April,  1882.  His  wife  had  died 
many  years  before.  His  son,  James  W.,  died  while 
on  a  visit  to  Missouri.  M.  B.  is  living  on  section 
20.  His  daughters,  Ann,  Harriet,  Henrietta  and 
Letha,  are  dead.  Clarinda  Jane,  Julia  Ann,  Susan 
and  Elizabeth  were  married.  Susan  lives  in  Idaho  ; 
Clarinda  Jane  and  Julia  Ann,  in  this  county,  and 
Elizabeth  in  Henderson  County. 

James  Dickson  was  also  an  early  settler,  locating, 
with  his  family,  on  section  31.  He  died  some  years 
ago,  and  his  children  moved  away.  Mathew  Arm- 
strong was  another  early  settler,  locating  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  township.  The  children  during 
the  early  days  attended  school  in  Roseville  Town- 
ship. 

In  the  early  part  of  1871,  the  Rockford,  Rock 
Island  &  St.  Louis  R.  R.  Company  laid  its  line 
through  the  township.  It  runs  directly  north  and 
south,  a  mile  east  of  the  western  line.  This  line  is 
now  controlled  by  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  Company. 
The  Iowa  Central  completed  its  track  through  the 
township  in  1883.  It  enters  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  township  on  section  3,  and  runs  along  the  east- 
ern line,  passing  out  on  section  22. 

This  township  is  watered  by  the  Henderson 
Branch  and  its  tributaries,  which  heads  in  section  10, 
running  westerly,  and  Cedar  Creek,  which  runs  south- 
easterly. The  nature  of  the  land  is  rolling,  with 
level  prairies.  There  never  was  much  timber  in  the 
township,  and  there  is  hardly  an  acre  of  ground 
which  cannot  be  easily  plowed.  The  principal  grains 
are  oats,  hay  and  corn.  The  latter  is  cultivated  ex- 
tensively. It  is  probably  the  largest  grain-producing 
townshipin  the  county.  Certainly  there  is  no  town- 
ship that  can  present  any  finer  farms,  farm  buildings 
and  dwellings.  There  are  two  railroad  stations  in 
the  township,  Phelps  and  Larchland,  which  afford 
the  people  mail  facilities,  trading  and  shipping.- 

PHELPS. 

There  is  a  station  on  the  Iowa  Central  R.  R.  line, 
in  this  township,  on  section  13,  named  after  Hon. 
Delos  P.  Phelps,  who  is  prominently  connected  with 
this  road.  The  first  freight  train  stopping  at  Phelps 
was  from  Peoria,  and  it  arrived  April  16,  1883,  and 
discharged  a  car  load  of  lumber.  The  Methodist 
Church  has  an  organization  here,  holding  their  meet- 
ings in  the  school  house,  near  the  station.  Services 


are  held  every  two  weeks,  and  are  presided  over  by 
Rev.  G.  B.  Snedaker,  who  also  serves  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  West  Prairie. 

In  1880  the  census  reports  gave  Lenox  Township 
a  population  of  992  souls.  It  is  not  thought  that 
there  has  been  any  material  change  since  that  time. 

The  County  Superintendent  in  her  report  for  the 
fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  gives  the  follow- 
ing information  regarding  the  schools  of  this  township: 
There  were  eight  school  districts,  with  one  brick  and 
seven  frame  buildings ;  the  school  property  was  val- 
ued at  $6.900.  Of  persons  under  21  years  of  age, 
there  were  321,  of  whom  258  were  of  scholastic  age; 
218  being  enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid  teach- 
ers was  $40  per  month  ;  and  the  lowest  $20.  The 
tax  levy  for  this  year  was  $2,619.46. 

West  Prairie  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.— A 
class  of  this  society  was  formed  in  the  fall  of  1856, 
at  the  house  of  Joseph  Amie.  John  Shelton,  Evan 
Ewan  and  wife,  Joseph  Amie  and  wife,  were  mem- 
bers of  this  class,  which  was  organized  by  the  Rev. 
Frank  Chaffee.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  school 
house  and  at  private  residences  until  the  year  1863, 
when  they  erected  a  house  of  worship,  which  was 
located  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  29,  at  a 
cost  of  $2,000.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Hender- 
son Ritchey,  who  was  the  first  child  born  in  the 
county.  This  society  was  known  as  the  West  Prairie 
Church.  Rev.  Franklin  Chaffee  was  the  first  pastor. 
In  1860  they  had  a  great  revival,  which  largely  in- 
creased their  membership.  This  was  during  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Elliott's  pastorate.  Succeeding  Mr.  Chaffee 
were  respectively  Revs.  Crosier,  Beck,  Elliott,  Sulli- 
van, Carruthers,  Farris,  Coe,  Couch,  Fowler,  Ells- 
worth, Brown,  Ailsworth  and  Winsor.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  G.  B.  Snedaker,  with  a  membership 
of  about  25.  Their  building  is  a  plain,  substantial 
and  commodious  structure.  Connected  with  the  so- 
ciety is  a  Sabbath  School. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  of  1885,  the  following 
items  are  taken  :  Number  of  acres  of  improved 
lands,  22,296;  value  of  improved  lands,  $368,760; 
value  of  lots,  $1,955  ;  number  of  horses,  770;  cattle, 
931;  asses  and  mules,  16;  sheep,  22;  hogs,  3,068 ; 
steam  engines,  2  ;  carriages  and  wagons,  265  ; 
watches  and  clocks,  138;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 97  ;  melodeons  and  organs,  25.  Total  Cash 
value  of  personal  property,  $53,924. 


732 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


The  following  citizens  who  have  represented  this 
township  as  Supervisors,  are  : 


Porter  Phelps 1854-63 

Zepheniah   Lewis 1864.65 

G.  M.  Sayler 1866.68 

'J.  W.   Brictenthal  ...     .   ^69.73 

Evan  Ewan 1874 

D,  R.   Smith 1875 

Evan   Ewan 1876 

D.  R.  Smith 1877 


G.  M.    Sayler 1878.79 

J.  W.  Robertson 1880 

G.   M.  Sayler 1881 

T     L.   Capps 1882 

J  T   Lewis  1883 

T.  L.  Capps 1884 

H.  T.  Jewell r885 


Larchland. 

ARCHLAND  is  the  railroad  station  of  the 
St.  Louis  Branch  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R., 
situated  near  the  southwest  corner  of  Len- 
ox Township.  It  was  formerly  called  Lenox 
and  was  started  after  the  completion  of  the 
railroad.  Larchland  is  quite  a  shipping  point 
for  grain,  which  is  handled  chiefly  by  J.  H.  Robert- 
son, who  has  an  elevator.  John  Hodgson  has  a  large 
general  store  and  carries  on  an  extensive  business, 
and  is  also  the  Postmaster.  The  first  Postmaster 
here  was  Henry  Redant,  who  was  appointed  in  1870. 
He  was  succeeded  by  J.  M.  Young,  and  Mr.  Young 
by  Mr.  Hodgson. 

There  is  also  a  blacksmith  and'  wagon  shop  here. 
Larchland  has  constructed  recently  a  fine  new  school 
house  which  is  a  very  creditable  building.  Having 
secured  a  good  building,  they  next  provided  a  good 
teacher  to  instruct  their  children,  and  have  now  a 
first-class  village  school,  with  a  good  large  attend- 
ance. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Methodist  Protestant  Church.  There  are  two 
of  these  societies  at  this  Station;  one  called  Liberty 
Chapel,  and  the  other  Grace  Chapel.  In  1863,  a 
class  was  organized  at  the  school  house,  about  two 
miles  west  of  this  village,  which  was  called  Prospect 
Chapel.  It  was  afterward  changed  to  Liberty  Chapel. 
This  class  under  the  administration  of  the  Rev.  S. 
M.  Davidson,  erected  a  church  building,  in  r  869,  and 
through  the  zeal  of  the  pastor,  was  enabled  to  com- 
plete it  at  a  cost  of  $1,800.  The  lot  on  which  this 
house  of  worship  was  erected  was  presented  by 


Joshua  O.  Talbot.  Size  of  the  building,  25x40  feet. 
It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  C.  Gray,  of  the  North  Il- 
linois Annual  Conference,  in  Nov.  1869,  and  named 
Liberty  Chapel,  by  Joshua  O.  Talbot.  They  have 
also  a  good  parsonage  adjoining  the  church  building, 
which  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $[,000.  The  first  regu- 
lar pastor  was  Daniel  McCormick,  in  1863.  Rev. 
Thomas  Rook  served  from  1864  to  1865,  and  John 
Brook  from  1866  to  1867  ;  Rev.  S.  N.  Davidson, 
from  1868  to  1869.  These  were  followed  respect- 
ively, each  serving  from  one  to  two  years,  by  Revs. 
J.  L.  Bortan,  W.  Williams,  W.  J.  Stubbles,  M.  Handy, 
James  N.  Mayall,  Thomas  Keely,  J.  W.  Kidd.  Rev. 
John  A.  Richard  is  the  present  pastor,  who  presides 
over  a  membership  of  74. 

Grace  Chapel.  A  revival  meeting  was  held  in 
Larchland,  in  1876,  which  resulted  in  the  increase 
of  members  of  this  church  and  the  establishment  of 
an  organization  here.  A  meeting  of  the  members 
was  called,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  purchase  the 
old  Presbyterian  Church  building,  that  society  hav- 
ing been  disbanded,  and  offering  their  house  for  sale. 
It  was  bought  for  $300,  and  sold  on  condition  that 
religious  services  would  be  continued  there.  The 
membership  of  both  Chapels  is  74,  and  they  are  pre- 
sided over  by  the  same  pastor.  This  is  the  only  or- 
ganization of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  in 
the  country.  Services  are  held  at  Liberty  Chapel  in 
the  morning,  and  at  Grace  Chapel  in  the  afternoon 
of  each  Sunday.  A  good  Sabbath-school  is  continued 
at  both  places  of  worship  the  year  around.  J.  W. 
Barber  and  his  wife,  Mary  A.,  are  the  only  members 
now  living  that  were  present  at  the  first  organization 
of  this  church.  This  organization  in  Warren  County 
originated  from  the  Honey  Creek  Circuit  in  Henderson 
County,  which  was  established  Oct.  24,  1857,  Rev. 
Madison  Haney  being  the  first  pastor,  and  Wilson 
Nichols  assistant.  This  same  year,  a  class  was  or- 
ganized at  Ellison. 

During  the  tornado  of  1858,  while  Elder  Haney 
was  out  riding  on  Circuit  duty,  and  coming  toward 
his  home  at  Ellison,  his  wife  who  was  at  that  place 
was  severely  injured.  Mr.  Haney  was  the  organizer 
of  this  church  in  Warren  County.  The  Station  in 
Lenox  Township  belongs  to  the  North  Illinois  Con- 
ference, of  which  Rev.  W.  W.  Williams,  who  resides 
at  Cuba,  Fulton  Co.  111.,  is  president. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


733 


MONMOUTH  TOWNSHIP. 

i 
i 
ONMOUTH  was  organized  as  a  township 

April  4,  1854,  taking  its  name  from  the 
city  of  Monmouth,  which  is  situated  with- 
in  its  territory.  The  election  was  held  at 
the  court  house  with  John  Leeper  as  Modera- 
tor, and  B.  F.  Corwin,  Clerk.  At  this  meeting 
the  following  named  citizens  were  elected  the  town- 
ship officers  :  Joseph  Whitman,  Supervisor;  Samuel 
Wood,  Assessor;  James  McCoy,  Collector;  A.  S.Gil- 
bert, Clerk ;  A.  C.  Gregg,  Overseer  of  the  Poor ;  C. 
W.  Hunnicutt  and  W.  N.  Smith,  Justices  of  the 
Peace ;  James  McCoy,  Constable ;  C.  V.  Brooks,  R. 
S.  Hall,  and  James  McKemson,  Commissioners  of 
Highway. 

I  This  township  is  numbered  1 1  north  of  range  2 
west,  and  is  bounded  by  Spring  Grove  on  the  north, 
Cold  Brook  on  the  east,  Lenox  on  the  south,  and  on 
the  west  lies  Hale  Township. 

It  is  pretty  well  watered  by  Cedar  Creek,  and-its 
numerous  little  tributaries,  which  afford  also  ample 
drainage  facilities.  The  face  of  the  land  is  mostly 
undulating,  with  some  level  prairies.  The  soil  is  rich 
and  susceptible  of  high  cultivation.  Bordering  the 
streams  there  is  a  very  liberal  growth  of  timber,  and 
within  the  township  are  some  very  fine  groves. 
Three  railroad  lines  pass  through  it ;  the  main  line 
of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R;  R.  enters  on  section  36,  deflects 
a  little  to  the  northward  and  passes  through  sections 
26,  27,  28,  29  and  31.  The  St.  Louis  branch  enters 
between  sections  2  and  3,  runs  south  through  the 
city  of  Monmouth  and  passes  out  of  the  township 
on  section  31.  The  Iowa  Central  passes  diagonally 
across  the  southwest  corner. 

Mrs.  Talbott  and  son,  from  Kentucky,  were  the 
first  settlers  in  the  township,  and  the  county,  in  1827, 
locating  on  section  2.  Mrs.  Talbott  died  in  Mon- 
mouth, about  the  year  1849,  aged  80  years,  and  John 
B.,  mentioned  very  often  in  the  history  of  this 
county,  moved  to  Oregon  in  1850,  and  was  living  then 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River.  With  the 
Talbotts  came  Allen  G.  Andrews,  who  settled  on 
Cedar  Creek,  section  6.  He  was  an  educated  man 


and  a  good  Spanish  scholar,  and  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  township  and  county. 
He  died  at  his  home  some  years  ago. 

Abraham  Swartz  and  wife  came  in  April,  1829,  lo- 
cating about  a  mile  nortli  of  Monmouth.  They  moved 
soon  afterward  to  Knox  County.  Daniel  McNeil, 
Jr.,  John  Pence,  Joel  Hargrove,  Isaac  Hodgins  and 
Robert  Wallace  moved  in,  in  the  early  part  of  1830. 
During  this  year  also  came  Hezekiah  Davidson,  wife 
and  10  children — Alexander,  Elijah,  Helena,  Irene, 
Benjamin  F.,  James  W.,  Cornelia  Ann,  Solomon  P., 
Ellen  S.  and  Thomas  H.  They  located  on  section 
16.  Of  this  family  only  Thomas  H".  and  James  W. 
Davidson  are  living.  (See  biography  of  these  two 
sons.)  Later  on  William  Causland,  E.  Rodgers, 
Adam  (Black)  Ritchey,  cousin  of  Adam  (Sandy) 
Ritchey,  William  Corwin  and  William  S.  Paxton 
were  added  to  the  settlement. 

Robert  Wallace  put  up  the  first  grist  mill,  or  corn 
cracker,  in  the  township.  It  was  a  small  affair,  and 
was  located  about  four  miles  north  of  Monmouth.  , 
The  next  grist  mill  was  put  up  by  Aniel  Rodgers,  in 
1832.  It  was  located  about  four  miles  north  of  Mon- 
mouth, on  Cedar  Creek,  section  7.  Mr.  Rodgers  af-  , 
terward  sold  out  to  Olmstead  &  Avery.  It  had  two 
run  of  stone,  and  was  a  great  accommodation  to  the 
people.  Without  this  mill  many  a  pioneer  would 
have  been  deprived  of  the  luxury  of  sitting  down  to  a 
corn  cake.  In  addition  to  the  grist  mill, a  saw  mill  was 
put  up  and  attached  to  this  power,  and  considerable 
lumber  was  cut  for  the  settlement.  This  mill  was 
burned  in  1837,  and  was  subsequently  rebuilt  by  Wm. 
S.  Paxton,  with  an  increased  capacity  of  two  stone. 
It  is  still  running,  and  owned  by  Peter  Oswell.  It  is 
claimed  by  some  that  Adam  Ritchey  built  this  mill 
and  sold  it  to  Aniel  Rodgers. 

Monmouth  Township  is  one  of  the  most  thoroughly 
cultivated  and  largest  producing  townships  in  this 
county.  Its  population,  including  Monmouth  City, 
in  1880,  was  6,420.  It  is  estimated  that  there  has 
been  since  that  time  an  increase  of  600. 

The  early  history  of  this  township  is  so  closely 
identified  with  that  of  the  city  of  Monmouth, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  county,  that  it  has  been  found 
difficult  to  separate  the  two,  and  for  further  particu- 
lars the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  af  Monmouth 
and  of  Warren  County. 

The  County  Superintendent  in  her  report  for  the 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


year  ending  June  30,  1885,  has  the  following  items 
regarding  the  public  schools  of  the  township: 

In  the  15  districts  there  were  4  graded  and  n  un- 
graded schools;  3  brick  and  12  frame  buildings,  with 
a  property  valuation  of  $29,850.  Of  persons  under 
21  years  of  age,  there  were  3,918,  of  whom  1,860 
were  of  scholastic  age,  1,397  being  enrolled.  The 
highest  wages  paid  teachers  was  $90,  and  the  lowest 
was  $25.  The  tax  levy  for  this  township  was  $12,- 
742.49. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  for  the  year  1885,  the 
following  items  are  taken  : 

Number  pf  acres  of  improved  lands  :  21,233;  value 
of  improved  lands,  $461,010;  total  value  of  lots, 
$578,210;  number  of  horses,  1,286;  cattle,  1,833; 
asses  and  males,  22  ;  sheep,  143  ;  hogs,  3,372  ;  steam 
engines,  6;  carriages  and  wagons,  5 06;  watches  and 
clocks,  455;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  404; 
pianos,  158;  melodeons  and  organs,  116;  total  cash 
value  of  personal  property,  $325,178. 

Momnouth  has  honored  the  following  citizens  with 
the  office  of  Supervisor: 

SUPERVISORS. 


Josiah  Whitman  ..........  1854 

Samuel  Hallam  ...........  1855 

J.   Leeper   ...............  1856 

Hiram  Norcross  ..........  1857-8 

John  G.  Wilson  ..........  1859 

Samuel    Hallam  ..........  1860-1 

Samuel  Hallam  ..........  1862-63 

'osiah  Whitman,  Asst.  .  .  .  1862-3 

osiah  Whitman  .........  1864 

ohn  Brown,  Asst  ........  1864 

ames  T.  Owens  ........  1865 

.Vm.  Clark,   Asst  .........  1865 

Sickmon    ........  1866 

.  Sykes,  Asst  ......  1866 


John  F.  Owens,  Asst  .....  1897-8 

Thos.  Averell  ............  1869 

N.  A.  Rankin,  Asst  ......  1869 

N.  A.  Rankin  ...........  1870 

W.  A.  Grant,   Asst  ......  1870 

W.  A.  Grant  ............  1871 

C.  V.  Brooks,  Asst  .......  1871 

W.  A.  Grant  .............  1872 


George    Sickmon    ........  1866 

Wm.  P.  Syke 

John  G.  Wilson  .........  1867-8 


Amos  Eurford,  Asst 1872 

Chancy  Hardin 1873-4 

Alex.  Rankin,  Asst 1873-4 

Chancy    Hardin    1875 

John  B.  Meginnis,  Asst..  1875 

Geo.  Sickmons 1876-7 

Samuel  Douglas 1878 

O.  S.  Barnum,  Asst 1878 

Samuel  Douglas 1879 

Alex.  Rankin,  Asst ^79 

Samuel  Douglas 1880 

Geo.    Sickmon,  Asst  ..    .1880 

Samuel  Douglas 1881 

Amos  Burford,  Asst 1881 

C.  A.  Dunn 1882 

C.  P.  Averill,  Asst 1882 

J.  R.  Hanna 1883 

A.  T.  Bruner,  Asst 1883 

Sipher  Moses 1884 

A     T.  Bruner,  Asst 1884 

G.  W.  Claycomb 1885 

A.  T,  Bruner,  Asst 1885 


POINT  PLEASANT  TOWNSHIP. 

£ 
t 

p  OINT  Pleasant  was  organized  as  a  town- 
ship, April  4,  1854.  Albert  Mitchell  was 
chosen  Moderator  at  the  meeting,  and  J. 
D.  Conkling,  Clerk.  The  township  was  very 
thinly  settled  at  this  time,  and  there  were  only 
ten  votes  cast  at  the  election.  Albert  Mitchell  was 
chosen  Supervisor;  Albert  Livermore,  Clerk;  E.  J. 


Hazelton,  Assessor  and  Collector ;  Thomas  Boyd, 
Franklin  Booth  and  Andrew  Livermore,  Commis- 
sioners of  Highways;  John  A.  Waugh  and  W.  T. 
Johnson,  Constables;  Warren  Park  and  Lucius 
Watson,  Overseers  of  the  Poor. 

Point  Pleasant  is  located  in  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  county  ;  is  numbered  7  north  of  range  3  west, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Ellison,  on  the  east 
by  Swan,  on  the  south  by  McDonough  County  on  the 
west  by  Henderson  County.  This  township  was 
about  the  last  to  settle  up.  Solomon  Sovereign  and 
Abraham  Baldwin  were  the  first  settlers,  coming  in 
in  1835,  and  locating  on  section  13.  Mr.  Sovereign 
remained  on  his  farm  for  some  years  and  then 
moved  to  California,  where  he  is  still  living.  Mr. 
Baldwin  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  died.  After 
these  pioneers  came  Wm.  Parkhurst,  Mr.  Sutton, 
and  Mr.  Garrett.  Parkhurst  was  from  New  Eng- 
land, and  located  on  section  25.  He  afterward 
moved  to  Minnesota.  Mr.  Garrett  settled  on  sec- 
tion 24,  on  Swan  Creek,  and  Sutton  in  the  timber  on 
section  12.  In  1849,  Lucius  and  Isaac  Watson 
came  in  and  located  on  section  i.  James  Owen  also 
came  in  about  this  time  with  John  A.  Waugh.  In 
1849  a  school-house  was  built  and  the  first  school  in 
the  township  was  taught.  In  1850  a  postoffice  was 
established  at  a  place  called  Colfax.  In  1875  the 
Methodists  organized  a  society  near  Colfax  postoffice 
with  some  18  members.  Rev.  J.  \V.  Coe  was  the 
first  pastor  to  serve  this  church,  and  meetings  were 
held  in  school-houses.  Later  on  they  erected  a 
house  of  worship,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  Rev.  P.  S. 
Garretson  succeeded  Mr.  Coe.  This  society  has 
not  kept  up  its  organization,  but  meeiings  have  been 
held  occasionally. 

Point  Pleasant  Township  with  exceptions  of  sec- 
tions 12,  13  and  14,  which  are  a  little  broken  on  the 
eastern  line,  is  rolling  prairie.  The  soil  is  rich  and 
very  productive,  and  it  contains  some  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  county.  There  are  many  very  fine 
dwelling  houses  and  beautiful  homes,  and  the  farm- 
ers are  mostly  in  independent  circumstances.  In 
fact,  this  township  has  been  truly  named,  for  it  is  in- 
deed a  pleasant  township  to  live  in  and  to  look  upon. 

It  is  watered  by  the  middle  and  south  branches  of 
Nigger  Creek,  which  heads  about  the  middle  of  the 
township  and  courses  easterly.  It  has  no  railroad 
lines  running  through  its  territory,  the  nearest  rail- 


• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


735 


road  station  being  the  St.  Louis  branch  of  the  C.,  B. 
&  Q.  R.  R.,  which  has  a  station  at  Swan  Creek. 
There  are  no  stores,  shops,  or  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments. The  people  do  their  trading  mostly  at 
Swan  Creek  and  Roseville. 

In  the  production  of  corn  and  the  raising  of  hogs, 
Point  Pleasant  ranks  among  the  first  townships  in 
the  county.  It  is  also  unexcelled  in  the  production 
of  the  smaller  grains. 

The  population  is  about  the  same  as  in  1880, 
when  the  last  census  was  taken,  which  was  915. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  County  Superin- 
tendent for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  there 
were  nine  school  districts  in  which  there  were  nine 
frame  school  buildings.  The  school  property  was 
valued  at  $3,700.  Of  persons  under  21  years  of  age 
there  were  407,  of  whom  275  were  of  stholastic  age, 
261  being  enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid  teach- 
ers was  $47.50  per  month,  and  the  lowest  was  $30. 
The  tax  levy  for  the  township  was  $2,480. 

The  Assessor  in  his  report  for  the  year  1885,  furn- 
ishes the  following  items :  Number  of  acres  of  im- 
proved lands,  22,531  ;  value  of  improved  lands, 
$339,610;  number  of  horses,  846;  cattle,  1,524; 
mules  and  asses,  77  ;  sheep,  372  ;  hogs,  3,670;  car- 
riages aYid  wagons,  298;  watches  and  clocks,  134; 
sewing  and  knitting  machines,  90  ;  pianos,  3  ;  organs 
and  melodeons,  35.  Total  cash  value  of  personal 
property,  $63,364. 

SUPERVISORS. 


James  M.  Humes 1869  70 

R.  T.  King 1871-72 

A.  S    Smith    1873-76 

Thomas  Pennington l%77 

A    S.  Smith 1878-80 

W.  T.  Boyd 1881-83 

A.  S.  Smith 1884-85 


Warren  Park 1854 

Albert  Mitchell 1855-5? 

R.  T.  King 1858-59 

Leonard  Connell 1860 

Albert  Mitchell 1861 

George  W.  Slice 1862-63 

R    T.King 1864-67 

Geo.  W.  Slice 1868 


-13 — 


ROSEVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 

'HE  legal  voters  of  the  township  of  Rose- 
ville metal  the  Union  Church,  agreeable  to 
notice,  and  proceeded  to  form  the  township 
organization.  They  chose  Richard  Ray  chair- 
man, and  voted  to  elect  all  officers  by  yeas  and 
nays,  except  those  the  law  required  to  elect  by 
ballot.  Truman  Eldridg  was  chosen  Moderator 
and  John  C.  Franklin,  Clerk.  When  the  votes  were 


counted  it  was  found  that  Wm.  Johnson  was  elected 
Supervisor;  Samuel  Cole,  Clerk;  W.  B.  Smith,  As- 
sessor; Elijah  Hannon,  Collector ;  Stephen  Dilly, 
Overseer  of  the  Poor ;  James  W.  Ray,  S.  T.  Hadly, 
and  Reuben  Holeman,  Commissioners  of  Highways; 
John  Riggs,  Isaac  L.  Pratt,  Justices  of  the  Peace  ; 
Thomas  H.  Riggs,  G.  W.  Kerby,  Constables. 

Roseville  Township  is  numbered  9  north,  of  range 
2  west,  of  the  4th  principal  meridian,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Lenox,  on  the  east  by  Berwick,  the 
south  by  Swan,  and  the  West  by  Ellison  Township. 
It  is  watered  by  the  north  and  south  branches  of 
Nigger  Creek,  which  meanders  easterly  through  the 
township.  Bordering  these  water  courses,  there  is 
a  liberal  growth  of  timber,  with  broad,  rolling  prai- 
ries predominating  in  the  township.  Along  the  east- 
ern line,  however,  and  particularly  about  the  streams, 
the  land  is  broken.  Tne  St.  Louis  branch  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  enters  the 
township  on  sections  5  and  6,  passes  south  between 
these  sections  and  sections  7  and  8,  and  deflecting  a 
little  westward,  goes  out  about  the  middle  of  section 
31.  This  road  was  completed  through  the  township 
in  the  summer  of  1870. 

John  and  James  Armstrong  have  the  credit  of  be- 
ing the  first  settlers  in  Roseville  Township.  They 
came  in  1829,  from  the  south  part  of  the  State,  and 
located  on  section  i.  They  did  not  remain  long,  but 
sold  out  to  Thomas  Pearce,  who  came  in  1831.  Mr. 
Pearce  came  from  Ohio,  with  his  wife  and  children 
— Andrew  G.,  Thomas,  Theodore,  Melissa,  Minerva, 
Mary  E.  and  Sarah  D.  Andrew  G.  (see  biography) 
still  lives  on  the  old  homestead ;  Theodore  and 
Thomas  died  in  their  youth  ;  Minerva  died  when  a 
woman;  Melissa,  who  married  R.  E.  Hill,  died  in 
Iowa;  Mary  E.  was  married  to  Judge  Ivory  Quinby, 
Feb.  17,  1848,  and  is  still  living  in  Monmouth  ;  Sa- 
rah T.  was  married  to  William  Whitenack,  and  is 
living  in  Monmouth.  Thomas  Pearce  died  at  his 
homestead  Aug  22,  1853,  aged  75  years.  He  was 
one  of  those  sturdy  pioneers  so  essential  to  the  de- 
velopment of  a  new  country.  His  widow  died  Feb. 
29,  1869,  at  the  advanced  age  of  78  years  and  five 
months. 

William  R.  Pearce  came  in  soon  after.  He  did 
not  remain  long,  but  settled  near  Pekin,  where  he 
died  in  the  winter  of  1833. 

Sheldon   Lockwood   and   John  Smith,  from   Ken- 


736 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


tucky,  with  their  families,  were  the  next  additions  to 
this  settlement,  which  was  in  the  winter  of  1831-32, 
locating  on  sections  i  and  n.  They  camped  in  the 
timber,  patting  up  a  rude  shanty  to  protect  them 
from  the  cold  blasts  of  winter,  until  the  log  cabin 
could  be  built.  While  Lockwood  was  at  work  on  the 
cabin,  Smith,  with  an  ox  team,  went  to  the  town  now 
known  as  Springfield  for  some  provisions.  Smith  was 
gone  over  a  month,  and  before  he  returned  the  little 
band  of  pioneers  that  he  had  left  behind  him  became 
pretty  hungry,  and  no  man,  probably,  was  evermore 
cordially  welcomed  home  than  Smith. 

Lockwood  died  some  years  ago,  at  the  old  farm, 
and  his  widow  died  June,  1884,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  88  years.  Mr.  Smith  died  in  1837,  and  his  widow 
married  William  Gunter.  She  has  been  dead  some 
years. 

John  Murphy  and  W.  Carr  were  the  next  to  settle 
in  the  township.  The  former  was  from  Kentucky, 
and  located  on  section  i,  where  he  lived  and  died; 
the  latter  was  from  Indiana,  and  settled  on  section 
13.  These  pioneers  did  not  .remain  long  in  their  sol- 
itude, but  were  soon  followed  by  many  more  families 
seeking  homes  in  the  West.  Among  these  was  Tru- 
man Eldridg,  who  located  southwest,  near  the  town 
of  Roseville.  (See  biography.)  .  Mr.  Carr's  house 
was  struck  by  lightning  in  1838,  killing  two  of  his 
children.  He  died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  84  years, 
and  his  widow  followed  him  in  1880. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the  township  were 
held  in  the  winter  of  1832,  by  Elder  Covdier,  a  Meth- 
odist circuit  rider.  Thomas  Pearce  then  opened 
his  hospitable  doors  for  Divine  worship.  This  was 
a  great  event  for  these  dwellers  in  the  wilderness, 
and  the  religioi.s  enthusiasm  became  very  great.  Sub- 
sequently, in  the  spring  of  1833,  a  Methodist  Class 
was  formed  by  Rev.  Barton  Randall,  at  Mr.  Pearce's 
house,  which  was  the  first  in  the  township.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  Berwick  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church. 

Miss  Jane  A.  Allen  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
township,  in  a  log  cabin  in  Pearce's  Grove,  in  the 
summer  of  1834.  She  subsequently  was  married  to 
Judge  Ivory  Quinby,  March  10,  1839,  and  died  Feb. 
7,  1847. 

A  new  settlement  could  not  be  happy  without  hav- 
ing a  marriage  feast  to  enliven  it,  and  William  Haines 
and  Lucinda  Pearce  made  the  sacrifice  to  please  the 


good  people  of  the  township.  The  warm  rays  of  the 
summer  sun  rested  upon  two  loving  hearts  that  were 
joined  as  one  amid  the  congratulations  of  their 
friends,  on  July  3,  1832.  They  are  now  living  at 
Ottumwa,  Iowa. 

Roseville  Township  gradually  increased  with  its 
settlement,  its  rich  soil  and  fair  fields  stimulating 
production  and  inviting  emigration,  until  now  it  is 
third  in  rank  of  population  and  one  of  the  best  pro- 
ducing townships  in  the  county. 

Its  population,  according  to  the  last  census,  was 
i, 708,  and  it  is  estimated  that  these  figures  have 
been,  increased  since  that  time. 

Its  beautiful  farms,  enclosed  with  well  trimmed 
hedges,  and  decorated  with  fine  dwelling  houses  and 
farm  buildings,  present  an  ever-pleasing  aspect  to 
the  traveler.  Within  its  borders  there  is  a  good, 
thriving  town  for  the  people  to  do  their  trading  and 
marketing,  which  obviates  the  necessity  of  making 
long  journeys  to  other  places  for  this  purpose. 

The  County  School  Superintendent,  in  her  report 
for  the  year  ending  June  30,  r885,  has  the  following 
items  regarding  the  public  schools  of  this  township. 
There  were  1 1  school  districts,  with  one  graded  and 
ten  ungraded  schools,  and  one  brick  and  ten  frame 
school  buildings,  with  a  valuation  of  school  property 
at  $15,900.  Of  the  persons  under  21  years  of  age 
there  were  672,  of  whom  496  were  of  scholastic  age, 
494  being  enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid  to 
teachers  was  $75  per  month,  and  the  lowest  $25. 
The  tax  levy  for  the  township  was  $6,950. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  for  the  year  1885,  the 
following  information  is  obtained:  Number  of  acres 
of  improved  land,  22,788;  value  of  improved  lands, 
$344,559;  total  value  of  lots,  $68,937;  number  of 
horses,  970;  cattle,  1,696;  mules  and  asses,  59; 
sheep,  372;  hogs,  3,297;  steam  engines,  r;  car- 
riages and  wagons,  357;  watches  and  clocks,  347  ; 
sewing  and  knitting  machines  2ri;  pianos,  10; 
melodeons  and  organs,  69.  Total  cash  value  of  per- 
sonal property,  $91,226. 

SUPERVISORS. 


Wm.  Johnson 1854 

John  Riggs 1855 

James  tlarrett 1856-7 

D.  C.  Rings 1858 

John  Riggs 1855 

D.  C. Riggs 1860 

John   Riggs 1861 

D.    C.  Riggs 1862 

John    Riggs 1863 

Thompson   Brooks 1864 


D.  M.    Taliaferro 1865-9 

S.  M.    F.ldred 1870 

D.M.    Taliaferro 1871 

Wm.    Dillv 1872-3 

Alpheus  Lewis 1874 

T.  J.  Morris 1875 

Alpheus  Lewis 1876-80 

T.    A.    Dilly 1881-3 

R.  L.    McReynolds 1884 

H.    T.  Lope 1885 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


737 


He-Seville  Village. 

HIS  thriving  village,  now  so  favorably 
known  throughout  this  section  of  the  State, 
made  its  first  start  in  the  world  under  a 
different  banner.  The  name  by  which  it  first 
appeared  to  the  public  was  Hat  Grove,  and  it 
covered  a  piece  of  ground  but  a  little  way 
from  its  present  site.  Its  commencement  may  be 
dated  from  the  esta'olisment  of  the  postoffice,  with 
Truman  Eldridg  as  Postmaster.  Not  until  after  the 
completion  of  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  and  St. 
Louis  Railroad,  however,  was  there  much  progress 
made  toward  a  business  town.  Lancaster  and  Elli- 
son, in  what  is  now  Ellison  Township,  were  having 
a  fine  local  trade,  which  continued  to  increase  until 
the  railroad  came  through  the  county,  making  the 
station  at  Roseville. 

A  small  store  was  first  opened  at  this  place  by 
John  Adams  (a  very  historical  name)  where  Pierce's 
brick  building  now  stands.  Adams  did  not  remain 
long  in  business,  but  was  succeeded  by  E.  P.  Emans, 
who  opened  a  general  merchandise  establishment 
with  a  very  liberal  stock  of  goods,  and  who  is  at 
present  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the  place. 
After  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  the  business  of 
Lancaster  was  moved  over  to  Roseville.  Ellison 
had  been  ruined  years  before  by  the  great  tornado 
and  the  trade  which  this  place  at  one  time  had  also 
come  here. 

The  first  train  came  into  Roseville  July  4,  1870, 
and  was  made  quite  an  event  by  the  people  of  the 
village,  who  celebrated  the  day  of  our  independence 
with  the  advent  of  the  railroad.  From  this  time  on 
Roseville  has  had  a  steady  growth.  There  is  no 
richer  fanning  country  in  the  county  than  that  which 
surrounds  this  village.  Like  al!  the  towns  in  the 
county,  it  labors  under  the  disadvantage  of  not  hav- 
ing a  water  power  for  manufacturing  purposes;  yet, 
the  site  is  a  very  pleasing  one  and  reasonably 
healthy.  But  we  have  anticipated  a  little  and  we 
return  to  an  earlier  period. 

The  town  was  platted  in  1868,  by  Solomon  Sover- 
eign, and  the  surveys  were  made  by  that  energetic 
citizen,  John  A.  Gordon,  who  has  stood  by  this  town 


all  these  long  years.  The  plat  was  laid  out  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  31,  and  contained  40 
acres.  The  next  addition  to  the  town  was  by  Tru- 
man Eldridg,  embracing  60  acres,  and  laid  out  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  30.  This  was  in  1870, 
and  also  surveyed  by  Mr.  Gordon.  The  town  con- 
tinued to  grow,  and  dreams  of  a  future  large  c  ty 
were  had  by  many  of  Roseville's  speculative  citizens, 
and  even  by  the  conservative-minded.  Reeve's  ad- 
dition came  next  and  was  platted  the  same  year,  so 
also  was  that  of  Pratt  &  Dilly,  containing  60  acres 
on  section  31.  Munford's  addition  was  the  next  and 
last.  It  was  platted  December,  1875,  and  embraced 
the  south  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
30.  With  all  these  blocks  and  streets  laid  out,  the 
town  had  ample  room  to  grow.  But  as  there  is  a 
Divinity  that  shapes  the  ends  of  individuals,  it  may 
be  stated  with  the  same  degree  of  logic,  that  there  is 
a  Divinity  that  also  shapes  the  ends  of  towns;  and 
it  remains  for  the  future  to  disclose  whether  Rose- 
ville will  ever  occupy  as  a  town  all  the  ground  laid 
out  for  her. 

Business  houses  and  dwellings  increased,  and  it 
looked  to  the  more  sanguine  citizens  that  in  the  no 
distant  future  all  the  blocks  would  soon  be  covered 
with  fine  buildings  of  one  kind  or  the  other.  Some 
of  the  most  progressive  people  were  in  favor  of  an 
incorporation.  The  movement,  however,  failed  for 
want  of  sufficient  support.  Subsequently  another  at- 
tempt was  made  with  like  results.  The  movers  for 
incorporation  were  persistent  in  agitating  their  pro- 
ject and  finally  an  election  was  ordered  for  the  pur- 
pose of  voting  on  this  subject.  This  election  was 
held  May  30,  1873,  and  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the 
movement  of  incorporation,  Two  years  later  another 
election  was  held,  May  4,  1875  At  this  election,  the 
movers  for  incorporation  were  successful,  winning  by 
75  votes  against  42,  which  made  them  very  jubilant. 
An  election  for  Village  Trustees  was  then  called  for 
June  8,  1876,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  J.  C. 
Turnbull,  Sr.,  Ezra  P.  Emans,  John  A.  Gordon, 
James  S.  Reed,  and  J.  T.  Loihrop.  On  the  i4th  of 
June  following,  the  Trustees  met  at  the  office  of  John 
A.  Gordon,  and  completed  their  village-  organization 
by  the  election  of  Ezra  P.  Emans,  President  of  the 
Board;  Benjamin  R.  Ostrander,  Clerk;  R.  L.  Mc- 
Reynolds,  Treasurer.  On  motion,  J.  S.  Reed,  John 
A.  Gordon  and  E.  P.  Emans  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  prepare  an  ordinance  lor  the  city  govern. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


merit.  Under  the  incorporation  the  village  has  gone 
along  very  smoothly,  and  there  has  been  no  occasion 
to  regret  the  action  of  the  majority. 

There  are  some  good  business  houses  here,  and 
fine  dwellings  ;  and  taking  the  town  altogether,  it  is  a 
pleasing  and  attractive  one.  The  population  is  es- 
timated now  to  be  between  900  and  1,000. 

The  principal  manufacturing  industry  of  this  vil- 
lage is  that  of  Daniel  Bird  &  Sons'  Tile  Factory, 
which  was  started  in  1879.  They  employ  on  an  av- 
erage 12  men,  and  three  kilns.  They  also  manufac- 
ture brick  which  is  of  a  good  quality.  Mr.  Bird 
found  a  two  foot  vein  of  coal  near  his  clay  beds  and 
also  an  excellent  quality  of  fire-clay.  This  firm 
through  their  manufactory  are  contributing  no  little 
to  the  business  and  prosperity  of  Roseville. 

Messrs.  Blazer  &  Steninger,  proprietors  of  the 
Roseville  Creamery,  are  doing  a  good  business  in 
their  line.  They  gather  their  cream  from  an  ex- 
tended area  of  territory,  and  make  during  the  season 
about  500  pounds  of  butter  per  day. 

As  above  stated,  Truman  Eldridg  was  the  first 
Postmaster  of  the  town,  then  known  as  Hat  Grove. 
>  He  resigned  in  favor  of  Benjamin  Morford  who  held 
the  place  until  1861.  E.  P.  Emans  then  took  charge 
and  held  the  office  until  1866,  and  was  followed  by 
Amos  Pierce,  who  served  until  1871,  when  W.  T. 
Gossett  was  appointed,  and  is  the  present  incum- 
bent. 

PRESS 

The  first  paper  started  at  Roseville,  was  the  Rose- 
ville Gazette,  by  that  enterprising  and  successful 
newspaper  man.  G.  G.  McCosh,  now  proprietor  of 
the  Monmouth  Gazette,  May  24,  1876,  who  was  at 
that  time  foreman  of  the  Monmouth  Review:  It  was 
a  six-column  folio,  published  every  Wednesday,  and 
was  independent  in  politics.  The  printing  was  done 
at  The  Review  office.  In  June,  1877,  Mr.  McCosh 
moved  his  paper  to  Monmouth  and  changed  the 
name  to  the  Monmouth  Gazette. 

The  Roseville  Gazette  was  a  lively,  spicy  sheet  and 
attracted  no  little  attention  in  the  newspaper  field, 
the  result  of  which  was  the  starting  of  an  opposition 
paper  at  Roseville,  by  Wilson  Bros.,  called  Wilsons 
Weekly.  The  editor  of  the  Gazette  having  accom- 
plished what  he  desired,  modestly  withdrew  from  the 
field  to  Monmouth,  where  he  could  have  a  more  ex- 
tensive scope  for  his  abilities. 


Wilsons  Weekly  was  too  weak  to  stand  after  the 
Gazette  had  departed,  or  withdrew  its  aid,  and  was 
soon  changed  to  the  Roseville  Times,  under  a  new 
management.  This  paper  was  subsequently  pur- 
chased by  C.  Elliott,  who  continued  its  publication 
until  the  spring  of  1885,  when  he  sold  out  to  C.  H. 
Hebbard,  present  proprietor  and  editor.  Mr.  Heb- 
bard  has  enlarged  the  Times  to  an  eight-column 
folio,  and  also  extended  the  job  office.  The  Times 
is  independent  in  politics,  and  has  a  liberal  circula- 
tion, and  is  a  well  conducted  paper. 
OFFICERS. 

Present  officers  of  the  Village  Government ;  Trus- 
tees, J.  W.  Connelly,  J.  W.  Malcomb,  George 
Meclram,  N.  G.  Taft,  S.  H.  Tuttle  and  W.  B.  Ditch. 
President  of  the  Board,  J.  W.  Connolly ;  Clerk,  J. 
B.  Lozier;  Treasurer,  E.  P.  Emans. 

SCHOOLS. 

Roseville  has  the  credit  of  having  the  best  school 
building  in  the  county,  and  one  of  the  best  graded 
schools.  The  building  is  a  large  two-story  brick 
structure,  solid  and  handsome  in  its  architecture, 
and  containing  six  apartments.  It  was  erected  in 
1880.  C.  A.  Hebbard  is  the  Principal  of  the  I 
school,  who  is  an  experienced  teacher  and  a  gentle- 
man of  education.  He  has  Mrs.  M.  E.  Higgins  for 
First  Assistant ;  Miss  Bertha  Taft,  Second  Assistant, 
and  Miss  S.  A.  Ragon  in  the  Primary  Department. 
Enrollment,  188  pupils.  This  school  is  thor- 
oughly graded,  and  all  of  the  English  branches  are 
taught  here. 

SOCIETIES. 

Roseville  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  519,  was 
chartered  Oct.  4,  1867,  with  18  members.  First  of- 
ficers :  D.  Adams,  W.  M.  ;  W.  Clayton,  Sr.  W.  M. ;  J. 

B.  Wilsey,  Jr.  W.  M.;  B.    Ragon,  Secretary;  D.  N. 
Taliaferro,  Treasurer  ;  T.Bradley,  S.  D. ;  Wm.  Stan- 
field,  J.  D.;  Israel  G.ired,  Tyler.     Present  officers: 
J.  W.  Connelly,  W.  M.;  N.   G.  Taft,  Sr.  W.  M.;  A. 

C.  Stein,  Jr.  W.  M. ;  R.    L.  McReynolds,  Treasurer; 
T.  B.  Bohen,  Secretary;  J.  W.  Bockus,  S.  D. ;  C.  J. 
Danielson,    J.  D. ;  J.   L.    Davenport,  Tyler.       The 
Lodge  has   a    fine,   well  furnished  hall,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  33.     The  hall  is  neatly  decorated,  well 
equipped  and  in  good  working  condition. 

G.  A.  R.,  A.  C.  Harding  Post,  No.  127,  was  char- 
tered March  17,  1882,  with  30  members,  J,  W. 


, 


± 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


739 


Coates,  C.  :  F.  B.  Davis,  V.  C. ;  J.  Whitenack,  J.  N. 
C.;  T.  S.  Fowler,  Chaplain;  Dr.  N.  A.  Griffith,  Sur- 
geon; J.  M.  Tucker,  O.  D. ;  J.  J.  McClen,  Agt. ; 
R.  L.  McReynolds,  Q.  M.  The  present  membership 
of  the  Post  is  50.  It  is  in  a  good  working  order,  and 
increasing  in  numbers.  They  have  a  good  hall, 
which  is  well  furnished.  Present  officers:  D.  M. 
Fay,  C. ;  T.  S.  Miller,  S.  V.  C. ;  M.  G.  Taft,  J.  V. 
C.;  Ellis  Scott,  Secretary ;  James  Chapman,  Chap- 
lain; Sylvester  Bryner,  O.  D. ;  George  C.  Murphy, 
Adj. ;  R.  L.  McReynolds,  Q.  M. ;  John  T.  Bragg,  O. 
G.  They  meet  on  the  second  and  fourth  Mondays 
of  each  month. 

I.  O.  O.  F.,  Roseville  Lodge,  No.  537,  was  insti- 
tuted Jan.  21,  1874,  with  five  charter  members.  J. 
W.  Kennor  was  the  first  N.  G. ;  H.  G.  Simmons,  V. 
G. ;  J.  S.  Greer,  Secretary;  R.  B.  Tredmore,  Treas- 
urer. This  Society  was  first  organized  at  Youngs- 
town,  and  was  known  as  the  Youngstown  Lodge,  and 
was  so  chartered.  In  June,  1874,  it  was  moved  to 
Roseville.  The  Society  occupies  the  Masonic  Hall, 
has  money  in  the  Treasury,  is  well  equipped  and 
in  good  working  order.  They  intend  to  erect  for 
>=  themselves,  in  the  near  future,  a  hall  for  lodge  pur- 
poses. Present  membership  about  50,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers  :  A.  C.  McPeak,  N.  G. ;  J.  H.  Morn- 
ingstar,  V.  G.;  J.  E.  Hartley,  Secretary;  A.  C.  Stem, 
Treasurer. 

Selected  Knights  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  insti- 
tuted Nov.  8,  1883,  with  28  members.  Present 
officers  are:  R.  L.  McReynolds,  S.  C.;  E.  D.  Patch, 
V.  C.;  G.  C  Murphy,  Lt.  C.;  T.  B.  Bohn,  Recor- 
der; S.  P.  Stem,  Treasurer;  C.  A.  Anderson,  R.  T. ; 
S.  N.  Edwards,  S.  B. ;  J.  L.  Davenport,  Chaplain  ; 
S.  Roseberry,  Marshal.  Membership,  35,  This 
Society  holds  its  meetings  in  Masonic  Hall. 

A.  O.  U.  W.,  No.  112,  was  organized  May  15, 
1878,  with  C.  S.  McDonough,  P.  M.  W.  ;  J.  W. 
Coates,  M.  W. ;  W.  T.  Gossett,  Recorder.  Present 
membership  of  the  Lodge,  61.  Present  officers  :  J. 
S.  Roseberry,  M.  W. ;  L.  D.  Patch,  M.  W. .  John 
Powell.  Treasurer;  S.  N.  Edwards,  Overseer;  T. 
B.  Bohn,  Recorder;  G.  R.  Davenport,  Financier; 
W.  H.Buckley,  Recorder;  R.  B.  Davenport,  G.;  M. 
N.  Anderson,  I.  W. ;  D.  F.  Morningstar,  O.  W.  They 
meet  in  the  Masonic  Hall,  and  are  in  a  prosperous 
condition. 

RELIGIOUS. 
The   Congregational  Church    was    first  organized 


with  12  members,  at  Hat  Grove,  in  the  old  school 
house,  November,  1851.  Rev.  J.  Blanchard,  Mod- 
erator, and  L.  E.  Sykes,  Clerk.  This  school  house 
is  now  used  as  a  dwelling.  In  1855,  they  erected 
their  new  church  building,  costing  $3,000.  It  is  a 
very  neat  frame  structure,  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
about  300.  It  was  dedicated  March  5,  1856.  Sup- 
plies were  furnished  by  other  congregations  for 
awhile.  In  the  latter  part  of  1856,  they  secured  their 
first  pastor,  Rev.  J.  R.  Rodgers,  who  was  ordained 
at  fhe  time  the  church  was  dedicated.  Revs.  A. 
Moore,  T.  H.  Johnson,  A.  R.  Mitchell,  L.  S.  Morgan, 
Aldred  Morse,  Cyrus  H.  Eaton,  A.  E.  Arnold,  A.  J. 
Drake,  followed  in  succession,  serving  from  one  to 
two  years.  In  1868,  Rev.  James  D.  Wyckoff  ac- 
cepted a  call,  and  served  the  Church  for  nine  years, 
or  until  1877.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  R.  A. 
Woods,  who  served  one  year.  Rev.  S.  Goodenow 
then  took  charge,  and  remained  until  1880,  when 
Rev.  R.  B.  Guild  became  pastor,  remaining  until 
1883.  In  August,  1883,  Rev.  F.  C.  Cochran  was 
called,  who  served  until  August,  1885.  The  pastor- 
ate is  at  present  vacant,  but  the  Church  is  negotiat- 
ing for  a  minister.  Present  membership  79.  A  Sab-  = 
bath-school  with  about  60  members  is  connected  with 
this  Society. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  formed  in  the 
year  1841.  It  had  its  beginning  with  a  membership 
of  seven.  The  first  preaching  place  was  in  the  house 
of  Solomon  Sovereign.  Subsequently  they  secured 
the  school  house,  in  which  they  held  their  meetings, 
and  next  they  worshipped  in  the  Congregational 
Church.  In  1864,  the  Methodists  built  their  present 
church  edifice,  which  was  during  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  J.  A.  Windsor.  The  church  building  was  ded- 
icated by  the  Rev.  O.  S.  Munsel,  President  of  Bloom- 
ington  University.  The  structure  cost  $4,000,  and 
is  a  substantial  building,  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
350.  In  1881,  the  building  was  thoroughly  repaired, 
at  a  cost  of  about  $750,  and  is  now  in  good  order. 
This  appointment  once  belonged  to  Oquawka  Cir- 
cuit, and  most  of  the  records  of  this  Church  are  still 
with  that  circuit. 

Roseville  became  apart  of  Ellison  Circuit,  in  1855, 
and  in  1869  became  the  head  of  the  circuit,  and 
remains  so  at  the  present  time. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  pastors 
in  their  regular  succession,  as  sent  by  the  Confer- 


740 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


ence  :  Revs.  William  Clark,  H.  Pressan,  A.  D.  Mc- 
Cool,  William  Haney,  A.  Fisher,  Josiah  Kerns,  W. 
J.  Beck,  A.  E.  Higgins,  W.  B.  Morse,  Amos  Morey, 
H.  H.  Crosier,  B.  C.  Swartz,  J.  T.  Windsor,  G.  C. 
Woodruff,  W.  B.  Caruthers,  Thomas  Watson,  J.  W. 
Coe,  Abram  Beeler,  C.  B.  Couch,  J.  W.  Coe,  N.  T. 
Allen,  J.  Q.  Adams,  T.  F.  Fowler,  D.  McLeish,  the 
present  pastor.  The  present  membership  of  the 
Church  is  102  ;  the  entire  circuit  has  175  members. 
Attached  to  this  society  is  a  prosperous  Sunday 
School,  presided  over  by  C.  J.  Boyd.  They  have  had 
many  revivals  of  religion  in  this- Church  from  time  to 
time,  which  have  increased  its  membership,  though 
many  have  died  and  moved  away. 

The  Christian  Church  was  organized  in  1860,  with 
about  20  members.  In  1871  the  society  erected  a 
house  of  worship,  which  cost  them  $1,500.  At  a 
later  period  they  secured  a  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  about 
$600.  This  congregation  was  organized  from  the 
Downing  School-house  Society,  in  Swan  Township, 
and  afterward  the  Ellison  Township  Church  united 
with  them.  Rev.  M.  Jones  is  the  present  pastor  of  this 
Church,  which  has  now  about  100  members.  During 
the  past  season  Mr.  Jones,  by  his  zeal  and  earnest 
preaching,  got  up  quite  a  revival  in  the  Church, 
which  resulted  in  adding  many  members  to  their 
faith.  On  account  of  the  early  records  being  lost, 
the  full  history  of  this  organization  cannot  be  given. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  first  organized  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1852,  with  25  members,  and  was  called  the 
Hat  Grove  Baptist  Church.  Rev.  G.  S.  Minor  pre- 
sided over  the  organization.  Rev.  Joseph  Elliot 
was  the  first  pastor  installed,  which  was  in  1853, 
and  served  the  Church  18  months.  During  the  early 
history  of  the  society  Rev.  William  T.  Bly  got  up  a 
very  extensive  revival,  and  added  largely  to  its  mem- 
bership. A  church  building  was  erected  in  1863,  at 
a  cost  of  $1,500,  and  was  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year.  They  have  also  a  good  parsonage,  which 
cost  $[,200,  including  lots.  After  Mr.  Bly  they  had 
'alternates  for  a  while.  In  May,  1855,  Rev.  Win- 
throp  Morse  took  charge,  remaining  one  year,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Joseph  Elliot.  In  June,  1858, 
David  L'eland  became  pastor  for  a  few  months.  Suc- 
ceeding him  for  short  terms  were  Revs.  Henry  B. 
Johnson,  Daniel  B.  Gunn,  William  Storrs,  A.  Jones, 
Jr.,  Elijah  Russ.  Mr.  Russ  was  succeeded  in  1872, 
by  Rev.  George  D.  Kent,  who  remained  with  the 


Church  until  1876,  when  he  was  followed  by  E.  C. 
Cady,  who  served  until  1881.  Rev.  J.  E.  Ladd  then 
served  one  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Isaac 
Fallis,  the  present  pastor.  They  have  about  150 
members,  and  a  thriving  Sabbath  School  of  about 
80  members. 

The  Evangelical  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  was 
organized  in  1876,  by  Rev  Charles  Anderson,  of  Ans- 
gari  College,  Knoxville.  Rev.  George  Wieburg  was 
installed  as  the  first  pastor,  in  the  fall  of  this  year. 
He  remained  two  years  with  the  Church  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles  J.  Lundell,  who  remained 
until  1880,  when  Rev.  Charles  Bargstrum  took  charge, 
serving  one  year.  Rev.  J.  W.  Carlson  followed,  serv- 
ing one  year.  After  Mr.  Carlson  came  Rev.  N.  A. 
Blomstrand,  the  present  pastor.  The  church  build- 
ing was  erected  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of  $[,ooo.  Pres- 
ent membership  about  30,  and  a  Sabbath  School, 
numbering  about  20.  Preaching  every  third  Sui  day. 

The  Union  Baptist  Church  is  located  on  section 
2,  and  was  organized  in  1841,  by  Rev.  John  Logan 
and  Robert  Wilbur,  with  the  following  members  : 
Thomas,  Elizabeth  and  Asmeth  Brooks,  John  and 
Rosina  Murphy,  Hasula,  Jane  and  Elizabeth  Smith, 
Julian  Shirley,  Wilson  M.  and  Malvina  Gunter,  Wil- 
liam M.  and  Ann  Brooks,  David  and  J.  A.  J.  Smith, 
Nancy  Fields,  Harriet  R  iy,  Elizabeth  Robb  and  Wil- 
liam Hiet.  First  regular  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Mur- 
phy, who  served  from  1841  to  1845.  He  was 
followed  by  Rev.  John  C.  Ward,  who  rrmained  with 
his  flock  until  February,  [85 1,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  James.  Mr.  James  served  the  Church 
until  [854,  and  was  succeeded  respectively  by  Revs. 
William  Whitehead,  Mr.  R.  Newton,  Tronier,  H. 
H.  Parks,  R.  W.  Welsh  and  S.  Peckard.  The  lat- 
ter is  the  present  pastor,  and  has  been  with  the 
society  since  June,  1876.  In  1860  they  erected 
their  house  of  worship,  costing  about  $1,900. 

SPRING  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 

PRING  Grove  Township  was  organized  un- 
der the  Township  Organization  Laws,  April 
4,  1854.     A  meeting  for  this  purpose  was 
held  at  the  usual  place  for  holding  elections. 
Thomas  Gibson  was  chosen  Moderator,  and 
James    H.    Carmichael,    Clerk.       When    the 
ballots    were    counted    it  was  found    that   Robert 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Gilmore  was  chosen  Supervisor;  Thomas  Gibson, 
Jr.,  Clerk  ;  John  Ray,  Assessor ;  James  L.  Porter, 
Collector;  Watson  Gates,  Overseer  of  the  Poor; 
Robert  and  William  Walker,  Justices  of  the  Peace ; 
Josiah  Porter,  S.  R.  Boggs  and  Thomas  Averel, 
Commissioners  of  Highways;  Joseph  Ray  and  Jo- 
seph Meyers,  Constables  ;  James  R.  Patterson,  Rob- 
ert W.  Gerlaw,  Overseers  of  Roads  and  James  H. 
Carmichael,  Pound  Master. 

Spring  Grove  is  situated  in  the  middle  of  the 
northern  tier  of  townships,  number  12  north,  of 
range  2,  west.  The  county  of  Mercer  is  at  the 
north,  and  on  the  east,  south  and  west  sides  lie  re- 
spectively the  townships  of  Kelly,  Monmouth  and 
Sumner.  The  nature  of  the  land  in  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  township  is  rolling, ;  in  the  western  part 
it  is  in  places  quite  broken.  It  is  liberally  watered 
by  the  Middle  Henderson,  Cedar  Creek  and  tributa- 
ries, which  meander  westward  into  the  Henderson 
River.  Along  the  water  courses  the  township  is 
pretty  well  timbered.  The  facilities  for  drainage  are 
good,  and  there  is  but  little  dead  land  in  the  town- 
ship, nearly  all  being  subject  to  cultivation,  and  very 
:  fertile. 

I  James  Humphreys  has  the  credit  of  being  the  first 
settler  in  the  township,  having  located  here  in  1833. 
He  was  soon  followed  by  Robert  Gilmore  and  fam- 
ily, of  whom  James  T.  and  L.  H.  Gilmore  were 
members.  He  located  on  section  25,  which  he  sub- 
sequently sold,  and  bought  a  farm  on  section  24. 

John  Armstrong  and  Wm.  Miller  with  their  fami- 
lies came  in,  in  1834.  John  H.  Frantz  and  family 
located  in  the  township,  in  1835,  and  David  H.  Mc- 
Curry,  in  1836.  Horace  Smith  with  his  family  en- 
larged the  settlement  in  1837.  He  came  from  Penn- 
sylvania with  his  wife,  Margaret,  and  four  children — 
Robert,  Isabelle,  Mary  and  John.  Charles  and 
Owen  were  born  in  the  township.  Mr.  Smith  loca- 
ted on  section  3,  on  which  place  lie  lived  until  1858, 
when  he  died.  His  widow  survived  him  nearly  a 
score  of  years,  and  died  in  the  spring  of  1885.  All 
the  children  are  living.  Mary,  who  was  married  to 
Nathan  Pettit,  is  living  at  Alexis. 

Elder  Richard  Haney  was  the  first  preacher  to 
hold  service  in  the  township.  He  preached  at  first 
in  private  houses. 

Mrs.  Wilket,  who  was  quite  an  elderly  lady,  taught 
the  first  school,  in  1841,  in  a  house  built  by  her 


brother,  on  section  5.  She  had  sixteen  pupils  who 
were  very  much  attached  to  her  and  did  all  they 
could  to  please  and  make  her  happy .  She  long  ago 
passed  on  to  the  other  world. 

A  postoffice  was  opened  at  Spring  Grove,  in  1835, 
soon  after  the  Rock  Island  stage  route  was  estab- 
lished. There  was  a  little  settlement  at  this  place, 
and  some  trading  done  before  the  Rock  Island  &  St. 
Louis  R.  R.,  was  built  and  the  town  of  Alexis  was 
started,  when  the  business,  with  most  of  the  settle- 
ment here,  moved  to  the  latter  place. 

Spring  Grove  is  a  beautiful  township,  many  parts 
of  it  very  picturesque,  and  containing  some  grand 
farms.  It  ranks  second  in  the  production  of  stock, 
and  is  very  fair  in  the  production  of  the  cereals. 

The  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  R.  R.  was  com- 
pleted through  the  township  in  June,  1871.  It  en- 
ters in  the  northeast  corner  of  section  i.and  running 
south  by  west,  passes  out  on  section  34. 

The  people  do  their  trading  mostly  at  Alexis,  and 
at  Gerlaw,  from  which  places  considerable  stock  is 
shipped.  In  1880,  the  population  according  to  the 
census,  was  r,4oo,  and  it  is  estimated  now  to  be 
about  1,500 

There  is  a  United  Presbyterian  congregation  at 
Spring  Grove,  which  was  organized  by  the  Monmouth 
Presbytery,  June  22,  1855.  J.  C.  McKnight  was 
the  first  pastor,  serving  from  June,  1856,  until 
March,  1860.  He  was  succeeded  by  Wm.  M.  Gra- 
ham, who  served  the  Church  until  1863.  Then 
they  were  without  a  pastor  for  about  a  year,  when 
they  secured  the  services  of  T.  P.  Patterson,  who 
remained  until  December,  1868.  Rev.  David  Inches 
then  took  charge  and  remained  until  1874,  and  was 
followed  by  Revs.  Rufus  Johnson,  Wm.  J.  Mc- 
Croney  and  A.  W.  Johnson,  the  present  pastor,  who 
was  installed  Aug  25,  1885,  this  being  his  first 
charge. 

They  have  a  good  church  building  costing  about 
$3,500,  also  a  good  parsonage.  The  membership  is 
about  85.  In  addition  to  the  services  they  have  a 
fine  Sabbath-school. 

On  section  10  there  is  located  a  religious  society 
called  the  Church  of  God.  It  was  organized  in  1865 
by  Randolph  White.  The  first  meeting  of  this  so- 
ciety was  held  in  school-houses.  In  1869  they  com- 
pleted their  church  building  at  a  cost  of  some 
$j  i  ,500.  No  regular  services  are  held  here  now,  but 


742 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


sometimes  they  have  preaching  by  a  woman  of  the 
faith  who  comes  from  Monmouth. 

From  the  County  Superintendent's  report  for  the 
year  ending  June  30,  1885,  the  following  statistics 
have  been  obtained :  There  were  10  school  districts 
in  the  township  with  one  graded  school,  and  9  un- 
graded. The  10  districts  embraced  i  brick  and  9 
frame  school  buildings ;  the  value  of  the  school 
property  was  $7,050.  Of  persons  under  21  years  of 
age  there  were  695,  of  whom  412  were  of  scholastic 
age,  551  being  enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid 
teachers  was  $60 ;  the  lowest,  $25  per  month.  The 
tax  levy  was  $3,459.86. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  for  1885,  the  following 
facts  are  obtained:  Number  of  acres  of  improved 
lands,  21,794;  number  of  acres  of  unimproved 
lands,  766;  value  of  improved  lands,  $283,140; 
value  of  unimproved  lands,  $3,625  ;  total  value  of 
lots,  $35,150  ;  number  of  horses,  849;  cattle,  2,009  ! 
mules  and  asses,  19;  sheep,  440;  hogs,  3,706; 
steam  engines,  4;  carriages  and  wagons,  253;  watches 
and  clocks,  54;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  85  ; 
pianos,  4;  melodeons  and  organs,  44.  Total  cash 
value  of  personal  property,  $92,925. 
SUPERVISORS. 


Robt.  Oilmore 1854-56 

M.A.   Thompson 1857 

R.  W.Gerlaw 1858-62 

L.  H.Gilmore 1863 

R.  W.  Gerlaw 1864-65 

R.  H.Gilmorc 1866-68 

James  B.  Porter 1869-70 

L.  H.  Gilmore 1871-72 


Craig  Hanna 1873 

L.  H.Gilmore   1874-78 

Angus  McCoy 1879 

A.  J.  Reid   1880 

B .  F .  Forwood 1881-82 


ngus  McL-oy 

O.  Reid   ... 

.  F .  Forwood 

ohn  C.   Blaney 1883 

ohn  S.  Winbigler 1884-85 


Alexis. 

1  HIS  pretty  and  attractive  little  village  is 
situated  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Spring 
Grove  Township  on  section  i,  and  on  the 
line  of  the  St.  Louis  Branch  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  about  12  miles 
northeasterly  from  Monmouth.  It  was  plat- 
ted in  1870,  by  Messrs.  Robert  Holloway  and  J.  E. 
Alexander,  and  was  named  after  the  latter  gentle- 
man. The  survey  was  made  by  Thomas  F.  McClan- 
ahan  on  the  7th  of  September,  and  recorded  on  the 
i6th  of  the  same  month.  The  original  plat  contains 
1 60  acres,  on  section  i,  in  Spring  Grove  Township, 
and  1 60  acres  in  Mercer  County,  section  36,  town 


13  north  of  range  2  west.  With  the  exception  of  a 
few  residences  the  town  has  not  extended  into  the 
latter  section.  Schuyler  Palmer  originally  owned 
this  land;  he  planted  the  first  crop  and  made  the 
first  improvements  here,  which  was  in  1855.  His 
house  stood  on  the  east  side  of  where  Main  Street 
now  is,  near  the  little  grove,  and  was  the  first  house 
built  in  this  part  of  the  county.  Mr.  Palmer  sold 
the  land  to  Thomas  Lawhead,  Sr.,  and  he  to  Messrs. 
Holloway  and  Alexander.  It  was  first  named  Alex- 
andria, in  honor  of  one  of  its  founders,'  but  there  be- 
ing a  name  similar  to  this  in  the  State,  considerable 
confusion  followed  in  the  mail  service  and  in  the 
shipping  of  goods.  Consequently  it  was  changed  to 
Alexis.  This  name  was  suggested  by  the  arrival  in 
this  country,  about  this  time,  of  the  Russian  Grand 
Duke  Alexis. 

O.  G.  Chapman  and  C.  W.  Gates  opened  the  first 
store  in  the  town,  in  November,  1870,  on  Main 
Street;  they  also  received  the  first  car-load  of  lum- 
ber that  was  shipped  on  this  part  of  the  railroad. 

T.  B.  Patterson  opened  the  next  store,  on  Market 
Street,  near  the  Baptist  Church,  or  what  is  now  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Richardson  &  Riner  opened  the  first  hotel  at  the 
depot.  This  hotel  is  now  kept  by  Blayney  and 
called  the  Alexis  House.  About  the  same  time,  U. 
W.  Hull  started  a  hotel  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
South  Streets,  called  the  Alexandria  House. 

The  railroad  was  completed  to  Alexis  and  Mon- 
mouth about  the  ist  of  January,  1871.  The  post- 
office  was  established  Jan.  17,  following,  and  O.  G. 
Chapman  was  appointed  Postmaster,  a  position  he 
has  held  since  that  time. 

The  town  grew  so  rapidly,  the  people  decided  that 
they  ought  to  have  a  village  government,  and  an 
election  was  duly  called  to  take  this  matter  under 
consideration.  It  was  held  June  28,  1873,  at 
Churchill  &  Wray's  Hall.  The  County  Judge  ap- 
pointed T.  Loveridge,  W.  T.  Richardson  and  Robert 
S.  Wray,  judges  of  election.  This  was  quite  an  im- 
portant event  to  the  people  of  this  new  town,  and  the 
following  named  citizens  were  entrusted  with  its 
destinies:  John  C.  Blayney,  A.  G.  Talbot,  O.  G. 
Chapman,  O.  E.  Bugbee,  Daniel  Churchill  and 
James  Loveridge.  These  Trustees  met  at  Flake's 
Hall,  July  28,  and  completed  the  city  government 
by  electing  John  C.  Bla)  ney,  President  of  the  Board ; 


• 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


743 


John  Douglas,  Clerk;  Charles  E.  Johnson,  Treas- 
urer; and  H.  R.  Gilhland  Street  Commissioner. 

On  the  night  of  Jan  24,  1878,  fire  broke  out  under 
the  floor  of  the  Masonic  Hall  on  Main  Street,  and 
nearly  destroyed  the  west  side  of  that  street.  Among 
the  sufferers  were  D.  S.  McKnight,  hardware  dealer, 
two  stores  and  one  dwelling;  James  Shaw,  notions 
and  grocery;  Dr.  J.  P.  McClanahan,  drug  store; 
Thomas  Loveridge,  dry  goods  and  grocery;  Hardy  & 
Knox,  dealers  in  groceries  and  clothing;  Bolinger  & 
Yarde,  grocery  store ;  Benjamin  Churchill,  restaurant 
and  boarding-house;  Jacob  Wolff,  harness  and  sad- 
dlery. 

On  May  8.  1879,  another  fire  broke  out,  on  the 
east  side  of  Main  Street,  which  destroyed  several 
business  houses. 

This  town  is  excellently  located  and  is  surrounded 
by  a  rich  agricultural  country.  It  has  a  healthy 
growth,  and  improvements  are  steadily  going  on. 
The  industrial  interests  of  Alexis,  for  a  new  and 
small  town,  are  very  good.  The  Alexis  tile  and 
brick  factory  was  established  in  1878,  by  George 
Bruington  and  Thomas  Townsley.  The  business 
=  was  carried  on  two  years  by  them,  when  Bruington 
sold  out  to  Townsley,  who  has  since  had  sole  charge 
and  ownership.  Mr.  Townsley  is  prepared  with 
machinery  and  buildings  to  do  an  extensive  business 
in  this  line  of  manufacture.  He  has  the  best  of 
clay,  which  is  easily  obtained  and  comparatively  in- 
exhaustible. At  present  he  has  20  hands  in  his  em- 
ployment. 

Another  very  important  industry  for  Alexis  is 
Daniel  Churchill's  wagon  and  carriage  shop.  For 
hand-made  wagons,  buggies  and  carriages,  Mr. 
Churchill  has  a  wide  reputation. 

Porter  Bros,  have  also  established  a  reputation  for 
handling  good  buggies  and  carriages. 

A  creamery  was  established  here  last  spring  by 
D.  W.  Little,  who  is  making  about  1,000  pounds  of 
butter  a.  week. 

There  are  several  good  business  houses  in  the  town 
and  all  appear  to  be  prosperous. 

Alexis  is  one  of  the  desirable  towns  to  live  and 
do  business  in.  It  has  a  population  of  398.  Pres- 
ent officers :  N.  P.  Bruington,  D.  W.  Burt,  S.  B. 
Miller,  F.  J.  Pine,  J.  S.  Canon  and  W.  E.  Durston, 
Trustees.  Mr.  Bruington  is  President  of  the  Board. 
T.  B.  Patterson  is  Clerk;  C.  W.  Postlewaite,  Treas 


urer;    and   George    Poe,   Street   Commissioner. 

A  short  distance  west  of  Alexis,  on  the  county 
line  road,  is  the  stock  farm  of  Col.  Robert  Holloway, 
one  of  the  most  extensive  breeders  of  horses  in  the 
State.  (See  biography.)  He  breeds  pure  Clydes- 
dales, of  which  he  is  a  large  importer.  His  large 
farm,  containing  640  acres,  his  extensive  stables 
and  long  experience,  eminently  qualify  him  for  achiev- 
ing success  in  carrying  off  the  prizes  in  the  Clydes- 
dale line  of  stock.  At  the  Chicago  exhibition  of 
1884,  Col.  Holloway  won  three- fourths  of  all  the 
premiums  in  the  Clydesdale  list.  His  Carmerogie, 
a  yearling,  took  the  first  prize  in  New  Orleans,  St. 
Louis  and  Chicago,  for  the  best  bred  horse  in  this 
country  from  imported  stock.  Carmerogie  Kier, 
once  belonging  to  Col.  Holloway 's  stables,  is  now  in 
Scotland,  owned  by  the  Duke  of  Hamilton. 

Col.  Holloway  established  his  stables  about  12 
years  ago.  He  has  spent  many  years  of  hard  labor 
and  large  sums  of  money  in  improving  his  stock  and 
perfecting  his  breed,  and  eminently  deserves  the  suc- 
cess that  has  followed  his  efforts. 
SCHOOLS. 

Alexis  has  a  eood  graded  school,  where  a  full  Eng- 
lish course  is  taught.  They  have  a  good  frame 
building,  large  enough  to  accommodate  all  the  schol- 
ars. J.  S.  Canon,  is  Principal;  Miss  Anna  Bain  has 
charge  of  the  grammar  department;  J.  P.  Campbell, 
the  intermediate  ;  and  Miss  Maggie  Boggs,  the  pri- 
mary department.  They  have  an  average  attend- 
ance of  150  pupils. 

PRESS. 

Alexis  is  not  without  its  newspaper  experience, 
and,  like  most  all  small  towns,  she  has  furnished  an- 
other field  for  the  entombment  of  those  enterprises. 

The  Alexis  Journal  made  its  first  appearance 
Feb.  13,  1874,  and  was  a  seven-column,  folio  paper, 
edited  by  James  Everett.  The  patronage  was  not 
enough  to  warrant  its  continuance,  and  it  was  sus- 
pended at  the  close  of  the  third  volume.  The  plant 
was  purchased  by  Dr.  Chaffee  and  the  Alexis  Index 
was  started.  This  was  a  five-column,  eight-page 
paper.  It  had  a  brief  life  and  expired  like  its  pred- 
ecessor. Since  then  no  one  has  been  enterprising 
enough  to  attempt  the  publication  of  another  journal 
here. 

SOCIETIES. 

Alexandria  Lodge,  No.  702,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,    was 


744 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


instituted  Oct.  8,  1872,  with  n  charter  mem- 
bers. John  E.  Alexander  was  W.  M. ;  John  H.  Mc- 
Grew,  S.  W.  M.;  Joseph  R.  Scott,  J.  W.  M.  They 
have  at  present  46  members,  with  a  good  hall ;  they 
were  burned  out  in  the  fire  of  1878.  The  present 
officers  are:  C.  W.  Postlewaite,  W.  M.;  J.  R.  Mc- 
Call,  S.  W.  M.;  Wm.  Jackson,  J.  W.  M. ;  Wm.  Bel- 
linger, Tyler;  Truman  Lord,  Secretary  ;  John  Bel- 
linger, Treasurer.  The  lodge  was  named  after  John 
E.  Alexander,  the  founder  of  Alexis. 

Alexis  Lodge,  No.  526,  I.  O.  O.  F. — This  lodg^ 
was  organized  Oct.  i,  1873,  and  received  its  charter 
the  151)1  of  the  same  month.  The  charter  members 
were  Thomas  M.  Bell,  J.  H.  McGrew,  Daniel 
Churchill,  John  N.  Carr  and  R.  T.  Wray.  Thomas 
M.  Bell  was  the  first  N.  G. 

In  the  fire  of  1878  the  hall  of  this  lodge  was 
burned,  together  with  all  their  records,  furniture  and 
regalia.  They  have  now  a  membership  of  77,  and 
are  in  good  working  condition.  Present  officers  are: 
George  Bellinger,  N.  G. ;  Chas.  Bellinger,  B.  G. ;  S. 
P.  Leonard,  Secretary  ;  Alfred  Bellinger,  Treasurer. 
They  contemplate  the  erection  soon  of  a  fine  hall  for 
their  use,  and  have  already  purchased  a  lot. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  at  Blay- 
ney's  Hall,  in  1881,  in  connection  with  the  Norwood 
Church,  with  60  members,  by  Rev.  I.  T.  Whittemore. 
Meetings  were  held  for  awhile  in  Blayney's  Hall  and 
afterward  in  the  United  Brethren  Church.  The  or- 
ganization of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Alexis 
was  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  United  Brethren 
church,  May  29,  1883,  with  65  members.  In  the 
summer  of  1883  they  purchased  the  building  belong- 
ing to  the  Baptist  Missionary  Association  for  $1,200, 
and  re-modeled  it  at  a  cost  of  $800.  After  several 
removals,  the  present  membership  is  about  75,  and 
is  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Wm.  J.  Palm,  the 
first  installed  pastor.  The  Church  is  steadily  grow- 
ing, with  hopeful  prospects.  They  have  a  Sabbath- 
school  connected  with  the  Church,  with  a  membership 
of  100  scholars,  presided  over  by  J.  P.  McClanahan. 

United  Presbyterian  Church. — This  congregation 
was  organized  April  4,  1871,  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Hender- 
son, witli  about  25  members.  M.  McClanahan  and 
W.  A.  Elder  were  the  first  elders.  Mr.  Henderson 
supplied  the  Church  for  a  year,  and  after  him  Drs. 
Black  and  Doig.  Meetings  were  at  first  held  in  the 


school  house,  near  town.  In  1873  the  society  erected 
a  very  neat  frame  building,  which  is  tastily  finished, 
costing  3,100.  With  this  they  have  good  parsonage, 
located  on  the  same  lot.  In  1876  they  secured  the 
services  of  Rev.  F.  McKerahan,  their  first  regular 
pastor.  He  served  the  congregation  until  1882;  they 
were  then  without  a  pastor  two  years.  In  June,  1884, 
Rev.  J.  D.  Palmer  accepted  a  call  and  is  the  present 
pastor.  It  has  a  membership  of  63  and  an  interest- 
ing Sabbath-school  of  too  members. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — This  Church  has 
a  small  congregation  here.  When  first  organized, 
meetings  were  held  in  the  grove,  then  in  Caldwell's 
Hall.  Rev.  P.  L.  Call,  from  Iowa,  preached  for  them 
awhile.  They  hold  their  meetings  now  in  the  church 
of  the  United  Brethren,  and  have  service  every  two 
weeks,  being  supplied  from  the  North  Henderson 
Church. 

The  United  Brethren  Church  have  an  organiza- 
tion in  the  village.  This  society  was  formed  in  the 
township  in  1856.  After  Alexis  was  started,  the  so- 
ciety located  there,  where  they  put  up  the  first  church 
building.  It  was  dedicated  in  November,  1872.  The 
building  is  a  good,  substantial,  frame  structure,  cost- 
ing $2,250.  Rev.  H.  Kline  is  the  present  pastor, 
holding  services  here  every  two  weeks.  Present 
membership  about  24,  with  a  Sabbath-school  of  48.- 


Gerlaw. 

;x  ERLAW  post  office  was  established  about 
^  the  ist  of  January,  1871,  with  A.  Elder  as 
Postmaster.     Mr.  Elder  had  a  long  serv-r 

ice,  remaining  until  Aug.  r,  1883,  when  J.  A. 

Foster  took  charge.     It  was  established  soon 

after  the  advent  of  the  St.  Louis  branch  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad.  Ger- 
law was  founded  by  R.  W.  Gerlaw,  who  owned  the 
land  alxDut  here,  and  was  platted  by  Thomas  S.  Mc- 
Clanahan, May  2,  1871.  It  is  located  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  section  34.  (See  view,  page  35  6.)  A. 
Elder  opened  the  first  store  in  the  town.  He  deals 
in  general  merchandise  and  grain.  Mr.  Elder  sold 
out  to  Parker  &  Hart  and  Hart  sold  out  to  Parker, 
in  1883.  Subsequently  he  took  in  J.  A.  Foster  as 
partner. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Rupp   attends  to  the  medical  wants  of 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


745 


this  hamlet.  J.  P.  Lindquist  has  a  wagon  shop,  and 
there  is  also  a  blacksmith  and  a  shoe  shop  here. 
Gerlaw  has  a  good  school  building,  and  a  good  school, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  30  pupils.  Its  popu- 
lation numbers  about  75. 

Christian  Church.  This  congregation  was  organ- 
ized June  20,  1859,  by  Rev.  L.  S.  Wallace,  at 
Mauck's  Grove,  with  29  members.  Of  these  mem- 
bers only  three  are  now  living — Sarah  Lair,  Harriet 
Carson  and  B.  H.  Gardner.  They  had  erected  a 
house  of  worship,  before  organizing,  at  a  cost  of 
$r,ioo,  which  is  a  very  neat  and  substantial  build- 
ing. It  was  moved  to  Gerlaw,  in  September,  1873. 

Rev.  Mr.  Lucy  succeeded  Mr.  Wallace,  remained 
one  year,  and  was  followed  by  James  Gaston,  who 
also  served  one  year.  Revs.  Henry  Murphy,  H.  R. 
Trickett,  J.  B.  Boyer  and  Mr.  McPherson,  followed 
in  succession.  After  this  the  Church  had  supplies 
for  some  years,  when,  in  November,  1883,  they  se- 
cured the  services  of  the  Rev.  Chas.  Laycock,  who  is 
the  present  pastor.  They  have  services  every  Sun- 
day, with  a  membership  of  some  60,  and  a  Sunday- 
school  of  30  scholars. 


SUMNEH  TOWNSHIP. 

MEETING  was  held  at  Little  York,  April 
4,  i85r,forthe  purpose  of  establishing  a 
111  m  township  organization.  Thomas  Graham 
was  chosen  Moderator,  and  George  Black, 
Clerk.  The  polls  were  then  opened  to  receive 
the  votes  of  the  citizens.  Upon  counting  the 
ballots,  the  following  officers  were  found  to  be 
elected:  J.  P.  McGaw,  Supervisor;  Thomas  Gra- 
ham, Collector ;  John  E.  McGreg,  Assessor ;  John 
Porter,  John  Martin  and  John  Nealy,  Commission- 
ers of  Highway  ;  A.  A.  Allen  and  T.  J.  Caldwell, 
Justices  of  the  Peace ;  George  Gibson  and  Hugh 
Brownlee,  Constables  ;  William  Preston  and  Samuel 
Graham,  Overseers  of  Roads.  The  vote  for  Clerk 
was  a  tie,  and  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  appointed 
Thomas  Brownlee  to  take  the  place. 

It  was  organized  first  as  Union  Township,  and 
they  changed  it  to  Sumner,  in  1855.  It  is  situated 
in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  county,  in  township 


12  north,  of  range  3  west,  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Mercer  County,  on  the  east  by  Spring 
Grove,  on  the  south  by  Hale,  and  the  west  by  Hen- 
derson county. 

The  territory  that  is  now  embraced  by  Sumner, 
was  settled  as  early  as  any  other  part  of  the  county. 
Matthew  D.  and  Adam  Ritchey,  and  Otter  Craig, 
came  into  the  township  in  1828.  William  McCoy, 
Jonathan  Buffun  and  L.  P.  Rockwell,  u  oved  in,  in 
1830.  Hugh  Martin,  Sr.,  with  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren, came  in  the  fall  of  1832,  locating  on  section  28. 
Mr.  Martin,  who  first  located  in  Fulton  County,  had, 
previous  to  moving  into  the  county,  been  in  and  se- 
cured his  land.  William  McCoy  and  L.  P.  Rock- 
well bought  Adam  Ritchey's  claim  of  160  acres, 
which  included  a  block  house  that  he  had  erected 
upon  the  hill  and  used  as  a  fort.  This  house  was 
the  first  building  in  the  township.  Among  others 
who  came  in,  in  1832,  was  Chester  Potter  and  David 
Maler.  Mr.  Potter  located  with  his  family  at  Rock- 
well's Mill,  on  Cedar  Creek.  He  moved  from  here 
in  1833,  and  located  in  Kelly  Township,  on  section 
22,  where  he  died,  Oct.  19,  1851.  Cecilia,  his 
daughter,  who  was  married  to  Hiram  Ingersol,  is  the 
only  one  of  the  Potter  family  now  living. 

The  first  child  born  in  this  township,  was  Hen- 
derson, son  of  Adam  (Sandy)  Ritchey,  who  was  born 
Dec.  23,  1828. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  William  Martin,  in  the 
fall  of  1832.  The  second  death  was  that  of  a 
young  man  by  the  name  of  Moffit,  who  was  killed  by 
falling  off  a  fence,  the  fall  breaking  his  neck.  They 
were  buried  by  the  side  of  each  other  in  Sugar  Tree 
Grove  Cemetery. 

William  Martin,  as  is  well  known,  was  killed  by 
the  Indians,  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk 
War.  This  occurred  Aug.  9,  1832.  He  was  out  in 
the  field,  mowing  some  grass  for  his  horses,  near  the 
old  town  of  Denny,  southeast  of  Hugh  Martin's  res- 
idence, when  some  half  dozen  Indians  rushed  out  to 
him  from  the  timber,  shot  him  and  then  fled  to  the 
woods,  One  of  the  shots  was  fired  so  close  to  him 
that  the  powder  burned  his  hair.  It  is  reported  that 
after  shooting  him  the  Indians  took  his  scalp,  but 
this  is  denied  by  some  old  settlers  who  are  good  au- 
thority. The  murder  was  supposed  to  have  been 
done  by  Indians  who  had  been  detached  from  the 
main  band,  and  were  prowling  about  seeking  some 


746 


WARKEN  COUMTY. 


subject  for  their  vengeance.  This  sad  affair  was 
witnessed  by  the  McCoy  girls,  who  were  not  very  far 
from  the  old  fort.  The  killing  of  Martin  threw  the 
entire  settlement  into  great  consternation,  and  it  was 
feared  that  another  Indian  war  would  be  inaugu- 
rated. The  families  in  this  vicinity  gatheied  into 
the  fort,  bringing  with  them  their  provisions,  where 
they  remained  for  some  weeks,  until  all  apprehen- 
sions from  any  further  trouble  was  removed.  Happily 
there  were  no  further  attacks  from  the  Indians. 
The  saddest  events  of  life  often  have  amusing  fea- 
tures. It  was  so  in  this  unhappy  affair.  This  fort, 
which  was  located  west  of  Cedar  Creek,  near  the  old 
town  of  Denny,  section  27,  had  been  used  at  times 
during  this  period  for  the  holding  of  religious  meet- 
ings. At  the  time  of  this  tragic  event  religious  ser- 
vices were  going  on  in  the  fort,  attended  by  the  set- 
tlers living  in  the  vicinity,  particularly  the  women, 
and  presided  over  by  Mr.  Miles,  a  Methodist  preach- 
er. While  Miles  was  preaching,  a  man  rode  swiftly 
into  the  fort,  and  with  bated  breath  announced  the 
murder  of  Martin  by  the  Indians.  The  preacher,  it 
is  reported,  did  not  wait  to  close  his  sermon,  nor 
even  pronounce  a  benediction  ;  nor  did  he  "  stand 
on  the  order  of  his  going,"  but  mounted  his  horse, 
which  had  "been  hitched  near  by,  and  away  he  flew, 
trusting  more  to  the  speeedof  his  animal  than  he  did 
to  the  protecting  hand  of  God.  He  did  not  stop  his 
horse  until  he  reached  Yellow  Banks,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  it  is  stated  that  the  last  that  was  seen  of 
him,  he  was  swimming  his  horse  across  the  Illinois 
River. 

James  Kendall  opened  the  first  store  in  the  town- 
ship, in  1833.  It  was  located  in  Little  York,  and  he 
had  for  his  store  house  a  little  log  cabin.  He  died 
soon  after,  and  William,  his  brother,  took  the  store, 
and  subsequently  sold  it  to  Arthur  McFarland. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  at  Little  York, 
in  1838,  and  J.  F.  Pollock  was  the  first  Postmaster; 
held  the  office  about  1 6  years,  when  he  moved  to 
Oregon.  Mr.  Pollock  came  in  1837,  and  located  on 
section  28. 

Peter  Terpening  taught  the  first  school,  in  1837. 

P.  L.  Rockwell  and  Jonathan  Buffun  put  up  the 
first  saw  mill.  It  was  erected  at  the  Cedar  Fork  of 
the  Henderson,  generally  called  Cedar  Creek,  a  short 
distance  east  of  the  old  town  of  Denny.  They  worked 
on  the  mill  during  the  winter  of  1830-1,  and  had  it 


ready  with  the  opening  of  spring  for  operation.  This 
was  also  the  first  saw  mill  in  the  county.  A  stockade 
was  put  up  near  this  mill,  upon  the  west  bank  of  the 
creek,  for  protection  against  Indian  raids.  In  r832 
Chester  Potter  took  charge  of  the  mill,  and,  having 
had  some  experience  in  the  grist  mill  business,  in 
Ohio,  where  he  came  from,  he  concluded  he  would 
try  his  hand  in  the  far  West.  After  some  geological 
prospecting,  he  succeeded  in  finding  a  granite  boul- 
der ("  nigger-head,  as  Mr.  Potter  called  it  ").  from 
which  he  cut  two  burrs,  12  inches  in  diameter,  and 
set  them  up  in  the  saw  mill  for  grinding  corn.  With 
these  stones,  grists  were  ground  for  the  neighboring 
families  and  others  in  different  parts  of  the  county. 
As  this  was  the  first  and  only  mill  at  that  time  in  the 
county,  it  was  largely  patronized.  The  proprietors 
of  this  enterprise  were  truly  benefactors.  While  it 
was  not  equal  to  the  mills  of  the  present  day,  yet  it 
was  undoubtedly  appreciated  more,  for  to  it  the 
early  pioneers  looked  for  the  meal  with  which  to 
make  their  bread.  These  old  burrs  can  yet  be  seen  « 
in  the  township;  Mr.  Potter  remained  here  one  year 
and  then  moved  into  Kelly  Township.  It  may  be  as  I 
well  to  close  the  history  of  this  mill,  at  least  up  to 
the  present  time,  though  we  travel  ahead  of  the  de.-  I 
velopments  of  the  township.  In  1837  Mr.  Rockwell  1 
formed  a  partnership  with  D.  G.  Baldwin  and  J 
erected,  on  the  site  of  the  old  pioneer  mill,  a  new 
and  large  flouring  mill.  Witkthe  exception  of  shut- 
ting down  a  few  days  for  repairs,  this  mill  has  been 
running  pretty  constantly  ever  since.  It  has  been 
enlarged  and  its  machinery  improved,  which  includes 
two  French  burrs.  It  is  now  owned  by  A.  H.  Rock- 
well, son  of  L.  P.  Their  brand  of  flour  is  called  the 
Eagle  Mill  Brand.  Water-power  is  still  used,  with 
a  double  Laffell  turbine  wheel. 

The  first  post  office  in  the  township,  and  one  of 
the  first  in  the  county,  was  located  at  this  mill,  with 
Jonathan  Buffun  as  Postmaster.  Mr.  Buffun  held 
the  office  for  about  a  year,  and  then  L.  P.  Rockwell 
was  appointed,  and  held  it  for  nearly  20  years. 

The  first  religious  society  organized  in  Sumner 
Township  was  the  Cedar  Creek  Church,  July  4,  1835. 
It  was  called  the  Associate  Reform,  and  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  Dr.  Blakie,  now  of  Detroit,  who  was  a 
Missionary  sent  out  to  the  new  settlement  of  the 
West,  to  gather  into  an  organization  those  who  had 
been  members  of  this  society  in  the  East.  It  was 
also  called  the  Sharon  Church.  A  few  families  made 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


747 


up  the  first  organization,  of  which  the  Giles  family 
seemed  to  predominate.  There  was  John  Giles,  who 
was  the  ruling  Elder,  'and  who  probably  succeeded 
to  that  distinction  by  virtue  of  a  large  kindred  con- 
stituency; John  B.  Giles,  Susanna,  Nanry,  Pru- 
dence, Margaret,  Susan,  Jane  and  Mary  L. ;  Hugh 
Martin,  James  Campbell,  John  Williamson,  James 
and  Mary  Findley,  Nancy  Robinson,  George  and 
Mary  A.  Jay,  constituted  the  remainder  of  the  con- 
gregation. 

Some  years  before  Dr.  Blakie  came,  Rev.  John 
Wallace,  a  Missionary  from  Virginia,  was  here 
preaching,  in  private  houses,  to  the  people.  He  was 
finally  employed  by  this  congregation,  after  it  had 
organized,  as  a  stated  supply,  preaching  pretty  regu- 
larly here  from  1835  to  1840.  Rev.  James  C.  Por- 
ter came  out  in  1840.  He  was  liked  by  the  society, 
and  was  installed  in  1841,  and  continued  in  the  ser- 
service  of  this  congregation  until  about  the  time  of 
his  death,  Nov.  15,  1863.  He  was  a  man  of  consid- 
erable ability  and  largely  increased  the  membership 
of  this  Church. 

It  was  during  the  latter  part  of  his  pastorate  that 
this  Church  joined  in  the  Union  with  the  Associate 
Presbyterians  and  became  United  Presbyterians. 
Rev.  John  C.  Reynolds  succeeded  Mr.  Porter,  and 
remained  until  July,  1872,  when  he  gave  place  to  J. 
M.  Atchison,  who  was  installed  Dec.  r,  1872.  Mr. 
Atchison  served  the  congregation  several  years,  and 
was  followed  by  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Gherett,  who  retired 
in  the  spring  of  1885,  and  was  their  last  pastor. 
This  congregation  had  a  long  and  prosperous  life. 
Their  first  house  of  worship  was  built  of  logs  and 
was  located  about  two  miles  northeast  of  Little 
York;  it  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1836.  In  1845 
they  erected  a  larger  building  of  frame  near  the  old 
log  one.  In  1866,  the  congregation  outgrew  this 
building,  and  they  erected  a  larger  and  more  com- 
modious edifice,  at  a  cost  of  about  $4,000 ;  later  on 
a  good  parsonage  was  put  up.  The  church  build- 
ing is  beautifully  located,  about  three  miles  north- 
east of  Little  York,  and  the  parsonage  about  a  mile 
north  of  the  church.  All  of  the  original  members 
are  either  dead  or  have  moved  away.  The  widow 
of  Rev.  John  Wallace  is  yet  living,  in  Little  York. 
At  the  present  time  they  have  no  service,  but  the 
Sabbath-school  is  still  kept  up.  Last  4th  of  July,  it 
celebrated  its  semi-centennial  anniversary. 


This  township  is  well  watered  by  the  Middle  Hen- 
derson and  its  branches  and  Cedar  Creek.  At  one 
time  it  was  one  of  the  best  timbered  townships  in 
the  county,  and  fine  bodies  of  timber  are  still  stand- 
ing, particularly  along  the  borders  of  the  streams. 
The  nature  of  the  land  is  undulating ;  in  the  south- 
western and  southeastern  portions  quite  broken  in 
places,  while  the  northeastern  part  is  very  little  undu- 
lated. The  soil  is  rich  and  easily  cultivated.  The 
township  is  dotted  over  with  grand  farms,  which  are 
ornamented  with  fine  dwellings  and  farm  buildings. 
Some  of  the  houses  are  elegant  in  construction. 
There  is  a  station  at  Denny  and  Little  York,  where 
the  people  of  the  township  do  most  of  their  trading 
and  get  their  mails.  The  Iowa  Central  Railroad 
was  completed  through  the  township  in  the  spring  of 
1883. 

The  population,  according  to  the  census  of  1880, 
was  948.  It  is  estimated  that  there  has  been  a  gain 
since  then. 

According  to  the  County  Superintendent's  report 
for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  there  were  seven 
school  districts,  in  all  of  which  there  were  frame 
school  buildings.  The  school  property  was  valued 
at  $4,000.  Of  persons  under  21  years  of  age  there 
were  427,  of  whom  324  were  of  school  age,  211  being 
enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid  teachers  was  $50 
per  month,  and  the  lowest  $28.  The  tax  levy  was 

$2,155.19. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  for  the  year  of  1885, 

the  following  items  are  obtained  :  Number  of  acres 
of  improved  land,  21,772  ;  number  of  acres  of  unim- 
proved land,  800;  value  of  improved  land,  $282,- 
355;  value  of  unimproved  land,  $4,535;  total  value 
of  lots,  $8,635  ;  number  of  horses  870;  cattle,  t,66r; 
mules  and  asses,  35;  hogs,  2,318;  carriages  and 
wagons,  248;  watches  and  clocks,  25;  sewing  and 
knitting  machines,  57;  pianos,  4;  melodeons  and 
organs.  29.  Total  cash  value  of  personal  property 
$63,535- 

SUPERVISORS. 


John  P.   McGaw 1854 

John  Porter 1855 

Frank    Brownlcc 1856-7 

H.  C.  Maley 1858-60 

John  Atchison 1861-4 

H.   C.    Maley 1865-7 

A.  H.    Rockwell 1868-9 


R.C.  Stewart 1870-1 

R.W. Porter 1872-7 

Thomas  Brownlee 1878 

R.W.    Poiter     1879-81 

[.  J.    Ivy 1882-3 

J.  E.  Pine 1884-5 


'  A  _— 


748 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


Little  York. 

HIS  thriving  village  has  a  very  pleasing  and 
a  very  healthy  location.  The  immediate 
town  and  the  land  adjacent  is  well  drained 
by  Cedar  Creek.  This  is  an  old  town  and  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  county.  A  store  was  opened 
here  as  early  as  1833,  by  James  Kendall, 
which  was  the  first  in  the  township.  This  ambi- 
tious town  was.  platted  in  1836,  and  the  papers  were 
filed  Aug.  25  of  the  same  year.  William  C.  Butler 
was  the  surveyor,  and  the  owners  of  this  then  valu- 
able town  property  were  Win.  McCoy,  M.  D.  Ritchey 
and  McCallon  &  Hogue.  It  was  located  on  the  south- 
east 20  of  the  northwest  21,  in  township  12  north  of 
.range  3  west  of  the  4th  P.  M.  In  1838  the  post- 
office  was  established  here,  and  J.  F.  Pollock  was 
appointed  Postmaster.  The  establishment  of  a 
postoffice  forms  quite  an  event  in  the  history  of  a 
town,  and  so  the  good  people  of  this  hamlet  consid- 
ered it  in  that  pioneer  day.  Mr.  Pollock  held  the 
office  about  16  years,  when  he  resigned.  We  are 
not  informed  that  he  resigned  with  a  fortune  made 
in  the  service  of  Uncle  Sam.  He  was  succeeded  by 
William  Munsey,  who  held  the  office  two  years,  and 
then  Isaac  Hopper  had  charge.  Mr.  Pollock  re- 
turned to  Oregon  in  1856,  and  the  Government 
again  honored  him  with  the  postoffice  appointment. 
In  1863,  Mr.  Williver  was  appointed  and  held  the 
place  about  three  years.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Wm.  Munsey.  who  died  in  the  service,  and  left  the 
commission  to  his  son  Milton.  In  1876,  Mr.  Henry 
was  appointed  and  held  it  until  1883,  when  M.  M. 
Palmer  assumed  charge,  and  is  the  present  Post- 
master. 

Little  York  has  had  its  ups  and  downs,  its  bright 
and  its  cloudy  days,  like  all  other  towns.  Through 
the  long  years  it  has  held  its  own,  and  if  the  fine 
business  houses  that  border  its  streets  are  any  indi- 
cation, it  has  made  a  gain.  The  Indian  that  50 
years  ago  was  prowling  about  these  grounds  would 
have  to  tax  his  memory  very  much  to  recognize  it,  or 
call  up  any  familiar  objects.  The  Central  Iowa  R. 


R.  was  completed  to  this  place,  Feb.  22,  1883,  and 
the  first  regular  train  came  in  April  51)1  of  the  same 
year.  It  was  built  up  from  Monmouth.  The  first 
mail  by  railroad  arrived  July  i,  1883. 

Unlike  most  towns  through  which  railroads  pass, 
Little  York  instead  of  going  down,  has  increased  its 
population,  and  its  business.  The  buildings  are  all 
bright  and  new,  and  there  is  not  an  old  rookery  in  it. 
The  people,  too,  are  fresh,  smiling,  full  of  hope  and 
common  sympathy.  They  look  upon  the  bright  side 
of  life  and  keep  the  dark  in  the  background.  It  has 
a  population  now  of  some  300  souls. 

M.  M.  Palmer  has  a  drug  store  here  that  would 
do  credit  to  any  town.  He  also  keeps  books,  station- 
ery and  jewelry.  Hardware  and  furniture  by  Bird- 
sail  &  Pollock ;  harness  and  saddlery  by  T.  D.  Gor- 
don ;  general  merchandise  by  Chas.  Rodgers,  and 
boots  and  shoes  by  Hans  Joehnk;  groceries  by  E.  B. 
Wallace  and  general  merchandise  by  Bowers  &  Mor- 
ris. Z.  D.  Dorothy  has  a  hotel  and  restaurant ;  J. 
W.  Leeper,  carries  on  blacksmithing ;  and  Julius 
Poerschman  supplies  the  people  with  a  market. 
Schuckman  &  Graham  manufacture  wagons  and  bug- 
gies; B.  S.  Dodson  has  a  livery  and  feed  stable. 
There  are  two  large  elevators  at  the  depot  owned  by 
Harvey  &  Son,  and  John  Brownlee,  grain  .dealers. 
Drs.  C.  Sherrick  and  A.  R.  Graham  look  after  the 
health  of  the  village  or  nure  properly  speaking,  the 
sick.  Little  York  has  a  very  interesting  school, 
which  is  taught  by  J.  Brock.  They  have  a  nice  little 
school  building  with  an  average  attendance  of  45 
pupils. 

The  United  Presbyterian  Church.  This  society 
was  organized  here  1863,  by  Rev.  John  Scott  of  Mon- 
mouth, with  some  40  members.  The  congregation 
was  formed  mostly  of  the  Henderson  Sugar  Tree 
Grove,  and  the  Cedar  Creek  Churches.  The  build- 
ing was  constructed  this  year,  and  subsequently  a 
parsonage  was  added,  the  whole  costing  about  $5,- 
ooo.  The  Rev.  W.  H.  McMillan  was  the  first  regu- 
lar pastor,  who  was  installed  Oct.  4,  1864,  and  re- 
mained until  April  1870.  Rev.  W.  P.  Campbell  took 
charge  in  June,  1871,  and  remained  until  December 
1874.  In  February,  1876,  the  society  secured  the 
services  of  Rev.  David  Anderson,  who  remained 
until  Oct.  1878.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  G.  H. 
Hamilton,  who  is  still  serving  this  church,  the  mem- 
bership of  which  is  about  90. 


WARREN  COUNTY 


749 


SWAN  TOWNSHIP. 

'WAN  Township  was  organized  April  4, 
1854.  A  full  account  of  the  meeting  can- 
not be  given  as  the  records  were  destroyed 
by  the  tornado.  Absalom  Vandeveer,  was 
elected  the  first  Supervisor ;  A.  B.  Sisson, 
Clerk,  and  Wm.  G.  Bond,  Assessor  and  Col- 
lector. Swan  lies  in  the  southern  tier  of  the  town- 
ships and  is  numbered  6  north,  of  range  2  west,  of 
the  4th  P.  M.  Roseville  Township  lies  on  the  north, 
Greenbush  on  the  east,  McDonough  on  the  south, 
and  Pt.  Pleasant  on  the  west. 

The  first  settlers  in  this  township  were  Mrs. 
Lively  Cayton,  widow  of  Abel  Cayton,  with  her  child- 
ren, and  George  Simmons  and  family.  They  came 
in  the  fall  of  1832,  Mrs.  Cayton  locating  on  section 
n,  and  Mr.  Simmons  on  section  i.  All  were  from 
Kentucky.  Mrs.  Cayton  had  four  children — Nancy, 
George,  Andrew  J.,  and  Miranda.  She  died  at  the 
old  homestead  in  the  spring  of  i87r.  Her  son 
Andrew  J.,  is  living  still  on  the  old  farm  (see  biog- 
raphy). George  and  Nancy  are  dead.  Miranda  was 
married  to  John  Rayburne  and  is  living  in  Mon- 
mouth. 

A.  B.  Sisson  from  Albany  Co.  N.  Y.,  came  to  the 
township  in  1836.  The  following  year,  his  father 
and  all  the  family,  including  eight  children,  arrived, 
locating  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  20.  A. 
B.  Sisson  located  on  section  29.  Joseph  Sisson  died 
in  185  i,  in  Greenbush  ;  his  widow  died  in  May,  r882, 
in  Page  County,  Iowa,  at  the  age  of  92  years.  The 
children,  C.  F.,  R.  K.,  Augustine  W.,died  in  1851. 
M.  F.  died  in  1882  ;  A.  J.,  Ann,  Mary  E.,  are  living. 
Anna  married  Matthew  Hammond,  and  is  living  in 
Iowa;  Mary  E., married  George  Welty,  and  is  living 
with  her  husband  in  Kansas.  In  1833,  Peter  Scott, 
Daniel  R.  Perkins,  and  Elijah  Hanon  with  their 
families  moved  in.  Mr.  Scott  located  on  section  18. 
Mr.  Perkins  and  Elijah  Hanon  on  section  i.  Peter 
Scott  subsequently  moved  to  Oregon,  where  he  died. 
To  this  small  circle  of  pioneers,  Rev.  Chas.  Van- 
deveer and  his  family  were  heartily  welcomed  in 
1834.  His  family  consisted  of  wife  and  five  child- 
ren ;  John,  William,  Absalom,  Syntha  and  Maria. 


They  located  on  section  2.  This  acquision  to  the 
neighborhood  made  the  howl  of  the  wolves  less  dis- 
agreeable and  lonely,  and  life  on  the  prairies  of  the 
West  more  attractive.  It  gave  them  hope  for  the 
settlement,  and  brightened  up  their  hearts. 

Surrounded  as  this  present  generation  is  with  a 
numerous  population  and  all  the  comforts  that  wealth 
and  civilization  can  bring,  they  cannot  appreciate  the 
joy  that  comes  to  the  lonely  heart  on  the  prairie  or  in 
the  wilderness,  from  the  visitation  of  a  human  soul. 
Here,  away  from  strife  and  discord,  away  from  the 
trappings  and  conventionalities  of  society,  away  from 
fashion,  more  deadly  to  the  natural  born  instincts  of 
the  soul  than  the  presence  of  the  Upas  Tree,  the  hu- 
man heart  asserts  itself;  here,  the  Divinity  in  man 
manifests  itself,  and  here  man  is  seen  truly  after 
God's  own  image. 

Syntha  Vandeveer  was  married  to  John  Arm- 
strong, both  of  whom  ate  now  dead.  Charles  Van- 
deveer died  in  1854,  and  his  faithful  partner  fol- 
lowed him  a  few  years  afterward.  These  pioneers 
were  soon  followed  by  Richard  Orr,  Reece  Perkins, 
and  Wm.  Talley  with  their  families.  They  located 
in  the  timber  on  sections  i  and  18.  Clement  Pierce  ~, 
with  his  young  "  yankee  "  wife,  as  she  was  called, 
(see  biography)  came  in  about  this  time.  In  the 
spring  of  1835  Joseph  Ratekin,  wife  and  nine  chil-J 
dren — Samuel,  George,  Polly,  Fountain,  Lafayette, 
Berlinda,  Lucinda,  Edward,  and  Joseph  S.,  from 
Morgan  Co.,  Ill,  moved  in  and  located  on  section 
19.  This  family  was  originally  from  Kentucky. 
Jonathan  Ratekin,  another  son,  came  in  soon  after. 

Joseph  Ratekin  was  an  active  and  prominent  citi- 
zen, and  not  only  himself  but  his  children  contrib- 
uted largely  to  the  development  of  the  township. 
He  died  Jan.  30,  1867,  and  his  widow,  Feb.  9,  1875. 
Joseph  S.  Ratekin  resides  at  the  old  homestead  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  pioneers  of  the  township. 
James  Tucker  came  in  soon  after  the  Ratekins,  lo- 
cating on  section  4.  Some  years  later  he  re- 
moved to  Roseville,  where  he  still  resides. 

At  the  first  public  land  sale  of  the  Military  Tract 
held  June  16,  1835.  at  Quincy,  111.,  Mr.  Tucker, 
Peter  Butler,  Daniel  R.  Perkins,  Louis  Vertrees, 
Jesse  W.  Bond  and  John  Riggs  all  met  at  Quincy, 
for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  their  homes,  and  all 
came  home  together.  Having  secured  their  lands 
they  felt  well,  and  the  future  looked  bright  before 


75° 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


them ;  but  they  had  only  five  horses  to  ride  and  the 
journey  was  long.  To  be  neighborly,  charitable  and 
obliging  was  the  notable  feature  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  they  arranged  to  "  ride  and  tie,"  and 
in  this  way  they  reached  their  new  homes  without 
much  fatigue.  Of  this  party  Mr.  Tucker  is  the  only 
one  living. 

From  this  time  on  the  settlement  increased  rapidly 
and  this  territory  became  one  of  the  leading  points 
of  the  county. 

Mr.  Hendricks  taught  the  first  school  in  the  town- 
ship, in  the  spring  of  r833-  It  was  held  in  a  log 
cabin,  without  any  floor,  and  no  windows  except 
loop  holes  in  the  walls. 

Sally  Simmons,  niece  of  Rolla  Simmons,  was  the 
pretty  maid  who  carried  off  the  first  matrimonial 
prize  in  the  township.  David  Young  was  the  lucky 
man  to  be  captured.  The  event  was  celebrated  in 
true  pioneer  style.  Mrs.  Young  is  still  living  in 
Greenbush,  but  her  husband  is  dead. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  Isa- 
bella, daughter  of  John  Long,  which  occurred  at 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Joseph  Pitman.  The  first 
child  (or  children)  born  was  in  1854 — a  son  and 
daughter  (twins)  of  Joel  and  Lovisa  Bond.  They 
are  now  living  in  Kansas. 

Rev.  Silas  Cartwright  was  the  first  expounder  of 
the  Gospel  in  this  township,  in  1834.  To  the  wor- 
shipers it  was  a  great  religious  treat.  It  was  like 
manna  to  the  soul,  Hke  the  gentle  dew  to  the  wither- 
ing flower.  Mr.  Cartwright  was  a  circuit  rider,  and 
the  service  was  held  in  the  school- house  on  section 
6.  Ashel  B.  Sisson  taught  the  second  school  in  the 
winter  of  1837-8,  in  a  log  school-house  on  section  17. 

The  first  postmaster  was  Peter  Scott,  who  was 
commissioned  in  1837.  The  postoffice  was  located 
ou  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  18.  Mr.  Scott 
held  the  office  until  he  moved  to  Oregon,  when 
Joseph  Ratekin  was  appointed.  George  W.  Worden 
succeeded  Mr.  Ratekin,  and  held  the  office  west  of 
where  the  depot  now  stands. 

In  1870  the  Rockford.  Rock  Island  (now  the  St. 
Louis  Branch  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.),  completed 
its  line  through  the  township.  It  enters  on  section 
6,  running  south  through  sections  7  and  18,  then 
southeast  across  the  northeast  corner  of  section  19, 
then  through  sections  20,  21,  27  and  35.  The  first 
train  steamed  into  the  township  July  4,  1870.  This 


road  was  of  great  advantage  to  the  people  as  it 
furnished  them  ready  means  for  the  transportation 
of  their  products. 

On  the  27th  day  of  May,  1872,  this  township  was 
visited  with  a  tornado.  It  came  from  the  northwest 
and  struck  the  township  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  two  miles  and  a  half  northwest  of  Youngs- 
town  on  Swan  Creek.  Its  path  was  some  80  rods 
wide,  and  its  line  of  destruction  extended  several 
miles.  Its  power  was  terrific  and  irresistible,  de- 
molishing everything  within  its  course  ;  killing  cattle, 
hogs  and  poultry,  the  latter  flying  through  the  air 
like  snowflakes.  During  the  passing  of  this  tornado 
it  was  almost  as  dark  as  night.  Young  George 
Vandeveeer  was  killed;  his  father  had  his  arm 
broken,  and  was  otherwise  injured;  Mrs.  Perry  died 
from  the  effects  of  her  injuries.  Mrs.  A.  J.  Cayton 
had  her  arm  broken,  her  shoulder  put  out  of  joint, 
and  was  otherwise  so  injured  that  she  has  never 
fully  recovered.  Mr.  Cayton,  who  was  out  of  the 
house  at  the  time,  was  taken  up  and  carried  about 
100  yards,  and  was  dropped  down,  unconscious,  with 
a  badly  injured  neck. 

Swan  is  watered  by  the  middle  and  southern 
branches  of  Nigger  Creek  and  by  Swan  Creek,  which 
meanders  easterly  through  it.  The  nature  of  the 
land  is  rolling,  except  in  an  northeasterly  portion, 
which  is  somewhat  broken.  It  is  adorned  with  many 
beautiful  groves,  and  adjacent  to  the  streams  are 
some  fine  bodies  of  timber.  This  township  is  well 
cultivated  and  the  farms,  all  with  good  dwellings 
and  other  buildings,  are  above  the  average.  There 
are  a  few  farms  here  that  are  unsurpassed  for  their 
beauty  and  unexcelled  in  their  productions  anywhere. 

It  has  two  thriving  little  villages,  Swan  Creek  and 
Youngstown,  where  the  people  do  most  of  their  trad- 
ing, secure  their  mail,  and  dispose  of  their  products. 

The  population  in  1880,  according  to  the  census 
at  that  time,  was  1,137.  It  is  estimated  that  there 
has  been  some  gain  since  that  period. 

According  to  the  County  Superintendent's  report 
for  the  year,  ending  June  3oth,  1885,  there  were  nine 
school  districts,  with  nine  schools.  The  school 
property  was  valued  at  $2,795;  the  buildings  were 
all  frame.  Of  persons  under  21  years  of  age,  there 
were  546;  of  whom  358  were  of  scholastic  age,  275 
being  enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid  teachers 
was  $40.,  and  the  lowest  $25  per  month.  The  tax 
levy  for  the  township  was  $2,141.94. 


'  \' 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


75' 


The  Assessor's  report  for  1885,  contains  the  follow- 
ing items  :  Number  of  acres  improved  land,  1,657; 
number  of  acres  of  unimproved  land,  5,080;  value 
of  improved  land,  $251,140;  value  of  unimproved 
lands,  $52,225  ;  total  value  of  lots,  $ir,i25  ;  number 
of  horses,  823;  cattle,  1324;  asses  and  mules,  18  ; 
sheep,  386;  hogs,  2,631;  steam  engines,  i;  car- 
riages and  wagons,  231;  watches  and  clocks,  04; 
sewing  and  knitting  machines,  no;  pianos,  4:  me- 
lodeons  and  organs,  34.  Total  cash  value  of  per- 
sonal property,  $62,35  6. 

SUPERVISORS. 


Absalom   Vandeveer "854-7 

Hezekiah    Simmons 1858 

William  G.  Bond 1859-62 

A.    Vandeveer 1863-4 

R.  R.  McKinley 1865 

A.    Vandeveer 1866-70 

Jacob  Miller 1871-3 


G.    W.  Beckner 1873 

A.  Vandeveer 1874 

G.  W.   Beckner 1875-77 

J.  P.  Higgins 1878-8 

A.  Vandeveer 1882 

A.    A.Cornell 1883-5 


Youngstown  Village. 

'OUNGSTOWN  is  situated  almost  in  the 
center  of  Swan  Township,  on  the  .St.  Louis 
branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad.  More  particularly  described,  its  site 
rests  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
22,  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  21,  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  and  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  27,  and  was  platted  by  VV.  Kid- 
der,  B.  H.  Kidder,  N.  Kidder,  Mary  A.  and  Eliza 
Kidder,  J.  B.  Shawler  and  Olivia  M.  Davis.  It  was 
surveyed  by  Thomas  S.  McClannahan,  on  the  ist 
and  2d  days  of  September,  1870.  McKinley 's  addi- 
tion was  laid  out  afterwards  on  section  27.  By  the 
extent  of  territory  embraced  in  these  plats,  it  would 
seem  that  the  founders  of  Youngs.town  had  very  ex- 
travagant hopes  regarding  its  future  growth.  It  was 
started  after  the  completion  of  the  railroad  and  the 
location  of  a  station  at  this  point. 

A.  J.  Cayton  was  the  first  Postmaster.  He  was 
succeeded,  in  1873,  by  H.  V.  Simmons,  who  held  the 
office  about  a  year,  and  VV.  G.  Thomas  was  appoint- 
ed. H.  A.  Taylor  then  held  the  office  for  awhile, 
and  was  superseded  by  C.  W.  Mapes.  In  i88r,  C. 
A.  Cayton  was  commissioned  and  remained  in  serv- 
ice two  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  J.  W. 
Moo.i.  When  the  Democratic  administration  came 


into  power,  Mr.  Cayton  was  reinstated  and  is  the 
present  Postmaster. 

H.  V.  Simmons  opened  the  first  store  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  was  soon  followed  by  others.  Youngstown 
has  a  rich  farming  country  around  it ,  has  a  good 
trade,  is  quite  a  shipping  point,  and  a  very  pretty 
little  hamlet.  The  population  is  about  125. 

Youngstown  Lodge,  No.  387,  A.  F.  &  A.   M.,  was 
chartered   Oct.  8,  1863.     The  charter  members  were 
Wm.  R.  Chaplin,  Wm.    Cayton.  Swiss    Loutz,  John 
Bowman,  A.  S.  Hazington,  Stephen  Lawrence,  A.  Z 
McGuin,  J.  VV.  Nance,  P.  Ray,   J.   A.  J.  Smith,   L 
Barlow,  J.  C.  Smith,   J.  W.  Baird.     The  first  officers 
were  Wm.  R.  Chaplin,  W.  M. ;  Wm.  Clayton,  Sr.  W 
M. ;  Lewis  Lantz,   Jr.  W.  M.     The  lodge   was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  February,  1885.     During  the  past 
summer   they  erected  a  new  hall,  which  was  dedi- 
cated on  the   28th  of  October,    1885.     It  is  a  neat 
pleasant  hall,  and   is  well  furnished.     The  Lodge  is 
in  a  prosperous  condition.     The  present  officers  are 
J.  S.    Ratekin,    W.    M.;A.  T.    Brown,  Sr.  W.  M: 
George  Taylor,  Jr.  W.  M. ;  G.  W.  Beckman,  Secre 
tary,  and  A.  Vandeveer,  Treasurer. 


Swan  Creek. 

HIS  thriving  little  village  is  situated  on  the 
western  part  of  Swan  Township,  on  sec- 
tions 19  and  20.  It  was  platted  on  April 
16,  187  r,  by  John  A.  Gordon,  County  Survey- 
or. The  land  upon  which  the  town  is  located 
was  dedicated  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants 
by  James  Tucker,  Verlinda  Worden,  Caroline  J. 
Tucker,  George  W.  Worden,  Joseph  S.  Ratekin  and 
Hannah  M.  Ratekin. 

Swan  Creek,  a  thrifty  town,  is  not  overgrown,  and 
those  who  are  in  business  here  have  a  good  trade  and 
are  prosperous.  After  the  railroad  came  in,  the  post- 
office  was  moved  into  the  village,  and  John  H.  Lippy 
was  appointed  Postmaster,  succeeding  Mr.  Worden, 
who  had  held  the  office  in  the  township.  Mr.  Lippy 
is  the  present  Postmaster.  A  most  important  indus- 
try in  the  village  is  the  Swan  Creek  Brick  and  Tile 
Company.  This  company  was  incorporated  Aug.  i, 
1885,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $6,000.  The  Direct- 
ors are  A.  B.  Sisson,  E.  V.  Bliss,  M.  B.  Roberts,  Wm. 


75* 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


H.  Stephenson  and  Chas.  Torrence.  Officers: 
Royal  Bliss,  President,  Wm.  S. -Bliss,  Secretary; 
and  A.  A.  Cornell,  Treasurer.  This  company 
manufactures  about  9,000  tile  per  week,  and  employs 
15  men.  They  get  their  clay  on  Swan  Creek,  about 
four  miles  southeast  of  the  town. 

William  L.  Bliss  and  John  H.  Lippy  are  dealers  in 
general  merchandise.  M.  B.  Roberts  carries  on  the 
drug  business,  hardware  and  groceries.  Restaurant 
by  Joseph  Repple.  Dr.  B.  A.  Griffith  is  the  village 
physician.  Population  is  estimated  at  about  250. 

The  village  has  a  good  school,  with  an  average  at- 
tendance of  40  pupils.  Miss  Rhoda  Byarlay  is  the 
present  teacher.  They  have  a  good,  substantial, 
plain  school  building. 

SOCIETIES. 

G.  A.  R.,  D.  J.  Tucker  Post,  No.  407,  was  organ- 
ized Feb.  9,  1884,  with  14  charter  members.  Pres- 
ent officers  :  Edgar  Bliss,  C.;  J.  C.  Buchanan,  Sr. 
V.  C.;  A.  J.  Johnson,  Jr.,  V.  C.;  B.  A.  Griffith,  Adjt.; 
John  Bouton,  O.  D ;  R.  H.  Ostrander,  Q.  M.;  C.  M. 
McClanahan,  Surg.:  Alex.  Bouton.Chaplain  ;  William 
-  F.  Stephenson,  O.  G.;  Isaac  Edil,  Sergt.  Maj ;  Eiias 
D.  Acton,  Q.  M.  S.  Present  membership  18.  The 
Post  is  in  a  good  condition,  and  holds  its  meetings 
regularly  in  the  Union  Hall. 

The  I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge,  No.  203.  This  society  was 
chartered  Oct.  15,  1885,  with  six  charter  members. 
The  present  officers  are :  D.  R.  Warren,  M.  G.; 
Frank  Jerrid,  V.  G.;  Robert  Bradley,  Secretary;  J. 
S.  Ratekin,  Treasurer.  Present  membership  of  tins 
society  is  to,  and  they  hold  their  meetings  in  Union 
Hall. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  Universalists  have  a  society  here,  and  preach- 
ing every  two  weeks  by  Miss  Anna  Fleming,  of 
Avon.  Services  are  held  in  the  Union  Hall.  Miss 
Fleming,  who  is  an  eloquent  speaker,  has  awakened 
quite  an  interest  in  this  township  among  the  believ- 
ers in  this  particular  faith,  and  her  services  are 
largely  attended. 

A  Sunday  School  was  organized  here  several  years 
ago.  It  was  free  to  all,  irrespective  of  religious 
views  or  creeds.  A  good  deal  of  interest  has  been 
manifested  in  this  school  since  its  foundation,  and  a 
Sunday  has  not  passed  that  service  has  not  been  held. 
Since  the  erection  of  Union  Hall,  this  Sunday 


School  has  held  its  meetings  here.     A.  A.  Cornell  is 
the  present  Superintendent. 


TOMPKINS  TOWNSHIP. 

THIS  township  is  situated  in  the  middle  of 
•the   western    row,   and    is   in    number   10 
north,  of  range  3,  west.     It  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Hale,  on  the  east  by  Lenox,  on 
the  south  by   Ellison  Township,  and  on  the 
west  by  Henderson  County. 

A  meeting  was  held  by  the  citizens  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  a  township  government,  April  4,  1854. 
Nathan  Carr  was  called  to  the  chair  ;  Orrin  Lam- 
phere  was  chosen  Moderator,  Ransom  Tinkharn  and 
Seth  Smith,  Assistants  ;  T.  W.  Beers  and  Daniel  M. 
Smiley,  Clerks.  The  result  of  the  vote  was  as  fol- 
lows :  For  Supervisor,  Joseph  Tinkham ;  Clerk, 
Daniel  M.  Smiley;  Assessor,  James  H.  Martin;' 
Collector,  John  L.  Hanna;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
William  Hanna  and  James  L.  Rusk;  Commissioners 
of  Highways,  Seth  Smith  and  T.  F.  Hogue ;  Consta-  ' 
bles,  H.  R.  Norcross  and  John  L.  Hanna;  Overseers 
of  the  Poor,  William  Norcross  and  Orrin  Lamphere. 

John   Quinn  was  the  first  settler  to  stake  out  a  • 
home  in  the  township,  but  he  pulled  up  his  stake  in 
a  short  time  and  moved  to  other  fields. 

Samuel  Hanna  and  family  and  Wilson  Kendall 
moved  in,  in  1830,  and  made  claims,  the  former  on 
section  5,  and  the  latter  on  section  6.  The  Kendalls 
lived  in  the  township  several  years  and  then  moved 
to  Oregon.  Mr.  Hanna's  family  consisted  of  a  wife 
and  nine  children  :  William,  John,  Isabella,  Eliza- 
beth, Miles,  Samuel,  Jr.,  Green,  Mary  and  James. 
Elizabeth  was  married  to  Robert  Hutchinson,  and 
Mary  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Creswell.  They 
were  a  remarkable  family,  especially  noted  for  their 
benevolence  and  charity.  Mrs.  Hanna  was  always 
ready  to  aid  the  poor  and  the  sick,  and  her  hand  was 
ever  ready,  and  her  purse  open,  for  charitable  pur- 
poses. The  family  were  wealthy,  and  she  had  plenty 
of  means  to  second  the  promptings  of  her  generous 
heart.  Mr.  Hanna  and  his  wife  died  at  the  old 
homestead  at  an  advanced  age,  beloved  and  mourned 
by  all  who  knew  them. 

James    Gibson   and  Samuel  Creswell,  with  their 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


753 


families,  came  in  the  same  year.  James  Gibson  lo- 
cated on  section  7.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  accumulated  for  his  family 
a  fine  property.  He  and  his  wife  died  at  the 
old  farm,  where  his  son,  John  K.,  now  lives.  (See 
biography.) 

The  Creswells  were  from  Ohio,  and  came  to  the 
township  with  six  children,  James,  Hannah,  Mary, 
Henry,  Rachel  and  Rebecca.  Hannah  died  before 
marriage;  Rebecca  was  married  to  William  Hanna, 
eldest  son  of  Samuel  Hanna.  She  is  also  dead. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Creswell  died  some  years  ago  at  the 
old  place.  Mr.  Creswell  was  a  very  able  and  intel- 
lectual man,  having  no  superior  in  the  township. 
Before  he  came  to  this  county  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Ohio  Legislature.  James  Creswell  married  Mary 
Ann  Woods,  and  is  now  living  in  Henderson  County. 
Henry  married  Mary,  youngest  daughter  of  Samuel 
Hanna,  and  is  living  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Rachel 
was  married  to  J.  M.  Woods,  and  both  are  still  liv- 
ing. 

Zachariah  M.  Davis  located  in  the  township  soon 
after  the  Gibsons,  and  near  their  farm.  They  are 
now  living  in  Nebraska.  They  had  two  children, 
Joann  and  Martin.  Joann  married  Lew  Leslie,  and 
is  dead  ;  Martin  is  still  living. 

Samuel  Hutchinson  came  in,  in  the  spring  of  1833. 
He  is  recently  deceased,  in  Momnouth.  In  1835 
Joseph  and  Ransom  Tinkham,  from  New  England, 
with  their  families,  came  in  and  settled  in  the  lower 
tier  of  sections,  where  they  lived  for  many  years. 
Ransom  is  dead,  but  his  family  are  living  in  Kirk- 
wood.  Joseph  is  also  living  there. 

During  this  year  and  the  following,  Judson  Graves, 
DeWitt  Phelps,  A.  P.  Carmichael  and  C.  H.  Warren 
moved  in,  making,  with  those  who  had  preceded 
them,quite  a  little  settlement,  and  giving'a  neighborly 
aspect  to  the  new  country.  With  the  good  start 
thus  made,  the  township  increased  in  population  and 
developed  very  rapidly. 

Isaac  Ray,  from  Kentucky,  wife  and  six  children 
— Talitha,  Eliza,  John,  Isaac,  Jr.,  Josephus  and 
Mary  Jane,  moved  in,  in  1837,  locating  on  section  7. 
The  children  are  all  dead  but  two,  Talitha  and  Jo- 
sephus. The  parents  died  at  the  old  home.  (See 
biography  of  Josephus.) 

The  first  school  house  was  erected  by  Mr.  Hanna, 
near  his  home,  and  the  first  school  was  taught  by 


Mr.  Banker.  Mr.  Creswell  was  the  enterprising  man 
who  first  put  up  a  grist  mill  in  the  township.  It  was 
located  near  Mr.  Hanna's  place,  and  was  operated 
by  ox-power,  the  oxen  working  a  tread  mill. 

The  first  church  built  in  the  township  was  at 
Kirkwood,  and  the  first  service  held  in  it  was  by 
Rev.  Jas.  Brace,  afterwards  of  the  United  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Prior  to  this,  religious  meetings  were 
held  in  private  houses. 

The  eastern  portion  of  this  township  is  undulating 
prairie,  the  northwestern  part  is  somewhat  broken. 
It  is  watered  by  South  Henderson  Creek  and  its 
tributaries.  A  part  of  the  township  is  liberally  tim- 
bered, particularly  along  the  water  courses.  The  to- 
pography of  the  township  is  attractive,  and  the  en- 
tire area  is  very  well  adapted  for  farming  and  stock 
raising,  and  both  of  these  branches  of  husbandry 
are  carried  on  well  and  successfully. 

The  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  was 
constructed  through  the  township  in  the  early  part 
of  1855.  It  enters  the  township  near  the  northeast 
corner  and  passes  out  on  section  18. 

The  people  do  their  trading  chiefly   at  Kirkwood,^ 
which  is  a  thriving  town.     In  1880  the  township,  as  | 
shown  by  the  census,  had  a  population  if  1,994,  and 
there  has  been  since  that  time  a  small  gain. 

According  ,to  the  County  Superintendent's  report 
for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  there  were  ten 
school  districts  in  the  township,  with  one  graded  and 
nine  ungraded  schools.  All  the  buildings  were 
frame.  The  school  property  was  valued  at  $7,000. 
Of  persons  under  21  years  of  age,  there  were  725,  of 
whom  548  were  of  scholastic  age,  426  being  enrolled. 
The  highest  wages  paid  teachers  was  $85  and  the 
lowest  $25  per  month.  The  lax  levy  for  this  year 
was  $4,7  25. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  for  the  year  1885,  the 
following  items  have  been  obtained.  Number  of 
acres  of  improved  land,  21,794  ;  number  of  acres  of 
unimproved  land,  388;  value  of  improved  land, 
$349,700:  total  value  of  lots,  $71,740  ;  number  of 
horses,  883;  cattle,  2,047;  mules  and  asses,  44; 
sheep,  85;  hogs,  2,922;  steam  engines,  i  ;  carriages 
and  wagons,  349;  watches  and  clocks,  214;  sewing 
and  knitting  machines,  102  ;  pianos,  10  :  melodeons 
and  organs,  24;  total  cash  value  of  personal  prop- 
erty, $155,985. 


54 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


SUPERVISORS. 


loseph    Tinkham 1855-6 

Vm-    Hanna 1857 

eorge    Tubbs 1858-61 

[.  L.  Bachelor 1861-2 

Henry  Tubbs 1863-5 

J  ames  M  oore 1 866 

^yrus   Bute 1867 

Henry  Tubbs i8b8-g 

f.   A.  Chapin.... 1870 

W.  G.Latimer 1871 


enry 

W.  M.  Galbraith 1873 

Hugh  Gilmore l&14~* 

Thos.  Beers 1876  " 

J.  E,  Barnes 1877-9 

T.  W.   Beers 1880 

W.  G.  Latimer 1881 

Henry  Tubbs    1882 

Robert  Gamble 1883-4 

J.  C.  McLinn 1885 


Kirkwood. 

HIS  charmingly  located  town  was  started  a 
short  period  before  the  advent  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  and 
was  first  called  Lyndon.     It  was,  however,  in- 
corporated Aug.  5,  1865,  under  the  act  of  the 
Legislature  as  Young  America.      At  the  elec- 
tion, J.  K.  Cummings,  J.  B.  Sofield,  A.  Carmichael, 
O.  Lamphere,  J.  L.  Bachelor,  were  chosen  Trustees. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees,  August  15,  for  the  pur- 
se of  completing  their  corporate  government,  T. 
Cummings  was  chosen  President  of  the  Board  ; 
B.  Sofield,  Secretary;    and  J.  L.  Bachelor,  Clerk, 
t  a  meeting  held  August  5  ist,  the  boundary  lines 
ere  determined,  as  follows,  viz. :     Commencing  80 
)ds  north  of  the  southeast  corner  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  9,  10  north  3  west ;    thence  west 
one   mile,   to   the   northeast   quarter  of  section  8 ; 
thence  south  one  mile,  to  the  center  of  the  west  line 
of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  17,  thence  east,  to 
the  center  of  the  east  line  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section    16  ;    thence  north,  one  mile,  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  Board  by  a  major- 
ity of  the  legal  voters,  requesting  that  the  name  be 
changed  from  Young  America  to  that  of  Kirkwood, 
which  petition  was  granted,  May  14,  1874,  with  but 
one  dissenting  vote. 

It  was  first  platted  by  David  Irvine  and  A.  G. 
Kirkpatrick,  the  plat  containing  80  acres  on  the  east 
side  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  8,  and  was 
filed  for  record  Oct.  20,  1854.  There  were  12  sub- 
sequent additions  to  the  town. 

Carr  and  Rankin  had  the  enterprise  to  start 
the  first  store  in  the  town,  which  was  located  on  the 
corner  of  Kirk  and  Cherry  Streets.  Knowles,  Ray 
&  Chapin  opened  the  next  store,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  railroad  track.  The  first  building  erected  here 


was  for  a  hotel,  by  the  railroad  company.  This  was 
also  located  on  the  north  side  of  the  track  and  was 
used  for  a  restaurant.  W.  W.  Gilmore  was  the  first 
Postmaster,  receiving  his  commission  soon  after  the 
railroad  station  was  established.  S.  C.  Smith  erected 
the  first  dwelling  house.  It  was  located  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  town. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  town,  then  called 
Lyndon,  was  by  David  Abby,  over  a  warehouse. 
Soon  after  this  school  was  opened,  a  school-house 
was  eVected,  which  was  located  on  the  north  side  of 
the  railroad.  Its  completion  was  made  the  occasion 
of  a  celebration. 

Having  thus  secured  so  favorable  a  start,  the  fu- 
ture growth  of  the  town  was  assurred.  Messrs. 
Chapin,  Houlton  &  Davis  established  a  private 
banking  institution  at  an  early  day  and  are  now  do- 
ing a  large  business.  This  is  one  of  the  reliable 
banking  houses  in  the  county.  After  the  inaugura- 
tion of  the  National  Banking  system,  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Kirkwood  was  established,  which  is 
doing  an  extensive  business.  The  mercantile  line  is 
well  represented  here,  and  there  are  many  very  fine 
stores,  some  of  which  would  be  very  creditable  to 
any  city. 

The  Kirkwood  Roller  Mills,  by  Davidson  &  Sons, 
is  one  of  the  manufacturing  industries  which  give 
credit  to  a  town  and  materially  aid  in  its  develop- 
ment. It  has  been  running  now  about  22  years, 
and  under  the  roller  system  about  four  years,  retain- 
ing one  burr  for  grinding  middlings.  The  capacity 
of  this  mill  is  about  40  barrels  every  24  hours.  This 
firm  is  constructing  a  large  brick  building  near  the 
track  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad, 
into  which  they  intend  to  put  new  and  improved 
machinery,  which  will  give  them  a  capacity  of  100 
barrels  per  day,  They  expect  to  be  able  to  start 
this  mill  by  the  first  of  June,  1886. 

In  natural  advantages  of  location,  Kirkwood  has 
no  superior  in  the  county.  In  walking  about  the 
town,  one  is  impressed  with  the  fact  that  the  art  of 
man  could  not  construct  more  beautiful  or  desirable 
sites  for  dwellings.  The  citizens,  with  commendable 
skill  and  taste,  have  enhanced  the  natural  attract- 
iveness of  these  grounds  by  setting  out  shade-trees, 
which  have  grown  into  grandeur,  laying  out  broad 
streets,  and  erecting  elegant  and  imposing  residences. 
Much  of  this,  however,  if  not  all,  is  lost  to  the  trav- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


755 


eler  who  only  passes  through,  stopping,  it  may  be, 
for  a  night  at  the  hotel,  and  in  consequence  of  which 
Kirkwood  has  obtained  rather  an  unenviable  reputa- 
tion. If  the  people  would  fence  in,  or  fence  out,  the 
depot,  with  its  immediate  surroundings,  it  would  give 
the  traveler  at  least  the  luxury  of  imagining  that 
over  or  beyond  this  fence  there  might  rest  one  of  the 
most  attractive  towns  within  the  Military  Tract. 

The  present  officers  of  the  village  are:  F.  M. 
Davidson,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  ;  J.  C. 
Betzinger,  C.  H.  Mundorff,  J.  C.  McLinn,  and  C.  A. 
Carmichael,  Trustees;  E.  Schenbarger,  Clerk;  W. 
K.  Gamble,  Treasurer  ;  John  Effort,  Marshal.  The 
population  of  the  town  is  about  1,100. 

MINERAL  SPRINGS. 

About  a  mile  from  the  corporate  limits,  is  located 
the  Mineral  Springs  of  Kirkwood.  This  place  is  a 
favorite  refort  for  tourists,  and  the  waters  are  be- 
lieved to  contain  medicinal  qualities.  Whether  this 
is  really  so  or  not,  it  does  not  matter,  as  long  as  the 

Snpression  is  made  upon  the  imagination  of  the  vis- 
ors that  they  do.  However,  the  end  is  accomp- 
shed.  People  come  here,  have  relaxation,  change 
of  air  and  exercise,  and  feel  better.  They  drink  a 
treat  deal  of  water — as  people  do  at  all  watering- 
places — and  imagine  they  are  effected  by  it.  Pos- 
sibly they  are.  They  would  feel  the  same  effects, 
however,  at  any  place,  by  drinking  the  same  amount 
of  pure  water.  One  advantage  of  this  place  at  least, 
is  that  that  there  is  plenty  of  water,  and  it  is  easily 
obtained,  having  a  constant  flow;  and  there  is  not 
much  danger  of  the  visitors  drinking  the  springs 
dry,  though  it  would  seem  at  times  to  a  healthy 
looker-on  that  there  was  a  deep  laid  conspiracy  en- 
ergetically executed  to  accomplish  this. 

These  grounds  are  very  pleasantly  located  and  are 
naturally  attractive.  A  small  museum  has  been  es- 
tablished, which  contains  some  very  fine  and  rare 
fossils  and  geological  specimens  that  are  of  interest 
to  the  scientist  as  well  as  the  naturalist.  If  the 
grounds  were  more  extensively  improved  and  a  good 
large  hotel  located  here,  it  would  be  a  very  agreea- 
ble place  for  a  person  to  spend  a  few  weeks  in  idle- 
ness and  gossiping,  providing,  always,  that  they  have 
nothing  else  to  do,  or  can  make  no  better  use  of 
their  time. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

W.   W.  Gilmore  was  the  first  man   to  distribute 


the  mail  to  the  people  of  this  town.  He  held  the 
office  of  Postmaster  for  12  years  and  was  followed 
by  George  Williams.*  Succeeding  Mr.  Williams  was 
W.  M.  Galbraith,  John  E.  Willets,  E.  L.  Senberger, 
J.  B.  Sofield,  and  N.  Gordon,  the  present  incum- 
bent. 

The  town  of  Kirkwood  has  an  excellent  graded 
school,  with  very  fair  school  buildings.  J.  C.  Stock- 
ton is  Principal ;  Mattie  Armstrong,  First  Assistant ; " 
Cynthia  Shatby,  Second  Assistant;  Nellie  Willets, 
primary  department.  The  south  school  is  under 
the  charge  of  Miss  Laura  Brown.  Enrollment  about 
250. 

The  location  of  the  cemetery  is  one  of  exceeding 
beauty,  the  site  embracing  about  eight  acres,  and  it 
is  situated  about  one  mile  west  of  the  town  of  Kirk- 
wood. Originally  there  were  only  three  acres  in  the 
site.  John  Ramsel,  W.  D.  Johnson  and  J.  L.  Bach- 
elor bought  the  land  in  1856,  organized  an  associa- 
tion and  had  the  land  laid  out  for  cemetery  pur- 
poses. They  afterwards  conveyed  their  rights  to 
the  town,  under  which  control  it  now  is.  Subse- 
quently the  corporation  extended  the  grounds  by 
purchase.  They  are  embellished  by  shade-trees  and 
some  very  neat  and  artistically  designed  monuments. 
Most  of  the  lots  are  well  cared  for. 

The  people  of  Kirkwood  have  sought  to  protect 
themselves  from  the  ravages  of  fire,  and  have  estab- 
lished a  very  good  fire  department.  It  consists  of 
two  companies,  the  Excelsior,  which  is  a  hook  and 
ladder  company,  with  Thomas  Calahan  as  Foreman  ; 
T.  S.  Kyler,  as  First  Assistant ;  George  R.  Everett, 
Secretary;  with  a  membership  of  20.  The  Cham- 
pion Company  runs  a  chemical  engine,  which  is  al- 
ways ready  for  use.  E.  H.  Gilmore  is  Foreman;  C. 
O.  Carmichael,  Assistant;  Chas.  Mundorff,  Secre- 
tary; S.  F.  Allen,  Treasurer;  J.  P.  Davidson,  Man- 
head;  and  William  Sofield,  Nozzleman.  This 
company  has  14  members.  J.  C.  Ely  is  Chief  Fire 
Marshal. 

Kirkwood  has  a  most  excellent  band,  of  which 
Henry  Plitscher  is  the  Leader.  There  are  n  in- 
struments, and  the  members  practice  regularly  and 
are  well  organized. 

SOCIETIES. 

Masonic  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  A.  Lincoln,  No. 
518,  was  chartered  Oct.  i,  1867,  with  18  members. 
First  officers,  N.  Pierpont,  W.  M.  D.  C.  Davis,  S. 


{ 


7S6 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


W. ;  L.  M.  Mitchell,  J.  W.  Present  officers :  A.  B. 
Holliday,  W.  M. ;  J.  C.  Betzinger,  S.  W. ;  J.  W. 
Kelly,  J.  W. ;  W.  J.  Sofield,  J.-D. ;  B.  D.  Sofield,  S. 
D. ;  H.  J.  Cutler,  Treasurer ;  Cyrus  Bute,  Secretary ; 
Jacob  Long,  Tyler.  Present  membership,  46.  They 
hold  their  meetings  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Hall. 

I.  O.  O.  F.,  Kirkw9od  Lodge,  No.  675,  was  started 
Nov.  17,  1880.  J.  P.  March,  James  B.  Butler,  Thos. 
W.  Beers  and  Jacob  J.  Yager  were  the  charter  mem- 
bers. This  Lodge  has  a  very  good  hall,  which  is 
well  furnished,  and  the  lodge  is  well  equipped  and  in 
good  working  condition. 

G.  A.  R.  Post,  No.  8r.  This  Post  was  organized 
Aug.  4,  1880,  with  34  charter  members,  and  was  the 
firstorganization  of  the  kind  in  Warren  and  Henderson 
Counties.  The  first  officers  were  :  C.  A.  Carmichael, 
C.;  R.  R.  Davison,  S.  V.  C.;  G.  V.  Johnson,  J.  V. 
C. ;  W.  G.  Latimer,  O.  D. ;  John  Holliday,  O.  G. ; 
J.  H.  Gilmore,  Q.  M. ,  S.  C.  Hogue,  Chaplain  ;  S.  C. 
Glover,  Adj.  Many  of  the  members  of  the  Post  are 

I  from  Henderson  County.  The  majority  of  them  af- 
terwards withdrew  and  formed  a  Post  at  Oquawka. 
Later  on,  many  of  the  comrades  who  belonged  to 
Monmouth  Township,  started  a  Post  in  Monmouth 
City.  The  Kirkwood  Post  is  one  of  the  best  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  They  have  a  good  hall,  which 
is  well  furnished  and  equipped,  and  they  are  in  the 
most  flourishing  condition.  Since  their  first  organi- 
zation they  have  enlisted  194  comrades.  The  "old 
boys"  of  this  part  of  the  country  do  not  forget  the 
incidents  and  associations  connected  with  the  late 
war,  nor  the  patriotism  that  inspired  them  to  shoul- 
der their  muskets,  leave  their  home  and  kindred,  and 
offer  up  their  lives  on  the  altar  of  their  country.  The 
present  officers  of  the  Post  are ;  J.  M.  Dennis,  C. ;  J. 
S.  Glover,  S.  V.  C. ;  A.  Edwards,  J.  V..  C. ;  S.  G. 
Baggett,  O.  D. ;  J.  C.  Berry,  O.  G. ;  J.  H.  Gilmore, 
Q.  M.;  W.  M.  Glover,  Chaplain;  R.  R.  Davison, 
Adj.  The  Post  meets  the  first  and  third  Mondays 
of  each  month,  and  since  their  organization  have 
never  failed,  to  have  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of 
business. 

PRESS. 

Kirkwood  has  been  quite  a  little  graveyard  for 
newspaper  enterprises.  The  Monmouth  Atlas  had 
a  branch  office  here,  and  printed  a  special  edition  for 
Kirkwood, in  1867.  It  did  not  prove  profitable,  and  the 
project  was  abandoned.  In  1868,  Judson  Graves 


concluded  to  embark  in  the  newspaper  world,  and 
deal  with  plain  facts  as  well  as  fancies,  under  the  title 
of  Kirkwood  Plaindealer.  It  was  a  weekly  paper,  six- 
column  folio,  Republican  in  politics.  It  continued 
for  about  three  years,  laboring  for  the  enlightenment 
of  the  denisens  of  Kirkwood,  but  failing  to  produce 
that  degree  of  enlightenment  necessary  for  its  con- 
tinuation in  Kirkwood,  it  made  its  bow  to  the  town, 
and  struck  out  for  a  new  field  of  labor,  landing  at 
Galesburg,  where  it  appeared  rehabilitated  as  the 
Galesburg  Plaindealer. 

The  Kirkwood  News  was  the  next  to  seek  the  fa- 
vor of  the  people,  whom  it  desired  especially  to 
bless.  This  daring  adventurer  was  W.  H.  Leedham. 
His  sheet  went  forth  to  the  public,  June,  1875.  It 
was  a  six-column  folio,  issued  every  week,  and  inde- 
pendent in  politics.  Subsequently,  it  was  enlarged 
to  a  seven-column  paper.  Whether  the  publishers 
were  attracted  to  this  place  as  a  rich  journalistic 
field,  or  to  it  as  a  cemetery  where  burial  services 
would  be  performed  with  facility  and  cheapness,  his-  1 
tory  does  not  inform  us;  but  no  sooner  was  the  News 
launched  upon  the  journalistic  sea,  than  the  Kirk-  | 
wood  Enterprise  appeared,  with  sails  all  set,  bearing 
right  down  upon  her  bow  with  an  order  for  her  to 
fold  her  sheets  or  "pi'"  her  columns.  A  compromise 
was  effected  by  the  Neics  selling  out  to  the  Enter- 
prise. The  Enterprise  was  started  by  Everett  & 
Bros.  At  first  it  was  rather  a  small  sheet,  but  was 
afterwards  enlarged  to  a  six-column  folio.  It  was 
independent  in  politics,  and  liberal  in  religious  mat- 
ters. It  closed  its  career  very  happily  in  the  fall  of 
1880,  and  the  autumn  very  generously  covered  its 
grave  with  her  leaves. 

In  March,  1880,  Barnes  and  Smaley  established 
the  Kirkwood  Leader.  It  was  an  eight-column  folio, 
issued  every  Wednesday,  and  was  independent  in 
politics.  The  firm  published  the  Leader  eight  months, 
and  then  sold  out  to  Bradshaw  &  Hook.  With  the 
new  and  bright  year,  1885,  Mr.  Charles  Bradshaw 
became  sole  proprietor  and  editor.  He  is  a  newspa- 
per man  with  considerable  experience,  the  tide  is  in 
his  favor,  the  rocks,  reefs  and  shoals  in  the  journal- 
istic sea  have  been  passed,  and  his  venture  is  a  suc- 
cess. The  Leader  is  ably  edited,  has  a  good  circu- 
lation, is  a  credit  to  the  town  and  should  be  liberally 
supported. 

CHURCHES. 

Presbyterian  Church. — In  the  early  part  of  1856, 


T 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


757 


the  members  of  this  society  held  a  meeting  and  dis- 
cussed the  question  of  an  organization.  The  result 
of  this  meeting  was  the  appointment  of  a  committee, 
upon  solicitation  by  the  Schuyler  Presbytery,  to  assist 
in  the  formation  of  a  society.  The  committee  con- 
sisted of  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Nevins,  Dr.  R.  C.  Matthews, 
Hiram  Norcross  and  James  Boggs,  who  went  about 
their  work  with  great  zeal,  and  completed  the  organ- 
ization with  26  members,  which  they  styled,  "  South 
Henderson  Church."  The  first  pastor  installed  was 
Rev.  J.  H.  Nevins,  who  served  the  Church  one  year. 
The  first  Elders  were  Alex.  M.  Harvey,  Nathan  Carr 
and  Jacob  Ackerman.  Rev.  W.  L.  Lyons  succeeded 
Mr.  Nevins,  and  remained  in  the  work  over  three 
years.  While  Mr.  Lyons  was  in  charge,  they  erected 
their  first  house  of  worship.  It  was  a  small  frame 
structure,  and  stood  in  the  south  part  of  the  town. 
They  then  had  supply  preaching  for  some  years.  In 
1865  Rev.  J.  W.  Allen  was  secured;  he  was  an  able, 
energetic  and  zealous  man,  and  through  his  efforts, 

,  supported  by  a  liberal  congregation,  the  present 
building  was  completed.  It  is  a  fine,  large,  imposing 
structure,  of  Gothic  architecture,  well  finished,  and 

,  costing  about  $8,000.     After  two  years'  service,  Mr. 

I  Allen  resigned,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  G.  N. 
Johnson  as  a  supply,  and  also  by  J.  H.  Marshall.  In 
1884  Rev.  E.  W.  Thompson  accepted  a  call,  and  is 
still  with  the  Church.  Present  membership  is  about 
too,  with  an  interesting  Sabbath-school,  of  about  the 
same  number. 

United  Presbyterian  Church. — The  first  preaching 
in  the  community  was  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Marion 
Morrison,  who  preached  in  a  school  house  adjacent 
to  the  town  for  about  one  year,  before  a  congregation 
was  organized.  The  first  meeting  looking  toward  an 
organization  was  at  the  home  of  Mr.  J.  S.  Paris. 
March  i,  1858,  Boon's  Hall  was  secured  as  a  place 
for  worship.  The  Presbytery  provided  them  with 
preaching  during  the  summer  and  autumn,  and,  on 
Nov.  4,  1858,  a  commission  of  Presbytery,  consist- 
ing of  the  Rev.  D.  A.  Wallace  and  Elders  M.  B. 
Campbell  and  J.  W.  Woods,  met  at  the  Centre 
School-house  and  organized  the  congregation  with 
15  members.  At  this  meeting  three  Elders  were 
elected — J.  W.  Woods,  Leander  Lindly  and  Mathew 
Wood.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the  commissioners, 
Nov.  20,  same  year,  for  the  ordination  and  installa- 
tion of  the  Elders-elect,  J.  H.  Martin  was  also  chosen 
Elder.  The  name  of  the  congregation  at  this  time 


of  the  organization  was  that  of  Young  America.  It 
was  changed  to  Kirkwood  early  in  1875.  They  met 
for  worship,  for  five  years  in  rented  halls.  In  1861 
they  took  steps  toward  building  a  place  of  worship. 
They  had  it  finished  for  worship  Nov.  7,  1863.  It  is 
a  neat  church,  with  a  capacity  of  about  300,  costing 
about  $2,800.  Rev.  S.  N.  Moore  served  the  con- 
gregation from  June  13,  1863,  to  February,  1864.  He 
was  not  ordained  nor  installed,  on  account  of  being 
adjudged  by  the  Presbytery,  at  the  time  of  his  trial 
for  ordination,  guilty  of  heresy,  at  which  time  his 
license  was  withdrawn.  Rev.  J.  B.  Foster  began  his 
labors  June,  1864,  and  resigned  his  pastorate  the 
last  of  August,  1867,  to  connect  himself  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Wm.  J.  McSurley,  who  began  his  labors  in  October, 
1867.  He  resigned  to  connect  himself  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  Dec.  31,  1868.  Rev.  J.  M. 
Waddel  was  next  called  to  take  charge,  in  the  spring 
of  1869,  and  he  also  resigned,  in  1876,  to  connect 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  L.  N.  Laferty,  July  8,  1877.  Mr.  Laferty 
resigned  Dec.  30,  1883,  to  accept  an  appointment  by 
the  Home  Mission  Board,  at  Creston,  Iowa.  In 
March,  1884,  Rev.  Wm.  McConnell  was  called,  and 
was  installed  April  24,  1884,  and  is  still  with  the 
Church.  The  present  membership  numbers  230. 
A  large  Sabbath-school  is  attached  to  this  congrega- 
tion. 

Baptist  Church. — The  members  of  this  Church  met 
Oct.  12,  1855,  for  the  purpose  of  organization.  This 
society  was  organized  and  called  the  Lyndon  Bap- 
tist Church.  It  was  organized  by  Rev.  James  Ho- 
vey,  with  ten  members;  Mr.  Hovey  was  the  first 
pastor.  It  was  then  in  the  Salem  Association,  but 
was  subsequently  changed  to  the  Peoria  Association. 
Succeeding  Mr.  Hovey,  in  December,  1864,  was  Rev. 
B.  F.  Caldwell,  who  remained  until  the  close  of  1866. 
He  was  followed  by  Rev.  E.  J.  Lockwood,  who 
served  until  about  the  ist  of  June,  1869,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  H.  E.Norton.  Mr.  Norton 
remained  until  February,  1871,  when  Rev.  Henry 
Taylor  was  called,  who  served  the  Church  until  No- 
vember, 1872.  In  January,  1873,  Rev.  Mr.  Seward 
assumed  the  pastoral  chair,  remaining  until  1875, 
and  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fuller,  who  served 
until  August,  1878.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E. 
G.  Cheverton,  who  remained  until  August,  1880. 
They  were  served  by  supplies  then  for  awhile.  In 


758 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


July,  1882,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Depperman  was  secured. 
He  was  the  last  pastor,  serving  until  1884.  They 
have  a  very  good  church,  which  cost  $1,500.  Present 
membership  about  42. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized 
here  in  1856,  at  the  Young  America  Hotel,  by  Rev. 
O.  S.  Swartz.  In  the  first  class  formed,  there  were 
John  and  Elizabeth  Ramsdell,  Mary  E.  Youmas, 
Daniel  and  Matilda  Tinker,  Oliver  and  Rachel  Hall, 
William  and  Margaret  Roberts.  The  first  pastor 
who  took  charge  of  this  Church  was  Rev.  James 
Tubbs;  following  him  were  Revs.  C.  Springer,  B.  C. 
Couch,  M.  Spurlock,  J.  J.  Flaherty,  Samuel  Fisher, 
Jesse  Smith,  C.  H.  Bruce.  A  house  of  worship  was 
erected  in  1865,  costing,  with  grounds  and  parson- 


age, about  $8,000.  It  was  dedicated  by  Dr.  Eddy, 
To  Rev.  Jas.  Tubbs,  the  credit  in  a  great  measure 
is  due  for  the  completion  of  this  building.  The; 
have  a  good  membership  and  a  large  and  interestin; 
Sabbath-school. 

We  regret  that  we  are  unable  to  give  a  more  ful 
account  of  the  history  of  this  Church,  but  the  pastoi 
who  promised,  and  on  whom  we  relied  for  informa- 
tion regarding  its  organization,  growth  and  preset 
condition,  failed  in  his  promises,  and  hence  our  his- 
tory is  not  as  complete  as  it  otherwise  might  have 
been.  A  historian  has  to  depend  upon  written  anc 
traditional  matter  for  his  works,  and  when  the  former 
is  meagre  and  the  latter  unobtainable,  his  histories 
must  of  necessity  be  incomplete. 


+&iE+&+w 


ton  and  others. 


HE  City  of  Mon mouth    may 
be  considered  to  have  been 
founded  when  the  commis- 
sioners, John  G.    Sanburn, 
Hazen    Bedell,    and    John 
McNeil,    appointed     under 
an  Act  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, established  at  this  point  a 
permanent  seat  of  Justice,  which 
was  approved  Jan.  27,  1830..     Its 
settlement  was  started  by  pioneers 
moving  in  from  different  parts  of 
ihis  and   Henderson  Counties,  the 
first  coming  in  being  Daniel  Mc- 
Neil,  Elijah   Davidson,    and    Joel 
Hargrove.      They  were  soon   fol- 
lowed by  John    Pence,  Peter  But- 
ler, John  B.  Talbott,  Wm.  S.  Pax- 
Its  location   is  within  about  four 


miles  of  the  geographical  center  of  the  county  and 


may  be  more  particularly  described  as  being  situ- 
ated on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  29,  in  town- 
ship i  j,  north  of  range  2  west,  of  the  4th  P.  M.  In 
making  their  report  the  Commissioners  stated,  that 
they  believed 'the  location  selected  by  them  was 
"Congress  land."  To  this  location  they  gave  the 
name  of  Monmouth.  The  site  was  chosen  on  the 
7th  day  of  April,  i83r,  and  was  accepted  by  the 
County  Commissioners.  It  is  a  matter  of  history 
that  the  County  Commissioners  were  not  satisfied 
with  the  name  of  Monmouth  nor  the  location  of  the 
County  seat,  and  one  of  them  threatened  to  nullify 
it.  But  the  Calhoun  doctrine  had  not  then  been  in- 
troduced into  the  politics  or  government  of  Illinois, 
and  the  action  of  the  Commissioners  held  good.  The 
survey  of  the  town  was  let  to  the  lowest  bidder,  who 
was  Peter  Butler,  at  22%  cents  per  lot,  April  25, 
1831.  The  work  of  "  Peter  Butler,  Surveyor,"  was 
accepted  by  the  County  Commissioners,  June  6,  1831. 
The  seat  of  Justice  had  been  temporarily  located 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


759 


at  Oquawka,  but  no  session  of  Court  had  been  held 
there.  Monmouth  was  platted  by  Peter  Butler  in 
1836,  and  certified  by  him  Sept.  8th  following.  A 
patent  was  given  to  this  one  quarter  section,  by  the 
U.  S.  Government,  to  John  Pence,  Peter  Butler,  and 
John  B.  Talbott,  Feb.  12,  1836,  and  was  signed  by 
that  grand  old  patriot,  President  Andrew  Jackson. 
Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  was  appointed  Commissioner  by 
the  County  Court  with  power  to  sell  and  deed  lots  to 
purchasers. 

Upon  petition  being  sent  to  the  Postmaster-Gen- 
eral asking  that  a  postoffice  be  established  in  the 
county,  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.  was  appointed  Postmas- 
ter of  Warren  Court  House  as  it  was  called.  This 
name  was  given  that  the  mail  might  be  taken  where- 
ever  the  seat  of  Justice  was  located.  The  appoint- 
ment was  made  in  the  spring  of  1831,  but  the  mails 
were  delayed  in  coming  and  did  not  arrive  until 
June,  and  at  that  time  Monmouth  had  been  located 
as  the  seat  of  Justice  and  the  mail  was  opened  here, 
which  was  the  first  in  the  county.  Warren  Buffun 
had  been  appointed  Postmaster  at  Cedar  Creek  in 
the  winter  of  1831,  but  owing  to  delay  above  men- 
tioned, no  mail  was  received  here  until  June,  when 
it  came  through  to  Monmouth  postoffice. 

It  is  said  of  Daniel  McNeil,  (who  held  nearly  all 
of  the  offices  in  the  town  and  county)  that  he  used 
to  carry  the  postoffice  in  his  hat,  and  if  he  met  a 
citizen  for  whom  he  had  a  letter,  he  would  doff  his 
hat  and  hand  him  his  mail.  Postage  in  those  days 
was  25  cents  and  unpaid.  The  good  Daniel,  how- 
ever, would  not  withhold  the  letter  if  a  person  did 
not  have  the  postage;  and  it  is  said  that  he  had  set- 
tled, from  his  own  pocket,  some  heavy  bills  with  the 
postoffice  department.  The  pioneers  would  jest- 
ingly, and  with  truth  say,  that  McNeil  was  always 
in  his  office.  It  has  been  previously  said  that  he 
held  about  all  the  offices  in  the  county,  so  many  in 
fact  that  it  made  him  poor  and  he  was  obliged  to  earn 
bread  for  his  family.  When  out,  his  good  dame  would 
act  as  his  deputy.  Daniel  McNeil  lived  where  John 
Carr's  house  now  stands,  on  Broadway,  on  the  edge 
of  the  ravine.  It  was  the  first  cabin  put  up  in  the 
town.  The  first  tavern  wis  located  on  Broadway 
below  the  Court  House  Square  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  in  block  20.  This  famous  hostelry, 
which  still  stands  afler  the  lapse  of  half  a  century, 
was  a  double  log  house  with  an  attic,  and  was  opened 


by  James  M.  Garrison,  in  the  fall  of  1831.  Sur- 
viving its  need  for  hotel  purposes  and  having  been 
occupied  for  various  uses  of  man,  it  finally  came  into 
possession  of  W.  S.  Paxon,  a  worthy  pioneer,  who 
now  uses  it  as  a  blacksmith  shop.  The  first  couple 
married  in  Garrison's  Inn  were  Caesar  Love  and 
Venus  McCormick  (colored)  Feb.  25,  1836.  In  this 
hotel  E.  S.  Swinney  used  to  lodge.  He  had  his  bunk 
directly  under  the  roof  in  the  northwest  corner.  To 
look  at  this  corner  now  one  would  be  inclined  to 
sympathize  with  Bro.  Swinney,  and  think  he  had  a 
close  time  of  it 

The  second  couple  married  in  the  town  were 
Josiah  Whitman  and  Hannah  Davidson,  Oct.  12, 
1832.  The  first  marriage  in  the  county  was  that  of 
Samuel  White  and  Huldah  Jennings  by  John  B.  Tal- 
bott, J.  P.,  May  10,  1831. 

W.  S.  Paxton  broke  the  first  ground  in  the  town 
for  Daniel  McNeil,  who  planted  the  first  crop.  Mc- 
Neil had  his  first  official  building  east  of  the  Bank  on 
Broadway. 

According  to  Joel  Hargrove,  Wm.  S.  Paxon  opened 
the  first  store  in  the  town,  in  the  spring  of  1831, 
where  Scott  &  Bros',  grocery  house  now  stands. 
was  in  a  little  wickup,  or  round  shanty,  built  with 
poles,  mud  and  straw. 

Robert  Black  was  the  pioneer  in  the  school  de- 
partment in  this  town,  opening  a  school  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1831.  The  second  school  was  opened  by 
Alpheus  Russell. 

Thomas  B.  Cull  urn  was  licensed  to  keep  a  store 
at  Monmouth,  July  4,  1831,  and  he  celebrated  Inde- 
pendence day  by  opening  his  little  stock  of  goods 
for  sale  to  the  settlers.  He  was  followed  in  October 
by  Joel  Hargrove,  and  in  December  by  Elijah  David- 
son. 

June  6,  1831,  the  sale  of  lots  by  order  of  the 
Commissioners  took  place.  The  order  read  :  "  The 
highest  and  best  bidder  to  be  the  purchaser,  provid- 
ing the  large  or  '  outlets  '  be  not  sold  unless  the  bid 
offered  should  amount  to  at  least  $2  per  acre ;  the 
bid  on  the  '  inlots  '  be  not  sold  for  less  than  $4  per 
lo',  and  those  adjoining  the  Public  Square  not  to  be 
sold  unless  the  bid  offered  be  at  least  not  less  than 
$10  per  lot.  There  was  '  realized  from  the  sale  of 
lots  this  day  $965.62." 

The  town  was  retarded  in  its  growth  by  the  In- 
dian troubles.  Soon  after  the  sale  of  the  lots  a  re- 


760 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


port  came  of  the  rising  of  Black  Hawk's  band.  This 
alarmed  the  settlement  very  much  and  some  fami- 
lies left  the  town.  After  consultation  it  was  decided 
that  forts  be  built  and  that  the  settlers  come  together 
for  mutual  protection.  Accordingly  one  fort  was 
built  about  a  mile  from  town,  and  another  at  Peter 
Butler's  place  a  few  miles  from  the  settlement. 

After  the  Indian  troubles  were  over  other  business 
houses  were  opened  and  this  settlement  advanced 
rapidly. 

With  the  increase  of  population  came  a  desire  to 
have  a  corporate  government  of  some  kind,  and 
Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  took  the  lead  in  this  movement. 
Finally  notices  were  posted  about  the  town  inform- 
ing the  legal  voters  that  a  meeting  would  be  held 
Nov.  29,  1836,  at  the  school-house,  to  determine 
this  question.  The  proceedings  were  under  the  gen- 
eral law  of  this  State,  approved  Feb.  12,  1831,  which 
was  entitled  an  "  Act  to  incorporate  the  inhabitants 
of  such  towns  as  may  wish  to  be  incorporated."  At 
the  election  Elijah  Davidson  was  chosen  President 
of  the  meeting  and  Henry  Jennings  to  act  as  Clerk. 
The  objects  of  the  meeting  having  been  fully  set 
forth  by  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Davidson,  voting  was 
announced  to  be  in  order.  There  were  23  votes 
cast  in  all  for  incorporation,  there  being  none  in  op- 
position. When  the  result  of  this  election  was  made 
known,  an  election  for  Town  Trustees  was  ordered 
for  Dec.  5th  following.  At  the  December  election 
Elijah  Davidson,  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr.,  James  McCal- 
lon,  Alexander  Ritchey  and  George  H.  Wright  were 
elected  Trustees.  A  meeting  of  the  Trustees  was 
duly  held  at  which  Daniel  McNeil  was  chosen  Pres- 
ident of  the  Board,  and  Henry  Jennings.  Clerk  and 
Treasurer. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Board  after  organization 
was  at  the  house  of  James  McCallon,  Dec.  26,  when 
they  passed  their  first  ordinance,  which  was  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Be  it  ordered  by  the  President  and  Trustees 
of  the  town  of  Monmouth  in  council  convened 
that  the  corporation  be  one-half  mile  east,  one-half 
mile  west,  one-half  mile  south,  and  one-half  mile 
north  from  the  center  of  the  Public  Square,  contain- 
ing one  mile  square.'1 

The  village  continued  to  grow  and  prosper,  fine 
blocks  went  up  and  large  business  houses  and  man- 
ufactories were  established  and  the  future  develop- 
ment of  Monmouth  seemed  to  be  assured.  With 


an  increased  population  came  a  desire  among  the 
citizens  for  a  city  government.  Accordingly  a  bill 
was  presented  to  the  Legislature  for  this  purpose. 
It  was  passed  and  received  the  approval  of  the 
Governor,  June  21,  1852,  the  first  section  of  which 
read  as  follows  :  "  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  As- 
sembly, that  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Mon- 
mouth, in  the  county  of  Warren,  and  State  of  Illi- 
nois, be  and  are  hereby  constituted  a  body  politic 
and  corporate  by  the  name  and  style  of  the  City  of 
Monmouth,  and  by  that  name  shall  have  perpetual 
succession,  and  may  have  and  use  a  common  seal 
which  they  may  change  and  alter  at  pleasure."  The 
second  provision  of  this  bill  fixed  the  boundaries  of 
the  corporation  which  was  to  extend  one  mile  each 
way  from  the  Public  Square  ;  and  the  third  section 
provided  for  the  division  of  the  city  into  two  wards. 
The  election  under  this  act  was  held  Oct.  23d,  1852, 
at  which  Samuel  Wood  was  elected  Mayor.  N.  A. 
Rankin,  Secretary;  E.  S.  Swinney,  James  Thomp-' 
son  and  William  Rodgers,  Aldermen.  The  officers- 
elect  met  Nov.  3,  and  organized  the  Council  by  ap- 
pointing E.  F.  Corwin,  Clerk;  G.  W.  Savage,  at-"% 
torney ;  James  Thompson,  Treasurer,  and  James 
Finney,  Marshal. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  gentlemen  who  have 
served  the  city  in  the  capacity  of  Mayor : 
MAYORS. 

J  .  A .  Templeton 1869 

S.  Douglas 1870 

W.    B.  Boycl.    i8?I 

W.  M.  Buffington    1872 

D.   Babcock 1873 

Jacob  H  .  Holt 1874-75 

J.L.   Dryden 1876 

JacobH.Holt 1877 

J.M.    McCutcheon 1878-79 

William    Hanna 1880-81 

I.  P.   Pillsbury 1882 

Henry    Burlingim 1883-85 

Wm.  B.   Young 1885-86 


Samuel  Wood   ...........  1852 

George  W  .  Palmer  .......  1853 

E  .  S.  Swinney  ...........  1854 

Robert   Grant  ............  1855 

W.  H.  Young  ...........  1856 


Ivory  Quinby  ............  1857 

Jacob  H.  Holt  ...........  1858 

A.    Rankin  ..........  1859-60 


H.  G.   Harding  ..........  1861-62 

Samuel   Wood  ...........  1863 

Wm.  S.  Cowan  ...........  1864-65 

George  Babcock  ..........  1866 

John  M.  Turnbull  ......  1667 

Samuel  Wood  ............  1868 

Ivory  Quinby  opened  the  first  bank  in  this  town, 
which  was  a  private  institution.  In  r862  the  First 
National  Bank  was  established,  which  was  the  38th 
established  in  the  United  States.  In  1872  C.  Jones 
&  Co.  opened  their  private  bank,  which  was  subse- 
quently merged  into  the  Monmouth  National  Bank. 
Later  on  the  Second  National  Bank  was  established. 
With  one  exception  these  banks  have  all  been  suc- 
cessful, and  have  had  a  good  standing  in  the  financial 
world.  This  exception  is  too  well  known  by  the  peo- 
ple of  Monmouth  to  need  any  comments  or  explana- 
tions in  this  work.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  aged  men 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


761 


and  women,  once  in  affluent  circumstances,  lost  ev- 
erything through  the  action  of  a  man,  who  to-day 
is  within  the  four  walls  of  the  penitentiary. 

In  the  suburbs  of  Monmouth  are  located  Doctor 
Vanhoorebeke's  stables,  which  were  established 
over  20  years  ago.  Dr.  Vanhoorebeke  was  one  of 
the  first  to  introduce  imported  slock  into  this  State, 
and  in  the  line  of  his  business  has  crossed  the  ocean 
98  times.  He  breeds  entirely  from  pure  French 
horses,  and  mostly  from  imported  stock.  For  fine 
draft  horses  Dr.  Vanhoorebeke's  stables  are  unex- 
celled by  any  in  the  State.  He  has  a  ready  sale  for 
all  his  stock,  and  at  high  figures.  In  the  line  of  in- 
troducing good  draft  horses  into  the  county  and  State, 
the  Doctor  has  been  a  benefactor.  A  visit  at  his  sta- 
bles is  a  treat  which  any  lover  of  good  horses  will 
enjoy. 

The  city  is  well  and  ably  represented  in  the  med- 
ical line  by  Drs.  J.  W.  Brewer,  H.  L.  Harrington,  S. 
M.  Hamilton,  J.  R.  Webster,  H.  Marshall,  J.  H. 
Wallace,  W.  S.  Holliday,  S.  K.  Crawford,  W.  E.Tay- 
lor and  E.  C.  Linn.  With  this  able  array  of  med- 
ical men  and  those  reliable  druggists,  Spriggs  & 
Bros.,  and  W.  M.  Schultz  &  Co.,  Monmouth  is  pretty 
well  fortified  against  sickness  or  epidemics. 

The  city  of  Monmouth  has  a  very  good  Opera 
House,  which  is  one  of  the  features  of  the  town.  It 
was  erected  by  Mr.  Schultz  in  1875,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $50,000,  including  the  store-houses  below.  It 
is  a  favorite  place  of  amusement  for  the  people  of 
this  city. 

There  are  many  fine  business  blocks  in  the  city, 
as  well  as  a  number  of  beautiful  residences.  Some 
of  the  church  buildings  are  very  creditable,  and  even 
an  ornament  to  the  place.  The  public  buildings, 
however,  with  the  exception  of  the  jail,  are  about  as 
inferior  as  any  in  the  State. 

Monmouth  is  beautifully  situated  and  well  laid 
out,  with  a  square  or  plaza  in  the  center.  The  streets 
run  in  regular  parallel  lines  and  are  adorned  with 
handsome  shade  trees.  The  town  is  dotted  over 
with  elegant  residences  and  comfortable  homes.  The 
people,  as  a  class,  are  intelligent  and  industrious.  If 
marked  by  any  particular  phase  of  character,  it  is 
that  of  being  rather  set  in  their  notions  ;  and  it  may 
be,  too,  that  some  of  the  inhabitants  are  a  little 
prescriptive  and  Pharisaical.  The  population  of 
Monmouth  is  estimated  to  be  at  the  present  time 
about  5,500. 


Upon  the  completion  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Railroad 
through  Monmouth,  in  1855,  quite  an  impetus  was 
given  to  the  growth  of  the  town,  and  from  that  time 
on  its  growth  has  been  steady  With  the  completion 
of  the  railroad  some  very  important  manufactories 
were  established  in  Monmouth. 

INDUSTRIAL   INTERESTS. 

Weir  Plow  Company. — At  an  early  date  the  in- 
ventive brain  of  W.  S.  Weir  began  to  conceive  of  a 
better  way  for  cultivating  corn  than  with  a  hoe.  He 
soon  brought  his  ideas  into  practical  operation.  In 
1859  he  completed  a  plow  which,  upon  a  test  being 
had,  proved  successful.  After  some  further  altera- 
tions and  improvements  he  had  his  cultivator  pat- 
ented in  1862.  Later  on  a  factory  was  established, 
and  the  first  year  400  cultivators  were  made.  The 
year  following  he  turned  out  some  500  cultivators. 
In  1869  a  company  incorporated  as  the  Weir 
Plow  Company,  with  &  capital  stock  of  $25,000.  The 
members  of  this  company  were  W.  S.  Weir,  William 
Hanna,  W.  B.  Boyd  and  Joseph  Stephenson.  The 
site  was  secured  for  the  factory  near  the  C.  B.  & 
Q.  Railroad,  and  suitable  buildings  were  erected. 

Since  then  several  changes  have  been  made  in  the 
company,  and  many  improvements  made  in  the 
plow  and  cultivator.  Extensive  buildings  have  been 
put  up  for  manufacturing  purposes,  which  have  been 
filled  with  the  most  complete  and  best  machinery. 
They  occupy  now,  with  buildings  and  grounds,  about 
four  acres,  and  manufacture  a  full  line  of  agricul- 
tural implements,  such  as  cultivators,  plows,  double 
shovels  and  harrows.  The  capital  stock  has  been 
increased  to  $500,000,  and  the  present  stock-holders 
are  W.  S.  Weir,  William  Hanna,  Delos  Phelps  and 
J.  Ross  Hanna. 

Active  work  generally  begins  about  the  first  of  Oc- 
tober, and  closes  in  June.  They  employ  from  three 
to  four  hundred  hands,  and  their  trade  extends  into 
all  the  Western  and  Southwestern  States,  Ohio,  Indi- 
ana and  also  into  Mexico.  Most  of  their  timber  is 
from  Kentucky  and  Missouri.  This  Weir  Plow 
Company  has  been  a  great  auxiliary  to  the  growth 
of  Monmouth.  The  superior  qualities  of  their  ag- 
ricultural implements  are  known  and  appreciated 
throughout  the  country. 

The  Pattee  Plow  Company  was  another  establish- 
ment which  has  aided  materially  to  the  growth  of 
Monmouth.  It  was  established  in  1875,  under  the 


762 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


firm  name  of  Pattee  Bros.  &  Co.     The  members  of 

* 

this  firm  were  James  H.  Pattee,  Henry  H.  Pattee 
and  I.  P.  Pillsbury.  They  started  with  the  manu- 
facture of  the  "New  Departure"  Tongueless  Culti- 
vator, of  which  Mr.  Pattee  was  the  inventor.  In 
1 88 1,  they  incorporated,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$10,000.  James  H.  Pattee  is  President,  I.  P.  Pills- 
bury,  Vice-President,  and  H.  H.  Pattee,  Secretary  ' 
and  Treasurer.  During  the  manufacturing  season,  \ 
this  establishment  employs  about  100  men,  and  man- 
ufacture principally  the  Tongueless  Cultivator,  the  ' 
Combined  Walking  and  Riding  Cultivator,  and  the 
Cotton  Planter.  Their  Tongueless  Cultivator  was 
patented  in  1872,  by  J.  H.  Pattee.  At  this  time,  a 
tongueless  cultivator  was  unknown,  and  like  all  men 
who  present  new  ideas  or  new  inventions,  Mr.  Pattee 
was  the  subject  for  much  ridicule.  But  with  Mr. 
Pattee,  like  all  other  brainy  men,  who  have  an  idea 
or  an  invention  to  present  for  the  benefit  of  the 
world,  the  shafts  of  ridicule  fell  harmless  upon  him. 
f  If  it  had  been  a  failure,  people  would  have  said,  "  I 
I  told  you  so."  Having  been  a  success,  it  would  be 
I  more  difficult  now  to  find  a  man  who  did  not  say, 
•  "he  knew  it  would  be  a  success,"  than  it  was  for 
Diogenes  of  old  to  find  with  his  lamp  an  honest 
man. 

>•  Monmouth  Mining  and  Manufacturing  Company. 
— Following  on  in  the  development  of  the  city,  we 
come  to  this  company,  which  was  established  in  1872, 
by  Messrs.  A.  M.  Black  and  J.  M.  White.  Subse- 
quently it  became  the  property  of  those  worthy  citi- 
zens, Spriggs  &  Bros.,  who  carried  on  the  work  for 
several  years.  In  1872,  it  was  incorporated,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $350,000.  W.  H.  Koonce  was  elected 
President ;  B.  T.  Hubbard,  Secretary  ;  J.  S.  Spriggs, 
Treasurer.  In  1874,1)16  capital  stock  was  increased 
to  $100,000,  and  G.  B.  Henderson  luckily  succeeded 
B.  T.  Hubbard  as  Secretary.  In  1875,  J.  H.  Spriggs 
was  elected  President,  and, in  1866,  Mr.  D.  D.  Parry 
succeeded  Mr.  Spriggs.  In  1877,  William  Hanna 
became  President, with  J.  H.  Spriggs,  Vice-President, 
and  J.  3.  Spriggs,  Treasurer.  In  1884,  Mr.  Hanna 
bought  out  Spriggs  &  Bros,  stock,  and  with  his  son, 
J.  Ross  Hanna,  now  controls  the  establishment. 
When  the  enterprise  was  first  started,  it  was  expect- 
ed coal  mining  would  be  carried  on  extensively  with 
the  pipe  and  tiling  business.  It  was  found,  however, 
that  the  coal  veins  were  limited,  and  that  part  of 
the  business  has  been  abandoned.  Mr.  Hanna  has 


greatly  enlarged  the  capacity  for  manufacturing  tile, 
and  has  now  in  this  establishment  some  of  the 
largest  kilns  in  the  country.  They  have  22  acres  ap- 
propriated for  the  use  of  the  works,  the  buildings 
covering  about  two  acres.  The  clay  beds  are  from 
70  to  100  feet  down,  and  furnish  an  excellent  quality 
of  clay.  About  1,000  car  loads  of  tile  are  manu- 
factured yearly,  and  500  bushels  of  coal  are  used 
daily.  From  65  to  75  hands  are  constantly  employed 
at  this  establishment. 

Reimer  Lahann.  While  speaking  of  the  industrial 
elements  which  have  so  materially  advanced  the 
prosperity  of  Monmouth,  the  cigar  factory  of  Reimer 
Lahann  should  be  mentioned.  Mr.  Lahann  started 
his  factory  in  1860,  with  no  capital  other  than  a 
strong  heart,  energetic  mind,  and  a  sympathetic  wife, 
who  was  truly  a  help-mate.  His  business  has  stead- 
ily increased,  until  last  year  he  manufactured 
1,500,000  cigars.  By  the  close  of  this  year  he  ex- 
pects to  make  1,8000,000.  He  employs  from  30  to 
40  hands. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  public  school  opened  in  Monmouth,  in , 
1834.  The  County  Commissioners  acting  under  a  ] 
petition  signed  by  several  citizens,  established  the 
boundary  of  the  first  school  district,  which  they] 
called  No.  i,  which  included  the  town  of  Monmouth. 
A  building  was  erected  on  the  site  now  occupied  by 
the  Methodist  Church.  This  school  was  opened  in 
June,  and  was  held  three  months,  at  an  expense  of 
less  than  $50.  At  this  period  there  were  50  chil- 
dren in  the  settlement  between  the  age  of  5  and  12 
years,  and  of  this  number  25  attended  the  schools. 
It  was  not  long  before  this  building  was  insufficient 
to  meet  the  demand  of  the  increasing  number  of 
pupils,  and  a  new  building  was  erected.  This  new 
building  soon  was  inadequate  to  meet  the  wants  of 
the  population,  and  other  buildings  were  put  up, 
and  private  schools  were  also  opened.  Ward  schools 
were  finally  established,  the  educational  advantages 
were  extended,  and  systems  of  instruction  were  im- 
proved from  time  to  time  up  to  the  present  period. 
The  public  schools  of  Monmouth  are  now  divided 
up  into  four  districts,  or  wards,  having  one  school  for 
each  ward  in  the  city.  They  are  all  graded  and  pro- 
vided with  good  teachers. 

Miss  E.  B.  Leighty  is  Principal  of  the  East  Ward 
School,  with  the  Misses    J.  H.  Boyd,  Winnie  McCly- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


763 


monds,  Ella  Erskine  and  Kate  Manchester  as  As- 
sistants, with  an  enrollment  of  280  pupils. 

West  Ward  School,  presided  over  by  Miss  L.  B. 
Duer  as  Principal,  who  is  assisted  by  the  Misses  J.S. 
Wiley,  F.  E.  Sterret,  Ida  Matthews  and  M.  Kin- 
kead.  Enrollment,  207. 

North  Ward.  In  this  school  Miss  M.  A.  Sterrett 
is  Principal, and  the  Misses  Minnie  S.  Nelson,  Jennie 
McBrown,  Anna  Peacock,  and  Mrs.  M.  D.  Sterrett 
are  Assistants.  Enrollment,  243. 

South  Ward.  Miss  W.  Scott  is  Principal  of  this 
school  With  her  are  the  Misses  Jessie  K.  Babcock, 
A.  Fleming,Sadie  Parkinson,  Delia  Caldwell  and  Mag- 
gie McDill,  with  an  enrollment  of  268. 

The  school  buildings  are  inferior,  old,  with  large 
cracks  in  the  walls,  and  are  not,  some  of  them  at 
least,  very  safe.  Take  them  altogether  for  a  city 
with  the  wealth  of  Monmouth,  they  are  not  at  all 
creditable.  Some  day,  if  they  are  not  torn  down, 
they  will  be  tumbling  down,  burying  beneath  their 
ruins  innocent  children. 

MONMOUTH   COLLEGE. 

This  College  was  founded  by  the  Reform  Associate 
Presbytery  of  Illinois,  and  was  first  started  as  an  Acad- 
emy. It  was  established  as  a  Church  institution,  and 
has  continued  so.  In  1856,  it  was  converted  into  a 
College,  when  Trustees  were  appointed.  In  1847,  it 
was  incorporated  under  the  name  and  style  of  ''The 
Monmouth  College."  This  act  was  amended  in  1859, 
vesting  the  control  of  the  College  with  the  United 
Presbyterian  Synod.  It  was  further  amended  in 
1869,  establishing  a  more  liberal  government,  and 
providing  for  the  admission  of  other  bodies  to  its 
constituency. 

After  several  changes,  additions  and  improvements, 
they  have  now  a  fine  school  building,  three  stories 
high,  and  constructed  of  brick,  costing  altogether 
about  $35,000.  The  building  is  well  furnished  and 
the  rooms  are  commodious.  All  the  facilities  for  a 
thorough  collegiate  education  have  been  provided, 
which  includes  a  good  faculty.  After  several  exper- 
iments, a  liberal  endowment  fund  has  been  secured, 
upon  a  practical  basis.  This  College  is  well  patron- 
ized by  the  people  of  the  county,  and  on  its  roll  there 
are  many  students  from  other  parts  of  the  State. 

PRESS. 

The  Monmouth  A tla s.^— This  is  the  oldest   paper 


in  the  county.  It  was  established  by  C.  K.  Smith, 
and  its  first  sheet  was  issued  to  the  reading  public 
Oct.  30,  1846.  Mr.  Byron  was  the  editor.  At  that 
time  it  was  a  six-column  folio  paper  and  was  issued 
every  Saturday.  It  is  a  rare  treat  to  peruse  its  old 
pages,  every  column  of  which  is  full  of  interesting 
matter.  It  was  issued  about  the  time  of  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Mexican  War,  and  its  early  issues  are 
replete  with  the  descriptions  of  the  battles  of  Cero 
Gordo,  Monterey,  etc.  Jan.  i,  1844,  the  publishing 
day  was  changed  to  Friday.  In  October,  1857,  Mr. 
John  S.  Clark  purchased  the  Atlas,  and  has  edited 
it  from  that  time  to  the  present.  In  1860  it  was  in- 
creased to  an  eight-column  paper.  In  September, 
1884,  a  daily  was  started,  and  this  venture  has  been 
eminently  successful.  The  Atlas  has  a  circulation 
of  about  1,600,  and  a  good  job  office  is  connected 
with  the  paper.  It  is  Republican  in  politics,  and  is 
a  well  edited,  bright  and  newsy  journal,  and  a  credit 
to  the  county.  It  is  an  unusual  thing  to  find  a  man 
who  has  been  in  the  editorial  chair  as  long  as  Mr. 
Clark. 

Monmouth  Review. — The  first  issue  of  this  paper  j 
was  made  Dec.  28,  1855,  by  A  H.  Swain,  its  founder  -< 
and  editor.  It  came  out  pretty  fully  fledged  at  first, 
having  seven  columns  and  issued  every  Friday.  It 
was  started  about  the  time  of  the  dissolution  of  the 
Whig  party  and  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party,  which  has  since  been  so  potent  a  factor  in 
American  politics,  and  was  devoted  to  the  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party  and  the  interests  of  Warren 
County.  In  1856  it  was  an  ardent  advocate  of  the 
claims  of  James  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  It 
was  loyal  to  the  Union  and  to  the  country  during 
the  war.  In  1866  it  was  enlarged  to  an  eight-col- 
umn paper,  its  present  size.  It  has  a  circulation 
now  of  about  1,200,  which  is  constantly  increasing. 
The  plant  contains  a  steam-power  press  and  a  fine 
job  office.  The  Review  has  never  changed  its  ed- 
itor nor  proprietor,  nor  its  politics ;  and  it  never  has 
failed  to  make  its  appearance  on  publication  day, 
which  now  covers  a  period  of  30  years.  There  are  but 
few  papers  in  the  country  that  have  been  under  so 
long  and  continuous  a  management.  It  is  neatly 
gotten  up,  ably  edited,  and  zealously  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  its  patrons.  Mr.  Swain  says  he  started 
his  paper  on  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  and  has  got  that 
quarter  yet.  Amid  the  many  changes  of  this  life,  it 
is  pleasant  once  in  a  while  to  meet  a  man  who  has 


764 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


held  on  to  a  business  so  long  and  so  successfully, 
and  who  is  still  hale  and  hearty  and  at  his  daily  post 
of  duty. 

The  Monmouth  Weekly  Gazette,  was  established  in 
1876,  by  G.  G.  McCosh,  an  experienced  newspaper 
man.  It  was  started  as  a  seven-column  folio,  issued 
every  Wednesday.  In  1883  it  was  enlarged  to  a 
nine-column  folio,  its  present  size.  Mr.  McCosh 
having  been  prosperous  in  his  weekly  venture,  and 
believing  there  was  an  opening  for  a  daily,  concluded 
to  start  one.  With  this  man,  to  think  was  to  act, 
and  in  February,  1883,  he  sent  forth  his  daily  sheet, 
which  he  called  The  Evening  Gazette.  The  editor 
has  had  no  occasion  to  regret  his  action,  for  the  daily 
Gazette  has  been  a  prosperous  enterprise.  The  cir- 
culation of  this  paper  is  from  1,000  to  1,200  per 
week  and  is  increasing.  The  Gazette  is  independent 
in  politics,  is  lively  in  its  editorial  department  and  is 
full  of  interesting  reading  matter.  A  good  job  office 
is  connected  with  the  paper,  where  first-class  work 
can  always  be  secured.  The  presses  are  moved  by 
steam.  The  genial  editor  is  always  ready  to  make 
new  friends  and  welcome  the  old  ones.  Being  com- 
paratively young  in  the  editorial  chair,  he  even  now 
displays  rare  ability  as  an  editor,  and  we  expect  to 
see  the  day  when  he  will  be  among  the  distin- 
guished journalists  of  the  State. 

MILITARY. 

Co.  ff,  Sixth  Regt.  I.  N.  G.,  of  Monmouth.— 
This  company  was  organized  April  29,  i88r,  with  43 
members.  Its  present  officers  are:  Captain,  Geo. 

C.  Rankin ;  First  Lieutenant,  Rufus  H.  Scott ;  Sec- 
ond  Lieutenant,  Wm.  F.  Reichard ;  First  Sergeant, 
Samuel  H.  Hogue.     The  Second,  Third,  Fourth  and 
Fifth  Sergeants  are  respectively  J.  R.  Hickman,  E. 

D.  Brady,  Wm.  W.  Shields,  S.  W.  Porter.     Corpor- 
als,  John  N.  Thomson,  E.  I.  Camm,  S.  L.  Hough- 
ton,  V.  H.  Webb.     The  first  Captain  was  Wm.   G. 
Bond.     Size  of  armory,  60  x  66  feet.     Adjoining  this 
hall  is  an  elegantly  furnished  parlor,  and  a  room  with 
lockers  for  uniforms.     The  company  has  fatigue  and 
dress    uniforms   and    is    completely   equipped   with 
Springfield  rifles.      They  are  fine,  soldierly  looking 
men,  well  up  in  their  drill  and  are  creditable  to  the 
city  of  Monmouth. 

BANDS. 

The  Monmouth  Marine  Band  was  first  organized 
in  1869,  with  a  small  membership.  These  members, 


however,  were  zealous  and  attached  to  the  profes- 
sion, and  determined  to  have  a  first-class  band. 
They  practiced  regularly  and  systematically  and 
finally  became  distinguished  for  the  excellence  of 
their  playing.  In  1878  they  took  the  premium  at 
the  Fire  Tournament  in  Chicago,  and  have  since 
that  time  won  honors  in  different  parts  of  the  State. 
They  have  a  membership  at  the  present  time  of  16, 
all  of  whom  are  good  musicians.  Prof.  F.  W.  White, 
second  E  flat  and  Director;  J.  F.  Saville,  first  E 
flat  and  leader;  and  J.  A.  Montgomery,  bass  drum 
and  manager.  There  are  not  many  bands  in  the 
country  that  can  excel  the  Marine  Band  for  the 
taste,  skill  and  harmony  of  their  music.  Many  a 
pleasant  moment  was  spent  during  the  past  summer 
by  the  writer  in  listening  to  the  sweet,  melodious 
strains  of  music  sent  out  on  the  warm  evening  air 
by  this  band,  for  which  he  takes  this  opportunity  to 
express  his  grateful  thanks. 

The  Cadet  Band  was  organized  about  a  year  ago, 
with  Frank  Young  as  leader.  It  is  composed  of 
young  men  who  are  ambitious  to  distinguish  them- 
selves in  the  musical  world.  They  are  in  constant 
practice  and  are  improving  every  day. 

There  is  also  a  colored  band  in  town  which  has 
been  recently  started.  They  are  practicing  with  a 
good  deal  of  zeal  and  it  is  expected  that  at  no  dis- 
tant day  they  will  become  quite  proficient  and  dis- 
tinguish themselves  as  musicians.  They  certainly 
deserve  a  great  deal  of  credit  for  their  perseverance. 

FIRE   DEPARTMENT. 

The  fire  department  of  Monmouth  consists  of  two 
engine  companies,  one  a  chemical,  and  two  hook  and 
ladder  companies.  H.  A.  Webster  is  Chief  and  is 
an  experienced  fireman. 

Monmouth  Engine  Company,  No.  i,  has  N.  S. 
Woodward  for  Foreman,  with  22  [members.  This 
Company  has  one  of  Silsby's  best  nickel-plated  en- 
gines, fourth  size.  It  is  a  beautiful  machine,  costing 
$4,000.  With  it  there  are  three  hose-carts,  and 
2,400  feet  of  hose.  This  engine  has  the  power  of 
throwing  500  gallons  of  water  per  minute.  Cisterns 
and  wells  are  provided  at  different  parts  of  the  city 
for  water  supplies. 

Mayor  Holt  Engine  Company,  No.  2,  has  a  chem- 
ical engine  with  two  8o-gallon  tanks.  They  use  a 
solution  of  soda  and  sulphuric  acid.  It  is  stationed 
at  the  freight  depot.  W.  T.  Hayes  is  Foreman, 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


765 


with  ten  members.  A  team  is  connected  with  this 
engine  which  is  at  all  times  ready  for  use. 

Hook  and  Ladder  Companies. — Rough  and  Ready, 
No.  i,  has  a  membership  of  20,  of  which  Oscar 
Henry  is  Foreman.  The  Alert,  No.  2,  has  a  mem- 
bership of  25,  with  John  P.  Gray,  Foreman. 

The  Rough  and  Ready  Hook  and  Ladder  Com- 
pany, as  well  as  the  Alert,  have  won  a  National  rep- 
utation for  their  activity  in  the  drill  and  for  their 
athletic  performances;  and  have  in  their  hall  many 
trophies  of  their  victories.  The  Rough  and  Ready 
Company  won  the  first  belt  at  the  first  annual  tour- 
nament of  the  Illinois  State  Firemens'  Association, 
held  at  Decatur,  Oct.  12,  1876.  The  feat  was  to 
run  300  rods,  raise  a  2o-foot  ladder  and  place  a  man 
on  the  top.  This  feat  they  accomplished  in  70  sec- 
onds, being  the  best  time  made.  The  belt,  which  is 
made  of  solid  silver  and  very  neatly  and  artistically 
designed,  was  to  be  given  to  the  company  that 
should  be  victorious  in  three  annual  contests.  The 
second  contest  was  at  Galesburg,  Aug.  30,  1877. 
They  performed  the  great  feat  at  this  time  in  55 
seconds,  making  the  best  time.  At  the  third  contest 
of  the  annual  Tournament  of  the  Illinois  State  Fire- 
men's Association,  held  at  Chicago,  Sept.  5,  1878, 
two  trials  were  allowed,  their  average  time  being  49 
seconds,  which  was  the  quickest  time  made.  This 
gave  them  the  victory  over  all  contestants  and  they 
were  presented  with  the  belt.  This  company  has 
another  belt,  also  made  of  solid  silver,  or  this  com- 
pany and  the  Alert,  No.  2,  who  went  out  as  the  Nip 
and  Tuck  Company,  which  they  won  at  the  Illinois 
State  Firemen's  Tournament,  held  at  Quincy,  in 
1 88 1.  At  this  contest  they  made  the  time  in  46^ 
seconds,  and  took  the  belt  from  the  Knoxville  Hook 
and  Ladder  Company,  who  h:d  won  it  at  the  tour- 
nament held  at  Monmouth,  Sept.  3,  1880,  when  the 
time  was  made  in  52}^  seconds  This  belt  had  been 
previously  won  by  the  Abingdon  Hook  and  Ladder 
Company,  at  the  Illinois  State  Firemen's  Tourna- 
nament,  held  at  Peoria,  Sept.  4,  1879;  time  49}^ 
seconds. 

The  Rough  and  Ready  Company  have  also  a 
beautiful  firemen's  lantern,  which  they  won  at  the 
National  Firemen's  Tournament,  held  in  Chicago, 
Sept.  5,  1878,  time  49  seconds.  This  lantern  was 
the  gift  of  the  National  Firemens  Journal. 

At  the  Annual  Illinois  Firemen's  Tournament,  held 


at  Quincy,  the  National  Firemens  Journal  offered  a 
lantern  as  a  prize,  which  was  won  by  the  Nip  and 
Tuck  ;  time  46^  seconds ;  this  was  a  sweepstake 
prize.  At  this  tournament  there  was  also  offered  by 
Brunswick  &  Balke  a  prize,  consisting  of  a  fine  bil- 
liard table,  to  be  given  to  the  best  company  in  a  hub 
and  hub  contest,  distance  300  yards.  This  prize 
was  won  by  the  Nip  and  Tuck  Company. 

The  fire  department  have  a  neat  hall,  where  they 
hold  their  meetings.  This  hall  is  decorated  with  the 
photographs  of  the  firemen  in  uniform,  the  engine, 
hook  and  ladder  wagon,  etc.  In  this  hall  they  also 
have  a  well  selected  library,  for  the  use  of  them- 
selves and  their  families. 

SOCIETIES. 

Monmouth  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  37,  was  instituted 
Oct.  6,  1846;  George  C.  Lamphere  was  W.  M. ; 
Samuel  Webster,  Sr.  W.  M.;  John  C.  Young,  Jr.  W. 
M.  This  lodge  now  numbers  74  members;  present 
officers,  W.  S.  Holliday,  W.  M. ;  J.  W.  Gael,  Sr.  W.  ' 
M.;  A.  G.  McDowell,  Jr.  W.  M.,  and  D.  D.  Dun- 
kle,  Secretary.  They  have  a  large,  fine  hall,  which 
they  own.  It  is  neatly  frescoed  with  emblematic  ' 
illustrations  of  the  order.  The  lodge  is  well  equipped 
and  in  a  flourishing  condition.  It  is  the  first  society 
organized  in  the  county. 

Warren  Chapter,  No.  jo,  R.  A.  M.,  was  organ- 
ized Oct.  z,  1856.  At  the  first  organization  David 
B.  Rice  was  H.  P.;  Wm.  A.  Seaton,  K. ;  Samuel 
Stanley,  Scribe.  Th's  lodge  numbers  at  present  80 
members,  and  meets  in  the  Masonic  Hall.;  present 
officers,  D.  D.  Dunkle,  H.  P. ;  Levi  Roadhouse,  K. ; 
Levi  Page,  Scribe,  and  A.  C.  McDowell,  Secretary. 
The  Masons  met  with  some  misfortune  last  spring, 
having  had  the  roof  of  their  hall  taken  off  by  the  cy- 
clone that  visited  this  place.  Another  roof,  however, 
was  put  on  and  their  hall  is  again  in  good  condition. 

Trinity  Lodge,  No.  561,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  or- 
ganized June  27,  1867,  with  16  charter  members; 
first  officers,  Joseph  Hill,  W.  M.;  J.  N.  Reece,  S. 
W.;  E.  C.  Johnston,  J.  W.;  S.  Gamble,  Treasurer; 
G.  R.  Barbour,  Secretary;  A.  H.  Swain.  S.  D.  ;  L. 
Stansbury,  J.  D. ;  C.  Coates,  Tyler.  Present  officers, 
O.  B.  Wilcox,  W.  M. ;  L.  F.  Schusler,  S.  W. ;  John 
H.  Hogue,  J.  W.;  E.  C.  Johnston,  Treasurer;  Pey- 
ton Roberts,  Secretary;  R.  Dony,  S.  D.;  J-  H. 
Beeny,  J.  D. ;  H.  T.  Harkless,  Tyler.  This  lodge 


± 


766 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


has  a  fine  farm,  which  is  well  equipped  and  in  a  good 
working  condition. 

Encampment,  No.  87,  was  chartered  Oct.  13, 1868, 
with  seven  members — C.  W.  Palmer,  J.  T.  Wallace, 
G.  A.  Samson,  R.  S.  Frew,  Win.  M.  Smiley,  T.  O. 
Hamsher  and  Jeremiah  M.  McGrew.  This  lodge  is 
well  attended  and  is  also  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Warren  County  Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  was 
instituted  June  10,  1855,  with  C.  W.  Palmer,  W.  B. 
Jenks,  Elisha  Nye,  George  McGowan  as  the  charter 
members.  In  1871  the  fire  destroyed  their  building; 
the  records  were  at  this  time  also  burned.  In  1875 
some  20  of  the  members  of  this  lodge  seceded  and 
formed  a  new  organization.  In  1881  they  completed 
and  moved  into  their  new  hall.  It  is  large,  airy  and 
elegantly  equipped  and  beautifully  decorated.  Their 
furniture  and  regalia  cost  about  $[,500.  Financially 
they  are  in  good  condition,  having  something  over 
$3,000  out  at  interest ;  number  of  active  members  at 
present  is  over  117.  L.  C.  Nott  is  the  Noble  Grand. 

/.  O.  O.  F.,  No.  577,  Monmouth  Lodge,  was  or- 
ganized May  18,  1875,  with  23  charter-  members. 
The  first  officers  were  L.  S.  Holden,  N.  G.  ;  John  B. 
Weir,  V.  G.;  Isaac  Mark,  R.  S.;  Peyton  Roberts,  P. 
S. ;  Riemer  Lahann,  Treasurer.  The  membership  at 
present  is  127,  with  the  following  officers:  Henry 
Mclntyre,  N.  G. ;  Riemer  Lahann,  V.  G. ;  E.  W. 
Stevens,  R.  S.;  L.  S.  Holden,  P.  S. ;  W.  W.  Brooks, 
Treasurer.  This  lodge  has  a  fine,  large  hall,  neatly 
furnished  and  elegantly  equipped  with  all  the  para- 
phernalia of  the  order.  It  is  out  of  debt,  has  money  at 
interest,  and  is  in  a  prosperous  condition.  Meetings 
are  held  by  the  Lodge  every  Wednesday. 

Monmouth  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  Rebecca  Degree,  No. 
128. — This  order  was  instituted  November,  1853, 
with  54  members,  and  have  increased  their  numbers 
since  their  organization  to  60.  Present  officers,  Mrs. 
A.  E.  Mclntosh,  N.  G. ;  Mrs.  Nettie  Emert,  V.  G. ; 
Mrs.  Mattie  Baker,  R.  S,;  Mrs.  E.  W.  Stevens,  F. 
S. ;  Mrs.  Ahnira  Cottrell,  Treasurer.  They  meet 
the  second  and  fourth  Fridays  in  each  month. 

Rebecca  Degree  Lodge,  J\o.  122,  1.  O.  O.  F.,  was 
instituted  Oct.  n,  1870.  They  have  quite  an  inter- 
esting lodge  and  meet  regularly,  in  the  Warren 
Lodge  Hall.  Mrs.  N.  Y.  Frew  is  at  present  N.  G. 

McClanahan  Post,  G.  A.  R.  No.  330  was  char- 
tered Aug.  27,  1883.  First  officers:  J.  P.  Higgins, 
C;  D.  D.  Dunkle,  Sr,  V.  C. ;  J.  G.  Burchfield,  Jr., 


V.  C. ;  J.  H.  Hurdman,  Adj't.  There  were  34  char- 
tered members  in  the  organization.  The  Post  num- 
bers at  present  65,  with  the  following  named  of- 
ficers :  D.  D.  Dunkle,  C. ;  W.  T.  Ramsey,  S.  V.  C. : 
S.  A.  Hogue,  J.  V.  C. ;  J.  H.  Hurdman,  Adjt.  They 
have  a  good  large  hall,  22x60  feet,  which  is  nicely 
furnished.  The  Post  is  in  a  flourishing  condition 
and  hold  their  meetings  twice  a  month.  They  have 
an  altar  tastefully  gotten  up,  which  stands  in  the 
center  of  the  hall,  erected  to  the  memory  of  theit 
fallen  comrades. 

Monmouth  Relief  Corps,  No.  6.  This  is  an  aux- 
iliary to  the  G.  A.  R.  McClanahan  Post.  It  was 
chartered  June  18,  1884,  with  25  members.  Mrs.  E. 
J.  Hurdman,  President.  They  meet  in  the  G.  A.  R 
hall.  Considerable  interest  is  manifested  in  this 
lodge  by  the  ladies  of  Monmouth,  and  it  is  increas- 
ing in  its  membership. 

A.  O.  U,  W.  Lodge,  192,  was  organized  in  Aug- 
ust, 1881,  -with  37  charter  members.  This  society 
has  been  prosperous  and  has  increased  its  member- 
ship to  68.  They  have  a  hall  which  they  have  fitted 
up  for  their  meetings,  and  it  is  neatly  furnished. 
Present  officers:  George  M.  Peters,  P.  M.  W.  ; 
C.  B.  Bristol,  M.  W.;  F.  Ahlstrand,  Foreman  ;  James 
Wilson,  Overseer;  J.  F.  Coleville,  Recorder;  C.  E. 
Blackburn,  Financier;  A.  H.  McGrew,  Receiver; 
M.  Raims,  Guide.  This  society  h^as  lost  only  two 
members  since  its  organization. 

Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  Maple  City  Camp, 
No.  94.  This  camp  was  organized  April  22,  1885, 
with  19  charter  members.  Officers  :  C.  E.  Black- 
burn, Counsel ;  A.  W.  Morton,  Advisor;  H.  M.  Put- 
man,  Clerk;  David  Turnbull,  Banker.  They  have 
now  20  members  and  meet  regularly  in  the  A.  O.  (J. 
W.  hall  on  the  2d  and  4th  Tuesdays  of  each  month. 
Maple  City  Camp  is  new,  but  it  is  active,  is  steadily 
increasing  in  numbers,  and  is  in  a  prosperous  condi- 
tion. 

Order  of  Chosen  Friends,  Monmouth  Council, 
No.  15,  was  instituted  Aug.  7,  1883,  with  25  mem- 
bers. Edward  Parkinson  was  Chief  Counsellor  ;  E. 
J.  Clark,  Secretary;  and  H.  M.  Wright,  Treasurer. 
This  society  meets  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  holding 
their  sessions  twice  a  month.  Present  membership 
is  about  50.  Present  officers  as  follows;  J.  W. 
Smith,  C.  C. ;  Wm.  B.  Vorvvick,  V.  C. ;  J.  Chaffee, 
Secretary;  E.  C.  Linn,  Treasurer;  J.  H.  Moore,  P. 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


767 


C.  C. ;  J.  T.  Piper,  Prelate  ;  H.  H.  Reed,  Warden ; 
G.  H.  Coaltrap,~Guard.  This  is  an  insurance  order 
and  a  beneficiary  one,  with  policies  ranging  from  $i,- 
ooo  to  $3,000.  Some  of  the  cardinal  features  of  this 
society  are  that  it  furnishes  its  benefits  at  cost.  Its 
plans  are  equitable  and  just,  and  its  fraternal  obli- 
gations binding  and  forcible.  It  makes  no  distinction 
in  regard  to  sex,  and  the  season  of  old  age  is  soft- 
ened and  made  bright  by  reaping  substantial  benefits 
at  75  years.  When  a  member  becomes  permanently* 
disabled,  he  receives  one-half  of  his  benefits.  The 
sick  are  looked  after  and  a  home  is  found  for  the 
orphaned.  It  has  for  its  foundation  mutual  aid  ;  for 
its  superstructure  reciprocity.  This  Order  is  grow- 
ing and  it  is  in  a  prosperous  condition.  They  pro- 
pose in  the  near  future  to  have  a  hall  of  their  own 
for  their  meetings. 

Lfiderkranz  of  Monmouth  was  instituted  March  17, 
1871,  and  was  incorporated  Feb.  i,  1875.  The  ob- 
ject of  this  society  is  to  further  the  sociability  and 
unity  of  the  Germans.  At  the  time  of  the  incorpor- 
ation a  beneficiary  order  was  attached  to  it.  The 
financial  matters  of  each  are  kept  apart  and  mem- 
*  bers  of  the  Leiderkranz  if  physically  disabled  can- 
not be  members  of  the  Beneficiary  Order.  They  as- 
sume the  same  charitable  duties  as  most  of  the 
other  societies,  such  as  taking  care  of  the  sick  and 
helping  those  that  are  in  great  need.  Should  a  mem- 
ber be  sick,  or  rather  an  invalid,  40  weeks,  then  his 
beneficiary  claim  ends;  his  case  is  considered  one  of 
chronic  illness,  and  he  has  no  longer  any  claim  upon 
the  society.  When  a  member  dies,  $30  is  given  to 
the  family  of  the  deceased  for  funeral  expenses,  and 
one  dollar  is  assessed  on  each  member  for  their  ben- 
efit. They  have  a  large  hall  fitted  up  for  their  use 
and  have  about  50  members.  Their  financial  standing 
is  good  and  they  are  as  a  society,  prosperous.  Pres- 
ent .officers :  John  B.  Andrews,  President;  David 
Woelber,  V.  P. ;  German  Leins,  Secretary ;  P.  D. 
Good,  Financial  Secretary ;  Reimer  Lahann,  Treas- 
urer. 

Supreme  Council,  Order  of  the  Golden  Rule.  This 
order  had  its  inception  in  Monmouth  and  was  incor- 
porated under  the  general  corporation  act,  approved 
April  18,  1872,  with  the  following  officers:  O.  S. 
Barnum,  S.  P.  ;  John  Troutman,  S.  S.  ;  W.  B.  Young, 
S.  T. ;  J.  H.  Wallace,  S.  M.  D.  ;  T.  S.  Stamps,  S.  D. 

As  this  is  a  new  order  it  may  not  be  inopportune  to 


mention  its  objects.  Like  most  societies,  it  is  se- 
cret in  its  government,  with  signs  of  recognition  and 
insignia  of  office.  It  aims  to  unite  all  persons  of  a 
moral  character  into  a  social,  benevolent  and  frater- 
nal society,  with  the  principles  of  the  Golden  Rule 
as  its  foundation,  and  to  aid  its  members  in  the 
struggles  of  life  in  any  way  that  may  be  suggestive 
by  common  feelings  of  humanity.  The  Order  also 
proposes  to  establish  a  fund  by  voluntary  contribu- 
tion for  the  benefit  of  widows  and  orphans  of  de- 
ceased members.  Another  feature  of  this  Order  is 
the  extending  to  women  the  privilege  of  meeting  the 
men  of  the  country  in  the  halls  of  secret  organiza- 
lions.  It  is  beneficiary  in  its  operations,  afford- 
ing an  opportunity  to  its  members  in  case  of  death 
of  leaving  a  very  liberal  provision  to  their  families  or 
heirs;  also  of  receiving  a  certain  annuity  while  liv- 
ing. Since  this  order  was  established  there  has  been 
several  organized  in  different  parts  of  the  State. 

Order  of  the  Golden  Rule,  Council  No.  i.  This 
council  was  instituted  March  20,  1884,  with  92  char- 
ter members.  First  officers  were  W.  C.  Norcross,  C. 
H. ;  V.  H.  Webb.  C.  C. ;  D.  C.  Barnes,  C.  Capt. ;  A. 
G.  McDowell,  C.  G. ;  James  Westerfield,  F.  G.; 
Frank  Downer,  S.  G. ;  David  J  Parrel,  Sentry  ;  D. 
E.  Ward,  Secretary ;  Wm.  G4endening,  Treasurer. 
This  society  meets  at  present  in  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Hall  and  has  a  membership  of  upwards  of  100.  It 
was  the  first  local  Lodge  of  this  order  organized. 

Citizens'  League  of  Warren  County.  This  League 
was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1885,  and  was  char- 
tered July  2d  following.  There  are  six  directors  who 
are  named  in  the  charter  for  the  first  year,  to-wit : 
J.  Ross  Hanna,  Robert  A.  Wilson,  W.  H.  McQuis- 
ton,  C.  C.  Secrist,  Isaac  Kirkpatrick  and  O.  S.  Bar- 
num. The  objects  of  this  League  are  to  enforce  the 
laws  and  ordinances  enacted  for  the  suppression  of 
the  liquor  traffic.  Headquarters  of  this  society  is  at 
Monmouth.  Its  charter  extends  for  20  years. 

Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union.  The  first 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  Monmouth 
was  organized  in  June,  1872,  under  the  name  of  the 
Monmouth  Ladies'  Temperance  Society.  Its  objects 
were  the  education  of  the  old  and  young  in  the  im- 
portant truth  that  it  is  dangerous  and  morally  wrong 
to  use  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage;  also  the 
recovery  of  the  fallen  and  the  cultivation  of  sound 
temperance  sentiment.  Signing  the  pledge  and 


'  • 


768 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


paying  50  cents  fee  constitutes  a  membership.  It 
was  the  first  woman's  temperance  organization  in  the 
county,  and  was  working  efficiently  18  months  be- 
fore the  Woman's  Temperance  Crusade  was  organ- 
ized in  Hillsboro,  which  was  Dec.  23,  1873.  When 
the  Illinois  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union 
was  organized  in  1878,  it  at  once  became  auxiliary 
and  has  continued  to  be  one  of  the  most  useful  tem- 
perance organizations  in  the  State.  In  April,  1879, 
another  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  was 
organized  in  Monmouth,  and  by  way  of  distinction 
this  Union  has  been  known  as  the  First  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union.  The  Union  elects 
annually  a  President  and  Vice-President  from  each 
Church  in  the  city,  a  Corresponding  and  Recording 
Secretary,  Treasurer  and  Superintendent.  The  fol- 
lowing branches  of  work  are  recommended  by  the 
National  and  State  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union  :  Band  of  Hope  work,  Sunday-school  work, 
scientific  temperance  work,  evangelistic  and  press 
work,  yoang  woman's  work,  work  among  foreigners, 
colored  people,  prisons  and  jails,  and  temperance  lit- 
erature. Present  membership,  144.  This  organiza- 
tion has  been  useful  in  creating  the  strong  temper- 
ance sentiment  which  exists  in  Monmouth. 

The  Crusade  Society.  This  is  another  temperance 
organization,  which  was  started  May  10,  1879,  with 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Herbert  as  President;  Mrs.  L.  M.  Reed, 
Vice-President;  and  Mrs.  H.  J.  Boyd,  Secretary. 
Mrs.  D.  Babcock  is  the  present  President,  and  the 
Society  has  some  60  members.  They  hold  their 
meetings  regularly,  and  are  very  energetic  in  their 
endeavors  to  suppress  the  liquor  traffic  in  the  city  of 
Monmouth. 

CHURCHES. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church.  The  Schuyler 
Presbytery,  at  their  spring  meeting  in  1836,  ap- 
pointed Rev.  Silas  Riggs  to  organize  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Warren  County.  At  the  September 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  held  at  Monmouth  some 
years  later,  the  committee  reported  the  organization 
of  a  society  to  be  named  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Warren  County.  This  was  the  first 
Presbyterun  organization  effected  in  the  county.  In 
October,  1839,  it  took  the  name  of  Fall  Creek 
Church.  At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  when 
the  report  of  the  organization  of  the  Church  was 


made  and  accepted,  Revs.  Sill  and  Riggs  were 
appointed  to  supply  the  Church  as  often  as  they 
could.  The  Fall  Creek  Church,  with  the  consent  of 
its  members,  was  dissolved  Aug.  26,  1873.  Its  mem- 
bership had  run  down  to  less  than  half  a  score, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  other  organizations  had  been 
formed,  which  supplied  the  wants  of  those  living  in 
their  vicinity.  This  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  Mon- 
mouth First  Presbyterian  Church.  The  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Monmouth  was  organized  Sept.  2, 
1837,  by  Rev.  L.  G.  Bell,  who  was  appointed  to  the 
work  by  the  Schuyler  Presbytery,  at  its  meeting  in 
Macomb,  April  12,  1837.  It  was  organized  with  16 
members,  all  of  whom  being  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Warren  County,  were  dis- 
missed to  enter  the  new  Church.  James  P.  Hogue 
and  Hamilton  Roney  were  installed  as  Elders.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  the  first  members  :  Nancy 
Jenkins,  Margaret  Montgomery,  Margaret  Hogue, 
Margaret  Roney,  James  Brasselton,  M.  A.  Marick, 
Lydia  Talbert,  Mary  A.  Hogue,  Eliza  Andrews, 
Thomas  G.  Hogue,  Benjamin  Hercules,  Hamilton 
Roney,  and  George  P.  and  James  P.  Hogue. 

The  Church  had  supplies  until  September,  «< 
1839,  when  they  secured  their  first  settled  pastor, 
Rev.  Samuel  Wilson.  Revs.  L.  G.  Stewart,  M. 
Hammer,  James  Stafford,  W.  K.  Stewart  and  Jos.  Gray 
were  the  supplies.  Mr.  Wilson's  services  were  ter- 
minated by  his  death,  which  occurred  Aug.  15,  1847. 
During  his  pastorate  67  members  were  added  to 
the  Church.  Up  to  1842  this  society  had  no  church 
building,  but  held  their  services  in  different  places, 
sometimes  in  a  store,  sometimes  in  the  old  American 
hotel  and  at  priyate  houses.  On  the  i7th  day  of 
April,  1842,  Theodore  Cobur*  and  his  wife  gave  a 
deed  conveying  to  the  trustees  of  the  Church  lot  6, 
in  block  32,  old  to.vn  plat  of  Monmouth,  upon  which 
a  church  building  was  constructed  at  a  cost  of  about 
$800.  This  they  used  as  a  place  of  worship  until 
1851,  when  the  building  was  taken  down  and  the 
brick  sold  to  James  Hill.  In  1848  the  Rev.  William 
F.  Ferguson  became  the  supply  of  the  Church,  serv- 
ing it  until  1851.  It  was  very  hard  times  in  those 
days,  but  this  zealous  congregation  was  resolved  to 
have  a  new  house  of  worship.  During  the  year 
1851  many  of  the  congregation,  aided  by  their  pastor, 
were  engaged  in  hauling  lumber  from  Oquawka  for 
the  new  building.  That  season  was  a  wet  one,  and 
it  was  impossible  to  get  the  lumber  to  their  church 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


769 


building.  During  the  construction  of  their  new 
edifice  they  were  tendered  the  use  of  the  Method- 
ist building  every  alternate  Sabbath.  In  the  latter 
part  of  December,  1851,  Rev.  Robert  C.  Mathews, 
a  talented  young  man  from  the  South,  was  called  and 
Engaged  to  preach  for  them  for  three  months.  He 
was  subsequently  engaged  and  served  the  Church 
until  death  took  him  away,  Nov.  15,  1879."  (See  bi- 
ography in  this  volume).  Mr.  Mathews  did  more  to 
harmonize  the  discordant  elements  among  the  vari- 
ous Churches  of  this  community,  by  his  Christian 
spirit  and  his  great  devotion  to  his  Master's  work, 
than  all  the  other  clergymen  together. 

"In  his  duty,  prompt  at  every  call, 

He  watched  and  wept,  he  prayed  and  felt  for  all." 

In  1852  the  edifice  was  so  far  completed  as  to  en- 
able the  congregation  to  hold  their  meetings  in  the 
basement.  It  was  finished  and  dedicated  in  1853. 
It  cost  about  $3,000.  In  1863  the  church  building 
was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  22  feet  to  the  length 
of  it,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  In  1876  the  society  de- 
termined to  erect  a  larger  and  more  commodious 
edifice,  and  for  this  purpose  a  building  dommittee 
was  appointed.  They  were  unable  to  raise  the  nec- 
essary funds  that  year,  however,  but  secured  the  lots 
for  the  building,  for  which  they  paid  $(,350.  The 
matter  rested  here  until  the  early  part  of  1880,  when 
measures  were  again  taken  to  raise  funds  to  go  on 
with  the  work.  A  portion  of  the  money  necessary 
was  raised,  and  in  October  the  contract  was  let. 
The  contract  price  was  $14,700,  the  building  to  be 
completed  by  October,  1881.  To  give  more  room  an 
additional  lot  was  purchased,  at  a  cost  of  $150.  The 
building  was  completed  and  dedicated  May  7,  1882. 
The  total  cost  of  the  building,  with  lots,  furniture, 
organ,  etc.,  was  $21,058.83.  The  pipe  organ  cost 
$1,350.  The  edifice  is  a  large  handsome  structure 
of  Gothic  architecture ;  the  walls  are  built  of  brick 
trimmed  with  stone,  and  rest  on  a  stone  foundation. 
The  auditorium  is  48x84  feet,  and  is  very  neatly  fin- 
ished. In  the  basement  there  is  a  lecture-room, 
parlor,  a  Sunday-school  room,  a  study  and  a  kitchen. 
The  whole  building  is  heated  by  a  furnace. 

In  1881  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Dean,  the  present  pastor, 
was  called  and  took  charge.  The  Church  is  now  out 
of  debt  and  is  prosperous,  having  350  members  and 
a  large  and  interesting  Sunday-school.  The  latter 
was  started  in  1838.  In  1864  it  was  divided  into 
three  departments,  the  Bible  class,  intermediate  and 


infant.  Each  department  has  its  separate  room. 
The  total  membership  of  the  Church  since  its  or- 
ganization numbers  987.  From  this  Church  and 
Sabbath-school  12  persons  have  entered  the  minis- 
try. Two  of  this  number  became  Missionaries  to 
foreign  countries. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Monmouth. — 
As  the  organization  of  this  Church  was  the  com- 
mencement of  Methodism  in  the  county,  and  a 
great  deal  of  the  early  history  of  the  Church  is  con- 
nected with  this  society  as  well  as  the  general  early 
pioneer  life  of  the  county,  a  somewhat  extended  ac- 
count of  the  history  of  this  Church  is  given.  Abraham 
Swartz  came  into  Warren  County  in  April,  1829, 
and  located  near  Monmouth.  The  county  was  then 
new  and  there  were  not  more  than  a  dozen  families 
then  residing  in  it,  and  Mr.  Swartz  and  wife 
were  the  only  Methodists;  and  as  a  few  Methodists 
had  settled  in  Knox  County,  Mr.  Swartz  and  his  wife, 
in  order  to  be  with  his  Church  people,  left  Warren 
County  and  moved  into  Knox,  which  left  the  former, 
without  a  Methodist.  Field  Jarvis  settled  at  the 
head  of  Ellison  Creek  in  the  summer  of  1829,  and, 
in  the  winter  following,  John  F.  Eberman,  whose  ^ 
wife  was  a  Methodist,  came  in  and  settled  near  Mr.  J 
Jarvis.  Daniel  McNeil  Jr.,  settled  at  what  was  then 
Yellow  Banks  (Oquawka),  in  1830.  Jonathan  Buf- j 
fun  settled  at  Cedar  Creek  the  same  year.  Nathan- 
iel Hopper,  a  young  man,  with  his  father,  settled 
near  by  in  the  spring  of  1831.  Jacob  Mills,  a 
brother  of  Mr.  Mills  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  came  from  the  East  in  the  autumn  of  1831, 
and  rode  through  the  counties  of  Knox  and  Warren 
for  some  three  months,  preaching  wherever  he  could 
get  a  hearing.  These  were  nearly  the  only  meetings 
in  Warren  County  of  the  Methodists  until  the  au- 
tumn of  1832,  when  Elder  Barton  Randall  was  sent 
as  a  circuit  preacher  on  the  mission.  The  first 
quarterly  meeting  of  the  mission  was  held  in  Knox 
County,  at  which  time  Thomas  Pearce  and  Daniel 
McNiel,  Jr.,  were  appointed  as  Stewards  of  Warren 
County.  The  second  quarterly  meeting  was  ap- 
pointed to  be  held  at  Thomas  Pearce 's  residence, 
March  18,  1833.  The  weather  was  cold  and  blus- 
tering, and  the  Methodists  were  so  scattering  that 
no  person  attended,  and  the  meeting  was  dismissed 
by  the  preacher. 

The  third  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  June, 
1833,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Jamison,  five  miles 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


south  of  Yellow  Banks,  in  Henderson  County,  at 
which  meeting  the  Presiding  Elder,  Peter  Cart- 
wright, attended  and  presided.  On  Sunday  the  sac- 
rament was  administered  for  the  first  time  in  this 
section.  The  weather  was  fine  and  some  of  the 
members  had  traveled  30  miles  in  order  to  be  pres- 
ent. There  was  a  general  turn  out  from  all  parts  of 
this  county.  At  this  meeting  three  children  were 
baptized,  ten  persons  joined  the  Church  on  trial,  and 
the  seven  following  named  members  surrounded  the 
table  of  the  Lord  and  partook  of  the  emblems  of  His 
body  and  blood  shed  for  them:  Barton  H.  Cart- 
wright,  Robert  Bell,  Thomas  Pearce,  Daniel  Mc- 
Neil, Field  Jarvis,  Elisha  Griffith  and  his  wife. 

There  were  at  this  time  a  number  of  preaching 
places  in  Warren  County.  A  class  was  formed  at 
Brother  Pearce's,  called  at  that  time  Bowling  Greeni 
and  one  at  Jamison's  Settlement,  yet  there  were  few 
names  returned  belonging  properly  to  this  county. 
In  the  autumn  of  1833,  the  Conference  appointed 

[Rev.  D.  R.  Trotter,  as  circuit  preacher.  In  1834, 
a  class  was  formed  in  Monmouth  and  one  at  the 
head  of  Ellison  Creek,  while  the  old  classes  at  Bowl- 
"ing  Green  and  Jamison's  Settlement  grew  a  little 
land  the  mission,  upon  the  whole,  prospered  so  that 
Brother  Trotter,  at  the  annual  Conference  of  1834, 
l-held  at  Mt.  Carmel,  111.,  urged  the  necessity  of  a 
division  of  the  mission.  Knoxville  Mission  was 
then  formed  out  of  Henderson  River  Mission  and 
included  Knox  and  Henry  Counties,  while  Hender- 
son River  Mission  included  Warren  and  Mercer 
Counties.  Rev.  Barton  H.  Cartwright  was  appointed 
to  the  Knoxville  Mission  and  Rev.  Peter  R.  Boerin 
to  the  other.  Brother  Boerin  taking  sick,  Rev.  Bar- 
ton H,  Cartwright  was  ordered  to  take  charge  of 
both  Missions. 

In  the  summer  of  1830,  Daniel  McNeil,  Jr., 
opened  a  Sunday-school  about  two  miles  from  the 
Yellow  Banks,  which  continued  for  about  three 
months.  He  had  in  this  school  about  16  scholars. 
The  next  year  he  opened  a  Sunday-school  in  the 
Court-house  at  Monmouth,  but  it  was  discontinued 
for  want  of  help.  In  1832  the  school  was  again 
opened  in  Monmouth  under  more  propitious  circum- 
stances, but  the  Indian  disturbances  broke  up  the 
school  for  a  time. 

Rev.  Asa  D.  West,  who  settled  in  Monmouth,  in 
1834,  was  the  first  local  minister  of  any  rank  who 


settled  in  Warren  County,  except  Barton  H.  Cart- 
wright, who  was  licensed  to  exhort  and  then  licensed 
to  preach.  In  1834,  there  were  in  Warren  County 
eight  preaching  places,  one  local  elder,  one  local 
preacher,  three  class  leaders,  and  about  50  Church 
members.  Rev.  Asa  D.  West,  George  Pearce,  Field 
Jarvis,  Nathaniel  Hopper  and  Daniel  McNeil  con- 
stituted the  first  Board  of  Trustees  for  Monmouth, 
who  were  elected  Dec.  13,  1834,  when  there  was 
neither  church  nor  parsonage  buildings  in  Monmouth, 
and  but  little  prospect  of  having  any  very  soon.  At 
the  next  Conference,  held  in  1835,  Rev.  Justus 
Woodworth  was  appointed  for  this  circuit.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1836,  the  Henderson  River  and  the  Knoxville 
Missions  were  discontinued,  and  the  two  Missions 
were  formed  into  a  circuit  called  the  Knoxville  Cir- 
cuit, in  the  Quincy  District,  and  Rev.  Joel  Haring- 
ton  was  appointed  preacher. 

At  a  Quarterly  Conference  held  at  Knoxville,  in 
June,  1837,  Thomas  Jones,  Justus  Woodworth,  Dan- 
iel McNeil,  Alfred  Allen  and  Jesse  Coleman  were 
appointed  Trustees  to  build  a  meeting  house  at 
Monmouth. 

In  the  fall  of  1837,  Rev.  Henry  Summers  was 
made  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  Chauncy  Hobert, 
preacher  in  charge. 

At  the  Annual  Conference  of  1838,  Rev.  Asa  D. 
West  was  appointed  to  take  charge.  In  the  Annual 
Conference  held  in  October,  1839,  the  .Knoxville 
Circuit  was  divided,  the  line  of  Warren  and  Knox 
Counties  to  be  the  division  line.  There  were  at  this 
time  about  550  members  in  the  circuit,  or  about  275 
members  in  each  of  the  counties  of  Warren  and 
Knox.  Rev.  William  H.  Clark  was  appointed  circuit 
preacher.  The  first  Quarterly  Conference  for  Mon- 
mouth Circuit,  was  held  at  the  head  of  Ellison 
Creek,  near  New  Lancaster,  on  the  i6th  day  of  No- 
vember, 1839.  There  were  present  Revs.  N.  G. 
Berryman,  William  H.  Clark,  Asa  D.  West,  and  Local 
Elder,  Joseph  Williams.  The  next  Conference  re- 
turned Mr.  Clark  to  Monmouth  Circuit.  Rev. 
William  Haney  was  afterward  placed  in  charge,  Mr 
Clark  having  taken  sick.  At  the  Annual  Conference 
in  1841,  Rev.  Zadock  Hall  was  appointed  circuit 
preacher. 

The  Illinois  Conference,  held  in  August,  1842, 
formed  a  new  district  called  Peoria,  and  appointed 
Rev.  A.  E.  Phelps,  Presiding  Elder.  The  Method- 


WARREN  COUNTY 


ist  chapel  was  so  far  completed  that  on  Sept.  23, 
1842,  it  was  opened  for  worship. 

William  Justice  succeeded  Brother  Royal,  and 
John  Morey  followed  Brother  Justice.  In  1844, 
Richard  Haney  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder.  In 
1845,  Rev.  Barton  H.  Cartwright  was  appointed  to 
take  charge.  In  1846,  Rev.  William  Haney  was  the 
preacher  in  charge.  At  this  time  Monmouth  Circuit 
embraced  Monmouth,  Oquawka,  Olena,  Warren,  El- 
lison, Stringtown,  Berwick,  besides  several  other 
preaching  places. 

In  1847,  Monmouth  was  placed  in  the  Rock  Island 
Circuit,  with  the  Rev.  John  St.  Clair,  Presiding  El- 
der, Joseph  O.  Gilbert,  preacher  in  charge.  In  the 
fall  of  1848,  the  district  was  again  changed,  so  that 
Monmouth  Circuit  was  in  the  Knoxville  District,  with 
John  Morey,  Presiding  Elder  ;  James  Taylor,  preach- 
er in  charge.  In  answer  to  tha  question  as  to  the 
number  and  condition  of  the  Sabbath-schools  in  the 
first  Quarterly  Conference  for  the  year,  held  at  Mon- 
I  mouth,  Sept.  30,  1848,  it  was  said  that  there  are  none 
I  on  the  circuit.  At  the  Fourth  Quarterly  Conference 
it  was  reported  that  there  was  one  Sunday-school  on 

Ithe  circuit.  At  the  Annual  Conference,  Rev.  B.  Ap- 
plebee  was  appointed  preacher  in  charge.  He  was 
returned  for  the  second  year.  Brother  Applebee 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  preacher  who  served 
the  Church  here  two  years  in  succession,  and  judg- 
ing from  the  increase  of  the  number  of  Sunday- 
schools  in  the  circuit  during  his  first  year,  the 
appointment  was  a  good  one.  At  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference held  at  Ellison,  Sept.  7,  1850,  the  report 
showed  the  number  of  schools  to  be  1 1 ;  officers 
and  teachers,  96;  scholars,  300. 

In  1851  the  Monmouth  Circuit  was  divided  so  as 
to  leave  Berwick  and  Ellison  to  another  circuit. 
James  F.  Chaffee  was  appointed  to  the  Monmouth 
Circuit,  Feb.  21,  1852.  In  1853  Monmouth  was 
made  a  station,  with  Rev.  John  P.  Brooks  in  charge. 
The  first  quarterly  meeting  for  Monmouth  station 
was  held  Oct.  23,  1852.  At  this  meeting  the  Su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-school  reported  that  the 
Sunday-school  was  in  an  extremely  critical  condi- 
tion, and  witho at  efficient  co-operation  of  the  Church 
it  must  cease  to  exist.  At  the  next  Conference  Rev. 
B.  C.  Swarts  was  appointed  preacher  in  charge,  and 
at  the  next  Rev.  Richard  Haney  was  appointed  Pre- 
siding Elder,  and  H.  Richey  preacher  in  charge.  In 


1855  Brother  Elijah  House  succeeded  H.  Richey. 
In  the  fall  of  1856  Rev.  J.  Soule  was  stationed  at 
Monmouth,  with  Rev.  R.  N.  Morse  as  Presiding  El- 
der The  Rock  River  Conference  was  divided,  and 
Monmouth  placed  in  the  Peoria  Conference.  During 
1857  $6,200  were  secured  on  subscription  to  build  a 
church.  The  lot  was  purchased  where  the  building 
now  stands,  and  the  work  on  a  new  edifice  com- 
menced. Rev.  A.  D.  McCool  succeeded  Rev.  J. 
Soule.  In  the  spring  of  1858  the  old  church  build- 
ing was  sold,  and  the  basement  of  the  new  one  used 
for  worship.  At  the  Conference  held  in  1858,  Rev. 
Henry  Summers  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder. 
In  1859  the  name  of  the  Conference  was  changed 
from  Peoria  to  Central  Illinois  Conference,  and  the 
name  of  Monmouth  given  to  the  district.  Rev.  R. 

C.  Rowley  was    appointed   for    Monmouth   station, 
Rev.  O.  C.  Price  was  sent  to  Monmouth  as  pastor 
and  Rev.  John  Morey  succeeded  Rev.  H.  Summers 
as  Presiding  Elder  for  Monmouth  district,  in  the  fall 
of  1 86  r.     Rev.  John  P.   Brooks  was  appointed  next 
to  succeed  Rev.  O.  C.  Price,  but  having  been  elected 
Superintendent  of  Public    Instruction,   he    resigned 
the   charge.     Rev.  J.    Tubbs  was  appointed   to  fill 
out  the  term,  ;    Rev.  C.  Springer  was  sent  to  Mon- 
mouth,  and   Rev.  Francis  Smith  appointed  as  Pre- 
siding   Elder.     In    1865   Rev.    J.  S.  Cummings  was 
appointed  to  the  charge  at  Monmouth,  and    at  the 
close   of  this    year  was    made    Presiding    Elder  at 
Onarga  district  and    Rev.   E.   Wasmuth  appointed 
to  Monmouth,  with  Rev.  W.  H.  Hunter  as  Presiding 
Elder.     Mr.  Wasmuth  remained   three  years,  being 
the  first  pastor  to  remain  on  the  charge  that  length  of 
time.     In  the  fall  of  1868  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
A.  Magee,  with   Rev.   Richard  Haney  Presiding  El- 
der.    In  1870   Rev.  P.  Warren  was  appointed  pastor 
of  Monmouth  station.     He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
G.  Evans,  who  remained  until  the  fall  of  1872,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.   William   Underwood.     Mr. 
Underwood  was  followed  by  Rev.  S.  Jones,  and  Rev. 
J.   S.   Cummings  Presiding  Elder.      Mr.    Jones  re- 
mained two  years  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.   John 

D.  Smith.       During  Mr.   Jones'  term  the  parsonage 
was   erected,  at   a  cost   of  $r,8co.     Mr.  Smith  re- 
mained  two  years  and   was   followed  by  Rev.  J.  S. 
Cummings,  and  A.  K.  Falis  was  appointed  Presiding 
Elder.     In    1880  Rev.    S.   W.   Barnes    was    sent  in 
charge,  remaining  two  years,  when  he  was  followed 
by   Rev.  R.  G.  Pearce,  who  remained  one  year  and 


772 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


was  succeeded  by  Rev.  G.  R.  Palmer,  who  remained 
one  year,  when,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he 
was  obliged  to  resign.  In  May,  1885,  Rev.  George 
C.  Wilding  was  transferred  from  the  West  Virginia 
Conference  and  stationed  at  Monmouth.  He  is  the 
present  pastor,  and  Rev.  M.  C.  Bowlens  the  Presid- 
ing Elder  of  the  district.  When  Mr.  Wilding  took 
charge  of  the  Church  he  found  it  in  rather  a  disor- 
ganized condition,  and  in  some  financial  embarrass- 
ment. He  has  re-stored  harmony  in  the  Church  and 
also  pat  it  in  a  good  financial  condition.  The  mem- 
bership of  the  Church  at  present  is  304. 

The  Trinity  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  as  a 
Mission  July  15,  1878,  with  13  members.  The  ves- 
try were  co  nposed  of  W.  P.  Rupp,  John  W.  Litten 
E.  I.  Camm  and  V.  H.  Webb.  The  church  building 
was  erected  in  1883,  and  was  consecrated  on  the 
22d  of  November,  of  the  same  year.  The  corner- 
stone of  this  chapel  was  laid  July  3d,  and  com- 
pleted at  a  cost  of  $3,600,  including  lot.  This  soci- 
ety has  been  supplied  by  Rev.  George  H.  Higgins, 
of  Galesburg,  C.  W.  Leffingwell  and  E.  H.  Rudd,  of 
Knoxville.  Service  once  a  month.  During  the  in- 
terval lay  service  is  held  by  Rev.  V.  H.  Webb.  The 
first  installed  clergyman  was  Rev.  W.  F.  Lloyd,  serv- 
ing 18  months,  commencing  January,  1881.  Follow- 
ing Mr.  Lloyd  was  Rev.  E.  H.  Rudd,  with  monthly 
service.  He  served  one  year  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  R.  G.  Walker,  who  remained  with  the  Church  six 
months,  with  service  every  Sunday.  Following  Mr. 
Walker  was  Mr.  Rudd,  who  served  uniil  September, 
1884,  and  was  the  last  regularly  installed  pastor, 
Rev.  V.  H.  Webb,  who  was  ordained  a  Deacon  June 
23,  1885,  has  had  charge  of  the  Church.  Since  his 
installment  there  has  been  regular  service  every  Sun- 
day, either  by  a  clergyman  or  a  lay-reader.  Present 
communicant  membership,  35.  A  Sunday-school 
is  connected  with  the  Church  numbering  50  schol- 
ars. Mr.  Webb  presides  over  this  school.  The 
present  vestry  is  V.  H.  Webb,  E.  I.  Camm,  John  S. 
Spriggs,  James  R.  Marshall  and  E.  C.  Morgan. 

United  Presbyterian  Church. — The  first  society  of 
this  Church  was  organized  May  9,  1853,  by  Rev. 
Robert  Ross,  with  21  members.  It  was  organized 
in  the  south  room  of  the  Academy,  where  they  held 
their  services  until  1856,  when  they  used  the  old 
College  Chapel.  Rev.  D.  A.  Wallace,  from  East 
Boston,  Mass.,  was  their  first  regular  pastor,  who  was 


installed  the  first  Sabbath  in  October,  1856.  Mr. 
Wallace  served  the  Church  until  1860,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Alex.  Young,  who  had  charge 
until  1862.  Rev.  D.  G.  Bradford  accepted  a  call 
and  commenced  his  services  Nov.  26,  1863,  and  con- 
tinued until  August,  1867,  when  he  resigned.  In  the 
spring  of  1868  Rev.  R.  B.  Ewing  took  charge  of  the 
Church  and  remained  until  June  i,  1870.  Rev.  J. 
G.  Barnes  was  the  next  pastor,  who  entered  upon  his 
duties  the  second  Sabbath  in  May  following,  and 
served  the  society  until  he  died,  which  was  in  1880. 
Mr.  Barnes  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  P.  H.  Hanna, 
the  present  pastor.  The  first  house  of  worship  for 
this  congregation  was  completed  in  1858  and  was 
dedicated  July  4th,  the  same  year.  They  had  at  the 
dedication  a  union  service,  Rev.  John  Scott  deliver- 
ing the  first  address.  It  was  a  frame  building,  cost- 
ing about  $6,000.  They  have  a  membership  at 
present  of  436,  with  a  Sabbath-school  numbering  250 
scholars.  A  committee  has  been  recently  appointed 
to  take  into  consideration  the  construction  of  a  new  1 
church  edifice  in  the  near  future. 

Second  United  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized^ 
Oct.  25,  1862,  by  Rev.  D.  A.  Wallace  and  Elders'! 
Wm.  Goudy  and  W.  J.  Thompson,  with  a  member- 
ship of  19.  At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  Nov. 
12,  1862,  it  was  decid.d  to  call  Rev.  Alex.  Young 
and  D.  A.  Wallace  as  pastors.  The  call  was  ac- 
cepted and  the  Church  was  served  by  these  gentle- 
men for  several  years.  At  the  close  of  the  year, 
1868,  Mr.  Wallace  retired  and  Mr.  Young  was 
retained  as  pastor,  and  remained  with  the  society 
until  July,  1871.  The  first  service  of  the  Church, 
and  all  the  meetings  were  held  at  the  residence  of 
Mr.  A.  Y.  Graham,  until  June,  1863.  From  this 
date  on,  and  until  their  church  building  was  com- 
pleted, the  meetings  were  held  in  the  College  Chapel. 
Their  house  of  worship  was  completed  in  the  spring 
of  1867.  It  was  a  frame  structure,  built  on  the  site 
of  the  present  edifice,  and  cost  about  $to,ooo.  It  was 
torn  down  to  make  room  for  the  new  church  in  the 
fall  of  1879.  The  new  building  was  completed  in, 
1880,  and  dedicated  Dec.  i2th,  of  the  same  year, 
by  Rev.  W.  T.  Campbell,  assisted  by  Revs.  Alex. 
Young,  D.  M.  Ure  and  J.  B.  McMichael.  Mr.  Young 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Ure,  August,  1872,  who 
served  as  pastor  until  August,  1874.  November  28, 
Rev.  W.  T.  Campbell  received  a  call,  which  he  ac- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


773 


cepted,  and  on  Feb.  28,  1875,  was  duly  installed  as 
pastor. 

The  present  edifice  is  situated  on  the  corner  of 
East  Garden  and  College  Streets,  and  was  completed 
at  a  cost  of  about  $20,000,  in  1880,  and  was  dedica- 
ted Sept.  12,  the  same  year.  It  is  a  large,  commo- 
dious brick  structure,  with  an  auditorium  54  x  84 
feet,  and  is  well  finished.  In  the  basement  there  is 
a  lecture  room,  two  Sunday-school  rooms,  a  study 
and  a  kitchen.  The  building  is  heated  by  a  furnace. 
Mr.  Campbell  is  the  present  pastor  and  has  a  con- 
gregation numbering  350  souls.  A  Sunday-school 
numbering  255  pupils  is  one  of  the  interesting  fea- 
tures of  this  Church.  In  connection  there  is  a 
Ladies'  Missionary  Society,  who  are  laboring  for  the 
salvation  of  the  heathen. 

Christian  Church  of  Monmouth. — Soon  after  the 
village  of  Monmouth  was  laid  out  it  was  found  that 
20  believers  in  this  faith  resided  adjacent  to  the 
town,  and,  on  the  3ist  day  of  March,  1839,  a  meet- 
f  ing  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  con- 
gregation. At  that  meeting  Elders  Pliny  and  Livy 
1  Hatchett  and  James  R.  Ross  were  present  and  as- 
7  sisted  in  forming  an  organization.  Elijah  Davidson 
was  chosen  Clerk  and  Deacon,  and  Alexander  Da- 
vidson, Elder.  There  were  19  members  forming 
this  first  congregation  :  Hezekiah  Davidson,  Eleanor, 
Alexander  and  Rachel  Davidson,  William  C.  and 
Ann  Hall,  William  C.  and  Rebecca  Butler,  James 
S.  Hodgens,  Jacob  L.  and  Nancy  Burgan,  Elijah, 
Nancy,  Gamelia  Ann,  Solomon  S.,  Thomas  H.,  Eliz- 
abeth and  William  B.  Davidson.  During  the  year 
1839  several  meetings  were  held,  at  which  the  ques- 
tion of  building  a  house  of  worship  was  discussed, 
and  a  committee  appointed  to  secure  funds  for  this 
purpose,  the  result  of  which  was  that  a  church  build- 
ing was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  some  $800.  It  was  a 
frame  structure,  and  located  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  block  upon  which  the  Baldwin  House  now 
stands.  On  the  igth  of  April,  1843,  a  meeting  was 
called  to  choose  additional  officers,  when  Elijah 
Davidson  and  James  Hodgens  were  chosen  Elders, 
and  John  H.  Sparling,  Solomon  S.  Davidson  and 
David  Smith,  Deacons.  On  the  4th  of  November, 
1843,  N.  A.  Rankin,  Elijah  Davidson  and  Ira  F.  M. 
Butler  were  chosen  Trustees.  In  1861  a  new  build- 
ing was  erected  and  dedicated  by  Rev.  Isaac  Errett, 
of  Cincinnati,  who  delivered  an  able  address  on  the 
occasion.  The  present  number  of  members  is  136. 


The  Church  has  enjoyed  many  seasons  of  prosperity, 
adding  largely  to  its  membership,  but  emigration 
westward  has  from  year  to  year  depleted  its  num- 
bers. Since  the  organization  services  have  been  held 
every  Sunday  morning  and  evening,  and  a  prosper- 
ous Sunday-school  is  connected  with  the  Church, 
which  was  organized  about  the  time  the  congregation 
,was.  The  following  pastors  have  served  the  Church 
since  its  organization :  Revs.  Pliny  and  Livy  Hatchett, 
James  R.  Ross,  Alex.  Davidson,  A.  J.  Kane,  James  E. 
Gaston,  T.  J.  Matlock,  John  Errett,  Lawrence  S. 
Wallace,  John  LaGrange,  J.  M.  Williams,  A.  P. 
Aten,  F.  M.  Bruner.'N  E.  Corey  and  J.  W.  Kelsey, 
who  is  the  present  pastor.  They  have  a  plain,  neat 
and  substantial  church  building,  and  the  congrega- 
tion is  in  a  thriving  condition. 

The  Third  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Mon- 
mouth, was  organized  in  May,  1868.  During  this 
year  a  church  building  was  put  up  at  a  cost  of  $2,- 
500.  Rev.  John  N.  Henderson  was  the  first  pastor, 
and  served  the  Church  untill  1872.  They  had  sup- 
plies then  until  1874,  when  Rev.  Daniel  Inches  as- 
sumed the  pastoral  duties,  and  remained  until  Au- 
gust, 1876.  At  this  time  the  Church  was  disbanded 
by  the  Presbytery.  A  Union  Mission  School  has 
been  organized  here  which  is  under  the  control  of 
the  Second  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  H. 
H.  Bell  is  Superintendent  of  this  school,  and  has 
about  175  scholars. 

Unity  Church.  This  society  was  organized  in  1882 
under  the  auspices  of  the  members  of  the  Unitarian 
and  Universalist  Churches,  with  Rev.  Arthur  Bevis 
as  their  preacher.  They  purchased  the  old  Presby- 
terian building  and  used  that  as  a  house  of  worship. 
There  were  about  25  members  at  the  formation  of 
this  society.  Mr.  Bevis  remained  two  years  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  K.  Gibson,  who  remained 
until  June,  1885,  when  he  terminated  his  relations 
with  the  society.  Since  Mr.  Gibson  left  they  have 
had  no  pastor,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  they  will  ever 
have  another,  as  the  organization  was  effected  only 
by  great  effort  on  the  part  of  a  few  of  its  members. 

The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the 
Augustana  Synod,  was  organized  in  1859  by  Rev.  T. 
N.  Hasselquist,  then  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  Galesburg,  111.  The  members  of  this  first  organ- 
ization were  as  follows:  John  Beck.  Mons  Cassel, 
Ake  Nelson,  Louis  Nelson,  James  Olsson,  James 
Skibber,  Olof  Johnson,  Truls  Swensson,  Jorgen  Han- 


774 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


sen  and  their  families.  Services  were  held  in  private 
houses  by  Rev.  T.  N".  Hasselquist,  until  1866. 
From  1866  to  1868  they  were  conducted  by  Rev.  A. 
W.  Dahlston.  During  this  year  the  Church  was  re- 
organized and  services  were  held  in  the  Court  House, 
in  the  basement  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
also  in  the  second  story  of  John  Beck's  shoe  store. 
In  1870,  the  church  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
about  $1,600,  and  in  1871  it  was  dedicated.  From 
1870  to  1875  services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev. 
N.  T.  Winquist  and  other  ministers  in  the  vicinity. 
The  first  installed  pastor  was  Rev.  A.  V.  Holmgren, 
who  took  charge  of  the  congregation  in  1876.  He 
was  succeeded  in  1877  by  Elias  Peterson,  who  left  in 
1878.  From  thence  until  1885,  services  were  con- 
ducted by  professors  and  students  from  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  Rock  Island,  111.  On  July  i,  1885, 
Rev.  J.  E.  Floren  took  charge  and  is  the  present  pas- 
tor. Mr.  Floren  was  born  in  Sweden,  in  1859,  and 
came  to  this  country,  in  1872.  He  was  graduated 
at  Augustana  College,  in  1^83,  and  at  the  Theolo- 
gical Seminary  at  Rock  Island,  in  1885  ;  and  was  or- 
dained in  Rockford,  111.,  June  28,  1885.  Under  the 
administration  of  this  'talented  young  man  this 
Church  is  rapidly  increasing  in  numbers  and  stand- 
ing. They  have  a  Sabbath-school  of  about  30  mem- 
bers. With  the  society  there  is  a  parsonage  costing 
about  $1,500. 

African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  was  organ- 
ized in  1868,  in  a  hall  on  Main  Street.  Some  12 
members  were  present  at  the  organization,  of  whom 
Francis  and  Zachariah  Price  and  A.  H.  Knight  were 
the  leaders.  In  1869,  they  erected  and  dedicated 
their  house  of  worship,  which  cost,  including  lot, 
about  $800.  They  had  supplies  for  several  years, 
when  the  Rev.  S.  F.  Jones  came  in  and  took  charge. 
A  large  Sabbath-school  is  connected  with  this  organ- 
ization which  belongs  to  the  Circuit  of  Monmouth 
and  Macomb.  They  have  at  present  about  35  mem- 
bers, who  are  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  W.  G.  Reyn- 
hart. 

African  Baptist  Church,  was  organized  in  1865, 
at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Miller.  They  had  only  a  few 
members  at  the  time  of  the  organization.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Graves  was  their  first  pastor.  Two  years  later  they 
erected  a  church  building  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  At 
present  their  membership  numbers  30,  with  Sabbath- 
school  of  35.  They  have  no  regular  pastor  but  are 
served  by  preachers  from  outside. 


Immaculate  Conception  (Catholic)  Church.  Rev. 
James  Ryan  was  the  pioneer  Father  of  the  Church 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  Services  were  first  held 
after  the  manner  of  the  primeval  days,  under  a  cot- 
ton-wood tree  about  the  center  of  what  is  now  the 
city  of  Monmouih.  This  service  had  this  pleasing 
feature — it  was  voluntary  and  of  choice,  not  forced 
as  of  necessity,  for  fear  of  violence  as  in  the  days 
when  persecution  was  rank  and  dominant.  This 
little  band  of  pilgrims  representing  some  15  families 
assembled  about  thirty  years  ago,  as  stated,  under  the 
cotton-wood  tree,  with  Father  Ryan  from  Galesburg 
as  their  spiritual  counsellor.  They  afterward  held 
their  meetings  in  a. log  cabin,  the  home  of  Stephen 
Cannon  ;  subsequently  in  the  Court  House  with  Rev. 
Michael  Powers,  the  Missionary  in  charge.  This 
was  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago.  While  this  society 
was  under  the  charge  of  Father  Powers,  the  first 
church  building  was  completed,  which  was  in  1864, 
at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  At  this  time  there  was  a  mem- 
bership of  35  families.  Soon  after  the  completion  of  ^ 
the  church,  Rev.  D.  Bowles  took  charge  and  was  the 
first  resident  pastor.  He  added  to  the  Church  prop- 
erty by  the  purchase  of  a  parsonage.  Father  Bowles 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  James  Halpin,  who  founded  J 
the  Churches  at  Alexis,  Raritan  and  Keithsburg.  The 
membership  was  increased  under  Father  Halpin's  J 
administration  to  70  families.  Rev.  Thomas  O'Far- 
rell  succeeded  Mr.  Halpin,  remaining  three  years. 
He  was  followed  by  Rev.  William  Murphy  who 
served  the  Church  three  years  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  F.  C.  Duffy,  the  present  pastor,  who 
took  charge  in  1883.  Under  Father  Duffy's  able 
and  energetic  pastorate  the  present  grand  church 
edifice  was  erected  and  the  membership  largely  in- 
creased. Lots  were  purchased  on  Broadway  west 
of  the  Court  House  at  a  cost  of  $3,75°,  upon  which 
the  finest  church  structure  in  the  country  was  erected, 
costing  $22,000.  It  was  dedicated  Oct.  5,  1884,  by 
Bishop  Spaulding  of  Peoria.  This  is  one  of  the 
best  constructed  buildings  in  the  county.  Its  archi- 
tecture is  graceful  and  complete  in  its  style.  The 
ground  was  first  tiled  and  then  a  cement  bed  was 
made,  upon  which  a  stone  foundation  was  built.  The 
superstructure  is  constructed  of  Chicago  pressd  brick 
trimmed  with  Ohio  stone.  A  graceful  spire  towers 
up  into  the  heavens,  surmounting  the  whole.  The 
inside  is  neatly  finished  and  furnished  with  beauti- 
fully frescoed  walls  and  ceiling.  The  altar  is  con- 


WARREN  COUNTY. 


775 


structed  with  elegance  and    classical    taste.      The 
present  membership  is  about  150  families. 

Baptist  Church. — As  the  ALBUM  of  Warren  County 
appears  with  the  history  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Monmouth  left  out,  we  feel  it  a  duty  we  not  only 
owe  to  our  patrons,  but  to  ourselves,  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing statement  and  place  the  responsibility  where 
it  properly  belongs  :  The  historian,  in  gathering  up 
material  for  Church  history,  called,  as  the  natural 
and  first  place  to  go,  on  the  Pastor  of  this  Church, 
by  whom  he  was  referred  to  one  of  the  Deacons  of 
the  Church,  who  was  Steward  or  Clerk,  and  had  the 
records.  The  Pastor  knew  but  little  about  the 
Church,  having  been  Pastor,  as  he  stated,  only  two 
years  and  a  half !  After  repeated  solicitations  from 
the  Clerk,  and  much  importuning,  the  historian  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  county  without  any  data  regard- 
ing this  Church,  and  with  the  belief  that  an  account 
of  it  was  not  desired  by  those  in  authority.  After 
leaving  the  county,  the  parties  having  the  records  of 
the  Church  were  further  solicited  by  the  historian 
through  the  mails,  for  the  necessary  data,  but  with- 
out success.  Hence,  having  failed  to  procure  any 
information  from  the  parries  upon  whom  we  had  to 
[  depend,  and  to  such  as  we  always  look  for  infortn- 
I  ation  regarding  Churches,  this  Baptist  Church  has 
no  representation  in  this  book. 

MONMOUTH  CEMETERY. 

It  would  seem  that  when  the  people  of  Monmouth 


first  laid  out  grounds  for  the  interment  of  their  dead, 
they  did  not  expect  their  town  to  grow  very  much, 
for  they  only  set  aside  an  acre  for  this  purpose,  and 
in  what  is  now  the  settled  portion  of  the  town.  This 
cemetery  is  now  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  29.  As  a  natural 
sequence  to  the  growth  of  the  town,  this  ground  was 
in  a  few  years  all  taken  up  and  it  became  necessary 
to  have  new  and  larger  grounds. 

In  1858,  a  new  cemetery  was  raid  out.  It  was  lo- 
cated on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  20.  In  1880  an  addition  was  made  to 
this  from  the  southwest  corner  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  20.  The  ground  now  enclosed  for  the 
cemetery  embraces  about  20  acres.  It  is  rolling  and 
beautifully  located,  having  rare  natural  advantages 
for  this  purpose. 

The  interments  here  are  more  numerous  than 
would  be  supposed,  calculating  the  time  of  its  loca- 
tion and  the  population. 

There  are  many  costly  monuments,  and  most  of 
the  tombstones  display  refinement  and  taste.  The 
lots  are  usually  well  cared  for  and  in  the  season  of 
flowers,are  adorned  with  those  emblems  which  speak  ' 
to  the  heart  and  move  it  to  deeper  emotions  than 
the  cold  marble. 

If  some  of  the  tombstones  were  righted,  the  grass 
and  weeds  removed,  and  the  unsightly  fences  around 
the  lots  taken  away,  it  would  add  much  to  the  beauty 
of  this  cemetery. 


Abbey,  George 197 

Adams,  John 23 

Adams,  John  Quincy 39 

Adcock,  Joseph  W 618 

,.    Adcock,  William 640 

Alexander,  E.  D 642 

Alexander,  J.  E 484 

Allard,  David 400 

Allen,  Wm.  A 512 

Almond,  Wm.    S 255 

Amos,  James   E 395 

Anderson,  Perry 502 

Armstrong,  A.  W.,  M.  D 418 

Arthur,    Chester  A 99 

Arthurs,  James  F 198 

Atchison,  Capt.  E.  C 454 

Aylesworth,  Flora  A 388 


Babcock,  Draper 218 

Babcock,  Elijah  C 221 

Bagley,  James 448 

Bailey,  J 261 

Baldwin,  Hiram 536 

Baldwin,  Jacob 411 

Baldwin, M.  S 587 

Barber,  J.  W 215 

Barnes,  John 402 

Beck,  R.  A 210 

Beckner,  George  W 309 

Bellinger,  George  W 576 

Bengtson,  Olof 268 

Bennett,  John 342 

Bennett,  Lorenzo 400 

Bennett,  Mrs.  M.  M 424 

Beveridge,  John  L     171 

Billings,  A.  B 318 

Billingsley,  David  S 324 

Bird,  Daniel   230 

Birdsall,  P.  D 654 

Bissell,  William  H 151 

Black,  A.  H 353 

Blackburn    Charles  E. 596 


Blayney,  John  C 534 

Blodgett,  Edward  L 47* 

BIythe,  J.  C .554 

Bolon,  J.  W 457 

Bond,  J.  W 189 

Bond,  Major  John  C 189 

Bond,  Jesse  W 616 

Bond,  Shadrach m 

Bond,  W.  G 485 

Booth,  Franklin 244 

Boyd,  Drury  B 287 

Boyd,  Drury  B    639 

Boyd,  W.  T 260 

Bradshaw,  Charles  O 286 

Brent,  David  C 572 

Brent,G.  W 638 

Brent,  W.  P 645 

Brent.  Paul 330 

Brewer,  J.  W.,  M.  D 604 

Bristol,  C.  B 663 

Brooks.  Chester     249 

Brooks,  W.  H 205 

Bruen,  John  N 460 

Bruington,  George 648 

Bruington,  N.  P 464 

Bruner, George  F 528 

Buchanan,  James 75 

Bullman,  Theodore  F   507 

Burchfield  J.  G 567 

Burford,  A 381 

Burke,  J.H 638 

Burt,D.  W  518 

Bute,  Cyrus 544 

Byers,  Jacob 253 


Cable,  Ezra 229 

Cable,  W.   H 335 

C  alder,  J 571 

Caldwell,  John 242 

Campbell,  James .431 

Campbell,  JohnP 199 

Capps,  I    M 441 

Capps,  Orville 326 

Capps,  T.  L 224 


Carmichael,  C.  A 538 

Car*  J.O 317 

Carson,  Walter 505 

Catt,   Jesse 446 

Cayton,  A.  J 494 

Chapin,  N.  A 573 

Chapman,  A.  A 369 

Chapman,  Orson  G 299 

Chatterton,  Mrs.  Sarah  J 327 

Christie,  I.L 515 

Clark,  John  S . .  .763 

Clarke,  E.  J 578 

Clarke,  T.  S 501 

Claycomb  G.  W S48 

Cleveland,  S.  G  rover 103 

Coats,  J.  W 620 

Coddingtonj  John 472 

Coghill,  J.   W 281 

Coles,  Edward '.115 

Colver,  Charles  S 304 

Conlee,  J.  W 667 

Cowan,  William. 583 

Cowick,  Levi  B 202 

Crandall,  Emery  H 360 

Crane,  S.  B -  .233 

Crawford,  S.  K.,  M.  D 650 

Crosby,  William 348 

Cullom,  Shelby  M.... 175 

Cummings,  J.  K 321 


D 


Davidson,  J.  W 664 

Davis,  L.   B 503 

Dawdy,  W.  H 644 

Day,  Coridon  D 528 

Diffenbaugh,  Samuel 526 

Dixson,  Eli ; 646 

Dixson,  Stephen 359 

Douglas,  H .  S 200 

Douglas,  Samuel 566 

Douty,  L.  S 394 

Duffey,  Rev.  F.  C. 774 

Duffield,  David 366 

Dull,C.  M 270 

Duncan,  Joseph 131 

Dunkle,  D.  D   595 


E 


Edelman,  Leonard  W 429 

Edwards,   Ninian 119 

Edwards,  William 406 

Eldred,  Arnold   431 

Eldred,  Sarah  M 493 

Eldredg,   Truman 262 

Elliott,  R.   A 651 

Emans,  E.  P 276    ** 

Evans,  James  A 279 

Ewing,  W.  L.  D 127 


Field,  J.I 341 

Fillmore,  Millard 67 

Firoved,  James  P. 384 

Fish,  George  W 303 

Flake,  John 666 

Fletcher,  Charles  S 420 

Ford,  Thomas 139 

Forwood,  B.  F 227 

Frantz,   H.  M 234 

Frantz,  J.   H 317 

Frantz,  W.   H 195 

Freeman,  Mary  K 637 

French,  Augustus  C     143 


G 


Galbraith,  James 532 

Gallaugher,  William 533 

Galloway,  C 667 

Gardner,  Benjamin  H 481 

Gardner,  James 628 

Garfield,  James  A 95 


Gerlaw.R.  W     357 

Gibson,  R.  A 629 

Gibson,  Samuel 607 

Giddings,  H.  C 306 

Gilliland,  H.    R 547 

Gilliland,   S 585 

Gilmore,  James  T 291 

Gilmore,  J.  H 587 

Gilmore,  L.  H 270 

Glasgow,  James  L 602 

Glenn,  Hon.  John  J 636 

Godfrey,    liurton 371 

Gordon,  John  A 458 

Gordon,  N 577 

Gossett,  George 298 

Gowdy,  Joseph  S 199 

Graham,  A.  R 47= 

Graham,  D   668 

Graham,  J.  R    275 

Grabam,  Samuel 552 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 87 

Grigg,  John  D, 294 

Grooms,  Samuel  K 330 

Guilinger,  J.  F.    . . , 430 


H 


Hall,    Frank  L 554 

Hall,  Leonard 280 

i  Hall,  Mrs.   Mary   436 

.HaII,M.  W 557 
Hall,  Wm.  E 583 
Hallam,  I).  M 281 
Hamilton,  John  M "79 

Hamilton,  Rev.  G.  W 658 

Hamilton,  S.  M.,  M.  D 316 

Haney,  Richard 581 

Hanna,  William 613 

Hanna,  J.  R 505 

Ha rdin,  Chancy   ..    363 

Harding,  H.  G 491 

Harding,  Gen.  A.    C    541 

Harrington,  H.  I..,  M.  D 487 

Harrison,  Wm.  H t.   51 

Hartman,  J.  T 608 

Hayden,  I).  S 574 

Hayden,  Jacob 418 

Hayes,  Alfred .  .306 

Hayes,  Rutherford  li 91 

Hebbard,  C.  A -.654 

Heinzman,  Frederick 659 

Henderson,  S.  S 210 

Henry,    R.   H 503 

Hess,  Thos.  M.,  M.  D 388 

Hibbard,  Luther  C 486 

Higgins,  Capt.  J.  P 557 

Hodgson,  John   465 

Hogan,  H.  M 300 

Hogue.J.C 620 

Holeman,  H.    13 659 

Hole  man,  Reuben 358 

Holliday,  W.  S.,  M.  D 524 

Holloway,  Robert 623 

Holman,  Perrine    360 

Hoornbeek,  Jeremiah  ....... .315 

Hoornbeek,  Dr.  Nathaniel  B-445 


Houlton,  E.  R 648 

Houlton,  F.    R..    190 

Hughen,  Elisha  J 425 

Huston,  S.  W 383 

Howk,  Capt.  R.  A 652 


Ingcrsoll,  Hiram 348 

Irwin",  James  C 628 

Ivey,  John  J 345 


Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jared,  Israel   269 

Jefferson,  Thomas 27 

Jenkins,    Isaac 200 

Jenks,  W.    B 206 

Jewell,  Henry  L 436 

Jewell, Jacob 578 

Jewell,  John 401 

Johnson,  Andrew 83 

Johnson,  Wm.  D 597 

Johnston,    E.  C 304 

Jones,    Furney 469 

Jones,  N.  W 666 

Jones,  Parker  S.. 498 

Jones,  Wm.  P 365 

K 

Karns,  Philip  J 205 

Kellogg,  Oscar  N 588 

Kelsey,  John    414 

Kelsey,  James 255 

Kettering,   Benj.  T 323 

Kidder,  Almon 377 

Kidder,  Henry  H 487 

Kidder,  Larnard 426 

Kidder,   Nathaniel 298 

Kidder,  William  O 311 

Kirby,  I.  B 198 

Kir  by,  Joseph  us 208 

Klingingsmith,  Mrs.  Mary  C.2o8 
Kobler,  G.  J. 494 


Laferty,  Wm 440 

Lahann,   R 662 

Lair,  Wm.  M 492 

Lanphere,  J.  E 478 

Lathrop,  Julius  T 275 

Lee,  Dr.  J 407 

Lester,  Lambert 660 

Lewey,  Alfred 526 

^ewis,    Hon .  H  .    M 285 

Jncoln,  Abraham 70 

.inn,  E.   C.,  M.    D 413 

>ippy,  J.    H 247 

Evermore,   Derrick 459 

Lo rimer,  John 655 

Loudon,  Wm.    F 656 


Lowther,  John  F 535 

Lucas,  J.  C 217 

Lusk,  J-  W 615 

Lusk,  Lem  M 619 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Maley,    Levi   543 

Malony,  Joseph  B 527 

Marshall,  Hugh,  M.JD 601 

Martin,  Joseph .293 

Martin,  H  ugh. .  342 

Mather,  Miss  Desire  E 382 

Matson,  W.  St.  Clair 516 

Matthews,  Rev.  Robert  C 522 

M  atteson ,  B .    P 294 

Matteson,  Colby 223 

Matteson,  Joel  A 147 

Matthews,  John  W 537 

McClanahan,  John 653 

McClannahan,   j  .  A.,  M  .  D.286 
McClanahan,  John  P.,  M  .  D.55i 

McConnell,  Rev.   W.  T 603 

McCosh,  George  G 511 

McCoy,  William 523 

McCurdy,  R.   W 288 

MeKnight,  John  A    565 

McMahill,  George  W 3S2 

McMichael,J.B.,  A.M.,D.D.6o4 

McNeil  C 645 

M cOniston    James  H 438 

McWilliams,  John  T 419 

M  each  am,  F.   W. 216 

M  each  um,   Harrison 322 

Meacham,  Wm 483 

Meadows,  Thomas 661 

Meginnis,  J.    B 625 

Miles,    Henry  C 568 

Miles,  John 497 

Miller,    John   A 513 

Miller,  J.   W 

Miller,  William    D 563 

Mitchell,  William  A 478 

Mtnroe,  James 35 

Moore,    Robert 647 

M oore,  Wm .   V.,  Sr 279 

Morey,  G.   W 330 

Morford,   Rebecca 248 

Morgan,    James  W 574 

Morris,  A.    K 626 

Morris,  F.    K.,M.    D 206 

Morris.  J.  C 651 

Morris,  Easton 280 

Morris,  Thomas  J 311 

Morse,  David   E 577 

Murdock,  J.  H 291 


N 


Nance,  R.  H  . 649 

Nash,  J.    IJ 625 

Nesbit,  John   A 235 

Nevins,  J.    R 446 

Nicol,  W  J 352 

Nisely,  G.  W .'420 


777 


O 

Ogden,   Rufus 435 

Oglesby,  Richard  J 163 

Osborn,  Mrs.  Mary 477 

Owen,  James 452 

Owens,  J.   F 405 


Paddock,    Merrit 453 

Page,  Charles  T 516 

Paine,  John  Edward 407 

Palmer,  G .  W 222 

Palmer,  John  M    167 

Palmer,   Schuyler 259 

Parker,  A     G   211 

Parker,  Barzillai 396 

Parrish,  P.  R 417 

Parry,  Hon.  D.   D 235 

Parsons,  H.  C  366 

Patch,  L.   D 668 

Patch,  William 243 

Pattee,  Henry   H 537 

Patton,  N.  Thomas 433 

Patterson,  Hon  .   Azro. , 328 

Patton,   RobertS 558 

Paxton,  William  S 476 

Pearce,  TheodoreC 354 

Perry,  L.  B     310 

Perry,  Marvin 346     *c 

Perry,  Timothy  P.,  Jr 525 

Phelps,  Delos  Porter .591 

Phelps,  Porter 633 

Phelps,  DeWitt 315 

Phillips,  A.  S.... 299 

Pierce,  C.  H 640 

Pierce,  Clement 382 

Pierce,  Franklin 71 

Pine,  Frank  J 546 

Pine,  Joseph 657 

Pinkerton,  Wm.  M 644 

Pittman,  W.   E.,  M.   D 639 

Polk,  James  K . .    59 

Pollock,  James   F 438 

Porter,  Hon  .    John 626 

Porter,  Joshua 333 

Porter,  T.   J 333 

Porter,  William   E ..465 

Porter,  Wm 630 

Parsons,  Charles   Henry 366 

Postlewait,   C.    W 498 

Pratt,   IsaacL.... 641 

Pressly,  Wm,  P 665 

Pruitt,  Willis 201 

Q 

(Juinby,   Ivory .375 


Randall.  Asal  I1 556 

Randall,  O 370 


—  A' 


778                                                                            INDEX. 

9 
Randall    Dr   William               64 

Sawtell,    Mrs.    Jemima  228 

Sykes,  William  P  267 

Van  Tuyl,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  495 

Rankin,  C.   G  324 

Rankin,  George  C  532 

Seymour,  A.   G  212  . 
Shaw    D     J                                   351 

T 

w 

Wagy,  Lemuel  448 

Ray    J    C                 *                  658 

Ray    M     B                                  370 

Sh   Id       '  H" 

Ray    Orville                                  565 

Sh             '   W'l 

Taylor,  Warren  K.,  M.  D.  ..506 
Teare,  Henry  228 

Rayburn,  W.   R    309 

Reed,  John  T    442 

Shultz,  R.  H  254 

Reid,  Andrew  J  341 
Rees    M  .  S    .  .    .                          643 

Shultz,  C  .254 

Wallace,  James  H.,  M.  D....52i 

Reichard,  John    T  536 

Thayer,  George.  ..    372 
Thomas,  Timothy    -...218 

Watson,  James  598 
Weakley,  T.  A  288 

Reynolds,  John  123 

Simmons,  Andrew   W  482 

Webster,  John  R.,  M.  D  439 
Weir,  William  S           .                605 

Rhinehart.   D.  W  211 

Sisson,  Asahel  D.  B  390 

Thomson,  James  F  306 

Whelan,  J.  S  66t 

Riggs,  Jesse    353 
Ritchey,  Andrew  Jackson  389 
'Roberts,  Peyton  615 
Roberts,  Ransom  425 

Smith,  James  256 

White,  J.  M                                   207 

Tinkham,  Joseph  423 

Wickersham,  E.I  236 

Sofield,  J.    B  339 
Sorenson,   Frederick  451 

Tinkham,  Mrs.  Cordelia  A..  .585 

Wilson,  W.   W  224 

Trulock,  Henry  F.  402 
Tucker,  Rev.  Anson  614 
Tucker,  John  657 

Wonderly,  John  247 

Robinson,  G.   W  201 

Soule,  Melville  C  553 

Wood,  John  155 
Wood,   Samuel  303 

Speakman,  William  P  209 

Turnbull,  J.   C.,  Sr  327 

Wood,  William  598 
Wood,  Cyrus  J  197 

Rockwell    Alfred  H               •    -393 

I            H 

lurnbull,  Captain  John  M..6i7 

Rockwell,  Albert  J  411 
Rodgers,  A  372 

Spriggs,  John  S.,  Jr  .535 
Spriggs,  John  S.,  M.   D  586 

Tuttle,  David  656 

Woodward,  Dr.  Norwood  S...424 
Woodward,  R.    B  336 

1    Rodgers,  S.   W  636 
Rodgers,  Hon.   Calvin  M  514 
Rogers,  Charles  514 

Standley,  James  W.    M.D...588 
Stark,  William  353 

Tyler,  John  55 

V 

Van  Arsdale,  J     B                        378 

Wray,  Mrs.  S.E       586    I 

Y                -< 

>•    Rogers,  Prof.   Thomas  H....5g6 
1    Roney,  Hercules  274 
Russell,  Charles  E  423 

Stewart,  David  B  488 

Stewart,  William  K  250 

Ryner,  James  S  466 

s 

Slice    G     W        .            .  .            662  * 

Van  Gilder,  David  312 
Vanhoorebeke,   Dr.  A.  G    ...469 

Yarde,  Charles  F.  P  451  J 
Yates,  Richard  159 

Salter,  John,   Sr           ..           .548 

Van  Tasell,  James  W                  -62 

VI                 R 

Alexander,  E.  D  461 
-  Brooks.  W.   H  204 

Forwood,  B.   F  246 
Gerlaw,  R.  W  356 

Mitchell,  Wm.  A  461 

Buford,  A  380 

Calder.   J  57o 

Haney,   Mrs.    M.   E  438 

Palmer,  Schuyler  258 

Parrish,  Parker  R  416 

bisson,      .  J  296 

Carson,  William  450 

Chapman,  A.  A  ..368 

Ray,  N.  B  368 

Coats,  Joshua  W  416 
Crane,    S.   B  232 
Edelman,   L.  W  428 

Jewell,   Henry  L  404 
Lair,  William  M  428 

Rayburn,  W.  R  308 

Rees,  M  .  S  474 

Weakly,  Thomas  A  284 

Rockwell,  A.  H  392 

Frantz    J      H                                258 

Wonderly,  John  246 

Frantz,  W.  H  192 

Matteson,  Colby  220 

<                    •  j 

Roney,  Hercules  272 

Yarde,  Aaron  474 

INDEX. 


779 


Adams,  John 22 

Adams,  John    Qumcy 38 

Arthur,  Chester  A g8 

I'everidge,  John  L 170 

Bissell,  Wm.   H iso 

Bolon,  J.   W 456 

Bond,Maj.J.C 188 

Bond,  Shadrach no 

Buchanan,  James. 74 

Byers,  Jacob 252 

Carlin,  Thomas 134 

Chatterton,  L.  B 326 

Clarke,  T.  S 500 

Cleveland,  S.  G rover 102 

Coles,  Edward 114 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 174 

Duncan,  Joseph 130 

Edwards,  Ninian n8 

(Evans,  James 278 

Ewing,  Wm.  L.  D :26 

Fillmore,  Millard 66 


Ford,  Thomas 138 

Forwood,   I!.  F ..226 

Frantz,  W.  H 193 

French,  Augustus  C 142 

Gardner,  B.  H 480 

Garfield,  James  A 04 

Gilmore,   J.   T 290 

.Grant,  Ulysses  S     86 

Haney,  Rev.    Richard 580 

Hanna,  William   610 

Harding,  Gen.A.C 540 

Harding,  Harry  G 490 

Hardin,  Chancy  362 

Harrison,  \Vm.  H so 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B go 

Holloway,  Robert -  .622 

Hoornbeek,  Jeremiah 314 

Hoornbeek,  Dr.  N.  B 444 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 

Jefferson,  Thomas 26 

Johnson,   Andrew 82 


Lincoln,  Abraham 
Madison,  James 
Matthews,  R.  C 
M  attcson,  Joel  A 
McClanahan,  Dr.  J.  P 
McCosh,  G.  G 
Monroe,   James 
Ogclen,  Rufus 
Oglesby,  Richard  J 
Palmer,  John  M 
Phelps,  Delos  P 
Phelps,  Porter 
Pierce,  Franklin 
Polk,  James  K 
Pratt,  Isaac 
Quinby,  Hon.  Ivory 
Randall,  Dr.  William 
Rankin,  N.   A 
Reynolds,  John 
Rice,  Thomas  H 


78 

.  .  30 
523 
146 
550 
510 

34 
434 
162 
166 
590 
632 

70 

58 
640 
374 
648 
214 
122 
386 


Rockwell,  A.  J 410 

Shaw,  D .  J 350 

Sheldon ,  Wilson 530 

Staat,  Frances 238 

Staat,  Mrs.  Margaretha 239 

Stewart,  Hon.  James  H 398 

Swain,  A.  H 338 

Sykes.Wm.  P   264 

Sykes,  Anna   265 

Taylor,  Zachary 62 

Terpening,  John  P 560 

Tinkham,  Joseph 432 

Tyler,  John 54 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Vanhoorebeke,  Dr.  A.  G 468 

Wallace,   Dr.  J    H    520 

Washington,  George 18 

Wood,  John 154 

Wood,  Hon.  Samuel 302 

Yates,  Richard 158 


INTRODUCTORY  665 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT  667 

Organization  of  County  669 

INDIAN  HISTORY  672 

The  Black  Hawk  War  674 

CIVIL  GOVERNMENT  679 

Board  of  Supervisors  682 

TOPOGRAPHICAL  684 

LEGAL  HISTORY  685 

Trial  of  the  Murderers 

of  Wm    Martin  686 

Trial  of  Joe  Smith  687 

John  Baxter  688 

Brockner  &  McMahill  690 

Probate  Court  690 

County  Court  690 

Judges  691 

State's  Attorneys  693 

Members  of  the   Bar  694 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  695 

County  Jail  695 


County  Poor  Farm  697 

WAR  FOR  THE  UNION    698 
WARREN    COUNTY    LI- 
BRARY 702 

RAILROADS  •  704 

Chicago,    Burlington     & 
Quincy  R.  R.  704 

Central    Iowa    Railway  706 
MISCELLANEOUS  707 

County  Officials  707 

Educational  Matters         709 
Old  Settlers' Association  709 


Agricultural  Fair 
TOWNSHIPS 
Berwick 
Cold  Brook 
Ellison 
Floyd 
Greenbush 
Hale 
Kelly 


710 
711 
711 

7H 
718 
720 
722 
724 
728 


Lenox 
Monmouth 
Point  Pleasant 
Roseville 
Spring  Grove 
Sumner 
Swan 
Tompkins 

CITIES  AND  VILLAGES : 

Berwick 
Cameron 

Ellison 

Greenbush 

Larchland 

Roseville 

Alexis 

Gerlaw 

Little  York 

Youngstown 

Swan  Creek 

Kirkwood 

CITY  OF  MONMOUTH 


73° 
733 
734 

735 
740 

745 
749 
752 


716 
720 
723 
732 

737 
742 

744 
748 

75' 
75i 
754 


•3 


-§• 


m 


v*   *.-•••»• 


•m  **> 


•'*.'  fel^J.*  *..4 


k  . 


**      * 


I 


t 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM  OF  WARRE 


